Aham Vyaktam

I saw this movie Pride and Prejudice last week. It was released in 2005 and I know am the last person to see it, yet, I wanted to do a line or two about this movie now, as I liked it very much.

My guy was excited about the movie as it had Keira Knightley starring, while I was wondering if I would get anyone in the movie to drool over. The movie commenced with every cast uttering “Mr. Bingley” which made me think he is the hero of the movie. When I saw Simon Woods as Mr. Bingley, I was a little disappointed, duhing as my notion that the guys would look stupid in regency-style costumes came true. As I was cursing the director of the movie since my guy had someone to admire at, to my envy and vice versa couldn’t happen, there came a handsome good-looking guy who, everybody quoted Mr. Darcy. Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy was a perfectly adorable thing with his magnificence glowing in that attire. I was wishing he should be shown through out the movie, irrespective of him being a hero or not [As I haven’t read the novel, nothing I knew about which character has what importance]. The story was moving on only to teach me that Mr. Darcy is the man of the movie. The movie was after the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I heard that the depiction in the novel was so emoting that it brings a lady into tears when she reads it.

While my guy kept saying that there’s something about Keira though she isn’t that great a beauty and that her eyes speak and have a tickling mischief, I was ogling at Matthew, completely disregarding the person next to me.

I was awe-struck by the dialogues in the movie. I would say the beauty of the movie was vested with its dialogues and it was a relief to hear that the screenplay didn’t force them to be different from the original masterpiece of Jane Austen. I have to say that the dialogues were so long and the words embedded in them were bombastic that we had to turn the captions on in the TV to comprehend them. They were pleasant to the ears too and I wanted to redo the movie without captions to enjoy the verbal more. I wonder how many rehearsals they would have had to shoot a scene. But one thing which was nagging about the dialogue was the straight flow of them without any modulations while speaking which, I felt, killed the emotion in the voice the actors were trying to bring out. Everybody was plain in their vocals. May be the intention was to bring the emotions in the eyes and the face of the actors, than in their voices. Or may be that’s the way the parlance was at that age. I dunno. The movie makers know better I believe.

Mr. Darcy had done a really good job and my most favorite scene is the one wherein Mr. Darcy would have saved his dignity much by not showing on face that he’s hurt by the words of Lizzie when he proposes his love for her and she denies. The audience can however understand from his words that he’s hurt but he still maintains rigidness in his face not showing it.

Another thing which I liked in the movie is the bow everybody does as a sign of greeting the person they meet. It is such a graceful bow and I loved it.

The palaces where the movie is shot were gorgeous and the sculpture ensemble was a perfect fit.

It’s a nice story on the whole which can be given a go when you feel like doing nothing on a rainy gloomy Friday evening or watching something like a light stream without noise.

The following picture decorates my laptop as the wallpaper now, to the envy of you-know-who :)

Here are the snippets of dialogues in the movie which still buzz in my ears:

Netherfield Butler: A Mrs. Bennet, a Miss Bennet, a Miss Bennet and a Miss Bennet, sir.
Caroline Bingley: Oh for heaven's sake, are we to receive every Bennet in the country?

Mr. Collins: Every mind must have some counsellor to whom it may apply for consolation in distress. There are many conveniences which others can supply and we cannot procure. I have in view those objects which are only to be obtained through intercourse. Forgive me, through the intercourse of friendship or civility.

Mr. Darcy: Do you talk, as a rule, while dancing?
Elizabeth Bennet: No... No, I prefer to be unsociable and taciturn... Makes it all so much more enjoyable, don't you think?

Mr. Bennet: Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins... And I will never see you again if you do.

Elizabeth Bennet: Your unfortunate brother once had to put up with my playing for a whole evening.
Georgiana Darcy: But he says you play so well.
Elizabeth Bennet: Then he has perjured himself most profoundly.
Mr. Darcy: No I said, "played quite well."
Elizabeth Bennet: Oh, "quite well" is not "very well." I'm satisfied.

Mr. Darcy: How are you this evening, my dear?
Elizabeth Bennet: Very well... although I wish you would not call me "my dear."
Mr. Darcy: [chuckles] Why?
Elizabeth Bennet: Because it's what my father always calls my mother when he's cross about something.
Mr. Darcy: What endearments am I allowed?
Elizabeth Bennet: Well let me think...”Lizzie" for every day, "My Pearl" for Sundays, and...”Goddess Divine"... but only on *very* special occasions.
Mr. Darcy: And... what should I call you when I am cross? Mrs. Darcy...?
Elizabeth Bennet: No! No. You may only call me "Mrs. Darcy"... when you are completely, and perfectly, and incandescently happy.
Mr. Darcy: [he snickers] Then how are you this evening... Mrs. Darcy?

Mr.Bennet: I cannot believe that anyone can deserve you. But it seems I am overruled. So I heartily give my consent. I could not have parted with you my Lizzie, to anyone less worthy.
Elizabeth Bennet: Thank you.
Mr.Bennet: If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, for heaven's sake, send them in. I'm quite at my leisure.