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Becoming Jane

Promotional movie poster for the film
Directed by Julian Jarrold
Produced by Graham Broadbent
Robert Bernstein
Douglas Rae
Written by Kevin Hood
Sarah Williams
Starring Anne Hathaway
James McAvoy
Julie Walters
James Cromwell
Maggie Smith
Music by Adrian Johnston
Cinematography Eigil Bryld
Editing by Emma E. Julian Edward Peter Jarrold (born 15 May 1960) is a BAFTA Award -nominated English film and television director James Andrew McAvoy (ˈmækəvɔɪ born) is a Scottish stage and screen Actor known for his roles in Atonement, The Last King Julie Walters, CBE (born 22 February 1950 is an Academy Award -nominated Golden Globe - and BAFTA -award winning English James Oliver Cromwell (born January 27, 1940) sometimes credited as Jamie Cromwell, is an American Film and Television Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, DBE (born December 28 1934) better known as Maggie Smith, is a British Film, stage Hickox
Distributed by Miramax Films
Release date(s) Flag of the United Kingdom March 9
Flag of Ireland March 16
Flag of Australia March 29
Flag of the United States August 3
Running time 112 min. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. (1 hr. and 52 min. )
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Language English
Budget €12,500,000 (estimate)
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Becoming Jane is a 2007 historical film directed by Julian Jarrold. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States 2007 saw major releases such as The Simpsons Movie, National Treasure Book of Secrets, The historical drama is a Film genre in which stories are based upon historical events and famous persons Julian Edward Peter Jarrold (born 15 May 1960) is a BAFTA Award -nominated English film and television director It is inspired by the early life of author Jane Austen (portrayed by Anne Hathaway), and her posited relationship with Thomas Langlois Lefroy (played by BAFTA-winning Scottish actor James McAvoy). Jane Austen (16 Thomas Langlois Lefroy ( 8 January 1776 – 4 May 1869) was an Irish politician and judge The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA is a British charity that hosts annual awards shows for film television television craft video games and forms of animation James Andrew McAvoy (ˈmækəvɔɪ born) is a Scottish stage and screen Actor known for his roles in Atonement, The Last King Julie Walters, James Cromwell and Maggie Smith also appear in this picture. Julie Walters, CBE (born 22 February 1950 is an Academy Award -nominated Golden Globe - and BAFTA -award winning English James Oliver Cromwell (born January 27, 1940) sometimes credited as Jamie Cromwell, is an American Film and Television Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, DBE (born December 28 1934) better known as Maggie Smith, is a British Film, stage The film was produced in cooperation with several companies, including BBC Films and the Irish Film Board. BBC Films is the feature film-making arm of the BBC. It has produced or co-produced some of the most successful British films of recent years including The film performed well at the box office, earning $37 million worldwide according to Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo is a Website that tracks Box office Revenue in a systematic way

The casting was by Gail Stevens and Gillian Reynolds, costumes by Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh, and original soundtrack composed by Adrian Johnston. Although the film assumes an otherwise unproven relationship between Austen and Lefroy, the original screenplay was inspired by real events, which were chronicled in the book Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence, who was the historical consultant on the film. See also Pre-production Screenwriting A screenplay or script is a written plan authored by a Screenwriter, for a Film or Television Becoming Jane Austen is a book by Jon Spence, published by Hambledon Continuum on which the film Becoming Jane is based In fact, prior to Spence’s book, biographers Radovici (1995)[1] and Tomalin (2000)[2] have also acknowledged a relationship between Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy. Tomalin’s book was referenced in the making of Becoming Jane. [3]

Contents

Plot

Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) is the younger daughter of Reverend Austen and his wife (Julie Walters) and has yet to find a suitable husband. Julie Walters, CBE (born 22 February 1950 is an Academy Award -nominated Golden Globe - and BAFTA -award winning English She wishes to be a writer -- to the disdain of her mother and pride of her father (James Cromwell). James Oliver Cromwell (born January 27, 1940) sometimes credited as Jamie Cromwell, is an American Film and Television Though Thomas Lefroy (James McAvoy) is a promising lawyer with a bad reputation, which he describes as "typical" for peers of that era and after a bad first impression, Jane cannot stand the arrogant Londoner. James Andrew McAvoy (ˈmækəvɔɪ born) is a Scottish stage and screen Actor known for his roles in Atonement, The Last King She turns down the affections of numerous men, including the nephew of Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith), a Mr. Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, DBE (born December 28 1934) better known as Maggie Smith, is a British Film, stage Wisley (Laurence Fox). Laurence Fox (born 1978 is an English Actor best known for his leading role as Detective Sergeant James Hathaway in the British TV Wisley proposes, but Jane turns him down cold. The mischievous Tom -- the later inspiration for Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy -- continues his advances and Jane begins to take the idea of marriage seriously. Pride and Prejudice, first published on 28 January 1813, is the most famous of Jane Austen 's novels and one of the first " romantic Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy is a fictional character and one of two protagonists in Jane Austen 's Novel Pride and Prejudice. The two get to know each other gradually, however, and eventually fall in love. Tom, Jane, Henry (Jane's Brother, played by Joe Anderson) and Jane's rich widowed cousin, Eliza the Comtessa, conspire to receive an invitation from Tom's Uncle, the Lord Chief Judge Langlois of London, for the rich "Madame de La Comtessa, and her friends to take a short break in their journey to see Jane's brother, Edward. Joe Anderson (born March 26, 1982) is a British actor known for his performances in Across the Universe, Control This would allow Tom's uncle and benefactor, Judge Langlois, to get to know Jane and give a blessing for their marriage. However, the Judge receives a letter informing him of Jane's poor family, he refuses to give Tom his blessing, declaring that he wished Tom to be the whoremonger he had been than allow him to live in poverty because of a bad marriage. Jane insists that she and Tom may still marry, but Tom says he has his family to think about and, disillusioned, she leaves London.

On her return home, and after finding out that Tom has come back to town with a new fiancee, Jane informs Mr. Wisley that she will marry him. Meanwhile, Jane's sister Cassandra has learned that her fiancee, Robert Fowle, has died of yellow fever. The girls are both devastated. Jane happens upon Tom again in the Southern wood, where he asks her to run away with him. She agrees, but halfway there, she learns that Tom's parents, along with his many brothers and sisters (Tom will not reveal how many), depend on the allowance he receives from his uncle to survive. Despite protestations from Tom, Jane ends their affair for his family's sake, returns home to her own family, and begins writing anew on a novel entitled "First Impressions", later renamed "Pride and Prejudice". Pride and Prejudice, first published on 28 January 1813, is the most famous of Jane Austen 's novels and one of the first " romantic

Years later, Jane, accompanied by her brother Henry and his wife Eliza (Jane's cousin, a countess), encounters Thomas Lefroy again at a social function. He is with his eldest daughter, also named Jane, who turns out to be a fan of Jane Austen's writing. The film ends with Jane giving a most rare public reading. This scene most probably took place during the time from December 1800 to 1805 when Jane, Cassandra and their parents lived in Bath, a very famous British "Spa" town until the Rev. Austen died.

It is interesting to note that Jane never was able "to live by her pen. " She was published anonymously until her death in 1817 of Addison's disease. Addison's disease (also known as chronic Adrenal insufficiency, '''hypocortisolism''' or '''hypocorticism) is a rare Endocrine disorder She did not become well published until 1833. Since that time, her books have been in continuous print.

Critical reception

By April 2007, Becoming Jane had screened in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Sweden; reviews of which mostly originated from the first three countries. Popular movie review site, Rotten Tomatoes, rates the movie as rotten with a 57% approval rating. Supporters of the movie praised the original screenplay, which was derived from biographies and letters of Jane Austen, the late 18th century costumes, the original soundtrack (orchestrated by Adrian Johnston) and solid performances by a leading cast. [4]

Characters from the film observing a game of cricket.
Characters from the film observing a game of cricket.

Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy were lauded for the chemistry between their characters, lending authenticity to the love story between Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy. [5][6] Hathaway was also admired for her fresh take on Jane Austen. [6] Negative reviews focused on the choice of an American to play a much loved English writer, as well as the inauthenticity of her accent. James McAvoy defended the decision of casting Hathaway by stating that a movie creator should “find the right actor…and she (Hathaway) is undoubtedly brilliant”. [7] McAvoy further added that Hathaway was “the best Jane for the film”. [8] Actress Anna Maxwell Martin (playing Cassandra Austen) stated that when the cameras stopped rolling, Hathaway’s accent was sometimes “a bit of a hybrid but I don’t think she ever sank completely. "[9] Anne Hathaway herself admitted the persistent tendency to “sound too much like myself and not at all like Jane”, blaming cold weather in Ireland, which meant she had to do voice retakes for several scenes. [3] Nonetheless, director Julian Jarrold praised Hathaway for her total transformation in becoming Jane Austen. In a wrap up party after the filming, Jarrold confessed that the actress had been a different person, ‘not just her accent but also the whole character, the way of holding yourself and speaking was so completely different’. [10] Jarrold and McAvoy further praised Hathaway as the 'real Austenite' who were impressed with her more than adequate knowledge on Jane Austen. [11]

Some reviewers have questioned the historical accuracy of the movie; for example, one promotional poster shows Jane holding a fountain pen. A fountain pen is a Pen that contains a reservoir of water-based liquid ink. The creators of Becoming Jane have clearly stated, however, that it is not a biopic in spite of using many historical facts from Jane Austen’s life. The co-producer of the film, Graham Broadbent, explained that they ‘joined the dots in our own Austenesque landscape’. [3] Criticisms of the film's historical accuracy have led to increased public interest in the facts of Jane Austen's life, reflected in her novels, letters and in biographies. Costumes worn by the characters from Becoming Jane have been exhibited in Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire (where she lived from 1809 until 1817, a few months prior to her death in Winchester) to accommodate the curiosity of fans. Chawton is a village and Civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. Winchester or Winton ( archaic) is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40000 within a radius of its centre

Cast

Location

Becoming Jane was shot in Dublin and rural Ireland (including County Wicklow), instead of Hampshire in England, the birthplace of Jane Austen. The movie received funding from the Irish Film Board, but as Julian Jarrold said, the decision to film in Ireland was due to the fact that ‘Hampshire now is groomed and manicured and what we were able to find in Ireland was a sense of countryside that felt more unchanged. That was one of the things that I really wanted to get. . . a sense of the landscape in which Jane Austen grew up. Ireland also has a great variety of Georgian houses and older houses as well. I think it gave us quite a different and interesting look for the film’. [10] James McAvoy supported the decision, observing that the houses in Becoming Jane were 'left to recede a bit more, a bit more gritty that you haven't seen in Austen films' and thus portrayed a 'sense of reality and a sense of a poorer world' in the Regency Period. Artistic trends Regency architecture Regency fashions Regency dance Regency novels [11]

Interestingly, the historical Tom Lefroy spent summers in County Wicklow. County Wicklow (Contae Chill Mhantáin is a county on the east coast of Ireland, immediately south of Dublin. Tom referred to his fondness for the landscape as 'Wicklow trance’. His son Thomas Lefroy explained that this was a ‘household word in our family circle for the great admiration he had for the scenery of the County Wicklow where for many years he spent his summer vacations’ (Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy, 1871, p. 37). [13]

It is also intriguing to note that Chief Justice Tom Lefroy spent the three last years of his life in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, in a villa of Newcourt he rented in 1866, and died there on 4 May 1869 (Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy, 1871, p. Bray (Bré formerly Brí Chulainn) is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year 382). [13] Bray was also one of the locations of Becoming Jane filming in March-April 2006. There is no evidence that the filmmakers were aware of the fact that Bray was the place where Tom Lefroy took his last breath, nor that Tom Lefroy was very fond of County Wicklow.

As the original home of Jane Austen was demolished in 1824,[2] scenes at Steventon Rectory were filmed in Higginsbrook House, a few miles off Trim in County Meath, Ireland (spring 2006). [14] The house was built circa the first half of the 18th century and now belongs to Christopher Gray and his family. Apparently, Higginsbrook performed well, for later in autumn 2006, it appeared again as the house of the Morlands in Northanger Abbey (ITV 2007). Northanger Abbey, an adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel of the same name, premiered on 25th March, 2007 on the

DVD release

Becoming Jane on DVD was released in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2007, a month after the premiere in the United States, and in Australia on September 12, 2007. Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. It was released on February 12, 2008 in the United States. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

Soundtrack

The Original Soundtrack is currently available and features the numerous scores and instrumental music featured in the film, including the theme of the "Bastingstoke Assembly" to which Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy dance together for the first time.

A track listing for the album is as follows:

1. "First Impressions"
2. "Hampshire"
3. "Bond Street Airs"
4. "Bastingstoke Assembly"
5. "A Game of Cricket"
6. "Selbourne Wood"
7. "Lady Gresham"
8. "Advice From a Young Lady"
9. "Laverton Fair"
10. "To the Ball"
11. "Rose Garden"
12. "Mrs. Radcliffe"
13. "Goodbye Mr. Lefroy"
14. "Distant Lives"
15. "The Messenger"
16. "An Adoring Heart"
17. "Runaways"
18. "A Letter from Limerick"
19. "The Loss of Yours"
20. "To Be Apart"
21. "Deh vieni, non tardar" (from Le Nozze di Figaro)
22. Le nozze di Figaro ossia la folle giornata (Trans The Marriage of Figaro or the Day of Madness) K "Twenty Years Later"
23. "A Last Reading"

Awards

References

  1. ^ Radovici, N. 1995. A Youthful Love: Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy, Merlin Books, Devon
  2. ^ a b Tomalin, C. 2000, Jane Austen: A Life, Penguin Books, London
  3. ^ a b c Williams, S. , 2007, Not so plain Jane [Online], Telegraph Magazine, Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/02/17/smjane117.xml
  4. ^ Rotten Tomatoes. 2007. Becoming Jane. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/becoming_jane/
  5. ^ Smith, A. 2007. Becoming Jane. http://www.empireonline.com.au/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=1. . .
  6. ^ a b Elley, D. 2007. Becoming Jane. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933022.html?categoryid=31&cs=1
  7. ^ Anne Hathaway Web. 2007. James McAvoy: Judge Anne Hathaway as an actor not her accent. http://www.annehathawayweb.com/pressroom/news.php?newsid=25
  8. ^ Anne Hathaway Web. 2007. New Film: Passion for Love. http://www.annehathawayweb.com/pressroom/news.php?newsid=27
  9. ^ Buckley, J. 2007. Becoming an expert in squeezing into corsets. http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/film/article/1157146648859?packedargs=suffix%3DSubSectionArticle
  10. ^ a b Felce, S. 2007. Becoming Jane Q&A with Anne Hathaway and director Julian Jarrold. [Online] Phase9 Entertainment. Available: http://www.phase9.tv/moviefeatures/becomingjaneinterview1.shtml
  11. ^ a b Britfilms, 2007, Becoming James McAvoy, Julian Jarrold & Robert Bernstein [Online], Britfilms. tv, Available: http://www.britfilms.tv/index.php?id=1856
  12. ^ John Warren is a non-fictional character - he was a friend of Henry Austen, and provided Jane with a sketch portrait of LeFroy. [1]
  13. ^ a b Lefroy, T. 1871, Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy, Hodges, Foster & Co. , Dublin.
  14. ^ O'Byrne, R. , 2007, How Higginsbrook became Jane's House [Online], The Irish Times, Available: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/property/2007/0308/1173121314890.html
  15. ^ People's Choice Awards Past Winners: 2008. PCAvote. com. Sycamore Productions. Retrieved on 2008-01-10. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war.

External links

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