Ranking Relationships in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

How do you tell the difference between infatuation and love?

Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright are taking a look at the movie adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. Jonathan is ranking the couples from least healthy to most sumptuous. Yes, most sumptuous. The contenders are Elinor and Edward, Marianne and Willoughby, and Marianne and Brandon. They talk about the qualities to look for in love and a partner, and they get a little flustered about how hot everyone is.

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Cinema Therapy is:
Written by: Megan Seawright, Jonathan Decker, and Alan Seawright
Produced by: Jonathan Decker, Megan Seawright, Alan Seawright, and Corinne Demyanovich
Edited by: Emily Colton
Director of Photography: Bradley Olsen
English Transcription by: Anna Preis

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[aprilkendell]

In Alan Rickman's diaries, he wrote how they filmed several character development scenes to show Col. Brandon slowly falling in love with Marianne due to their age gap. Those scenes got cut so it looks like Col. Brandon just fell for her quickly. Alan Rickman wrote how disappointed he was in how his character turned out on film.

[MortMe]

A long time ago, I saw someone comment a little detail about Willoughby vs Brandon that show something about their characters: Willoughby just takes the flowers he brings Marianne from a neighbor field on his way, while Brandon offers carefully cultivated and tended flowers from his own greenhouse. Marianne initially preferred wildflowers for their romanticism, but Brandon's offering shows care and effort. Just an insightful little grace note.

[tagardina]

Not to forget, in the book Willoughby gets another lady pregnant, Jane Austen made sure we hate him 😂

[aud]

Whoever is doing the editing is fantastic. The bit where Jono says “I like women.. I think” and it cuts to the X files theme with the bi flag in the back KILLED me

[Jannah]

In defense of Edward Ferrars, “my fiancée left me for my older brother, but I’ve not loved her for years anyway, ” is an awkward thing to say in any time and place.

[KatinkaMaika]

I always felt Elinor was not "panic crying from joy" but feeling incredible relief. All her life she held back her emotions and now for the first time she feels safe to show then, to just let them out. When I watch the film, my stomach is in knots because of her, I feel her tension so much, and I always cry so hard with her...

[lacys]

You forgot to highlight how relaxed Maryanne is in that last scene when Brandon said he was leaving. He has been so consistent she has no fear he's going to run off like Whilouby did.

[caiti-christi]

Let's also give Emma Thompson her flowers for being the writer who ADAPTED THIS SCREENPLAY 😍 highly recommend looking for a secondhand copy of the book with her original screenplay and diaries while making the film. Also yes -- Emma's first husband cheated on her, she met Greg Wise making this film I believe, they married several years later, and are still married today❤

[suonatar]

In Edward's defence, he couldn't tell Elinor that he's engaged, because
1) They didn't know eachother that well and it was not a custom to throw personal stuff on people, especially if they weren't a "public information".
2) It was frown upon to get engaged without the blessing of both families, so he would admit to being dishonest to his family.
3) Talking about secret engagement meant that he would break the secret that he promised to keep for his fiance. In contrast, Lucy breaks that secret out of vanity, which shows that she can't be trusted, she wants to feel the tryumph over Elinor.

[nancyquarella]

That wasn't panic crying, that was sheer relief that completely undermined her ability to maintain the facade of calm acceptance any longer

[trinaq]

Move over, Mr D'Arcy, Colonel Brandon is THE dishest, kindest Austen male lead. Darcy may walk through a hazy field for you, but Brandon would carry you through a rainstorm.

[PetWessman]

Elinor’s loud almost-scream-crying outburst is one of the most excellent unexpected acting/directing choices I’ve ever seen. The audience is caught just as off-guard as Hugh Grant was, and it makes so much sense for Elinor’s character. And then it’s followed with Emma Thompson’s blissfully smiling face— chef’s kiss

[spique]

You have to hand it to Austen for writing men who do what they can for the woman they love, without expectation of anything in return, for both Brandon and Darcy. Darcy in P&P didn't grow to impress Lizzy, but because he respected her and listened to her criticism, and agreed that he could indeed improve, regardless of Lizzy in his life.

[marganaapsinthia]

Emma Thompson's crying is one of my favourite scenes from cinema. It's so honest and intimate that, every time I watch the film, I feel the need to avert my gaze and leave them alone. Ang Lee directed a few of my favourite films. And I've always felt that Alan Rickman is somewhat like his character here: kind, talented but quiet, and devoted to his wife for his whole life. He's a man of character, and that cannot be not attractive.

[FullMoonHowl]

One of my very favorite moments is (not shown here) Colonel Brandon's reaction to a small show of gratitude from Maryanne after he brings Mrs. Dashwood to Marianne's sickbed. The subtle hints of SUCH deep emotions on Rickman's face was a masterclass of acting and masterpiece of art, simultaneously.

[fallingstar]

"Give me an occupation, Miss Dashwood, or I shall run mad."

Definitely using that line next time I don't know how to help someone.

[hannahpatwell]

While Brandon is the better choice, one of the reasons that Marianne says no at first is completely valid. She wants someone her own age and I can't fault her for that. He's got a 20 year gap on her, I would be too.

[a]

In the commentary track for this movie, Emma Thompson mentions how we see how both Edward and Colonel Brandon pay attention to the youngest daughter Margaret, who is interested in a beautiful old atlas and who plays at being an adventurer. Both men are kind enough to pay attention to her and to take her questions seriously. She said this was a quick way to establish that they are good men of good character. She said the trouble with Jane Austen is that male characters are introduced, and then they go away for a while, and we don't know what's going on with them except indirectly, so it's important to give us a sense of who they are quickly before they disappear.

[littleshiver]

The moment when Alan said "God, I miss that guy" and soaked into tears makes me crazy emotional all over again. I miss Alan Rickman too and barely can watch this movie, especially the moment when Col. Brandon was reading Shakespeare’s sonnets to Marianne. Kate Winslet is incredibly lucky to be there at the time.

Also, Jonathan's bisexual panic is SO relatable. I thought for a really long time I was gay, but my heart has always been absolutely blessed to see Alan's performance.

And for a ranking – coudn't agree more!

Thank you so much for this particular video (as long as many others) ❤

[SannaiSan]

You can almost hear the switch in Elinor's crying as it goes from processing what she heard, to relief that she doesn't have to carry the burden of love alone any more, to disbelief that she had ever considered carrying it alone to begin with, and finally to joy as she realises its real. She really made it feel as if she'd been holding her breath the whole time and somebody just told her it's ok to breathe. Her acting is so amazing in this!