Emma 2020 Review

Emma 2020 is it delectable, a catastrophe, or both? Let's talk about Autumn de Wilde's take on Jane Austen's Classic Masterpiece in this review.

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Books & Movies mentioned in this video:

Emma

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

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[elisabethn]

Not gonna lie, I loved the scenes where we see mr Knightley in less clothes. Not because of the rating, but because it is so rare for us to see all the layers that Men wore with historical clothing and it gave me such a geek out to see someone being undressed and it not just being the typical corset scene lol

[val_nightlily]

I just watched this (rented here on YT) and I quite liked it. Emma is the female Mr. Darcy. She's snobbish and full of herself at the beginning, then realizes that she would be happier if she were more accepting of other people.

[katerynasirko]

"Emma" 2020 was my first ever exposure to the story, I hadn't read the book or watched other adaptations, and I didn't find anything confusing at all. I really enjoyed all that passive-aggressive politeness and found all the characters and their feelings and motivations quite understandable.
Everything was subtle, yes, but not at all easy to miss. I actually found the subtle hints quite obvious, again, without requiring any deeper understanding of the full story)

[ginatober]

I was all prepared to really dislike this movie, and somehow, I ended up loving it. In spite of taking liberties with the novel, the movie was so beautifully filmed, the costumes were so detailed and refined, the settings so beautiful, it was a delight to the eyes. I also like characterization of this Emma by this young actress. She was a bit of a know-it-all brat, but I thought (movie-wise) it worked well to her general story arc of growing up and maturing. I really loved the scene when Mr. Knightley gives her the lecture after her picnic insult to Miss Bates. The chemistry between Emma and Mr. Knightley was very good. The young man playing Knightley was excellent at emoting without uttering a word sometimes. You could feel his torture and longing. He won me over. The kissing at the end was done in good taste and with innocence, so it was fitting.

[runawaypony]

I enjoyed both 2009 and 2020. I think the 2020 Emma is the closest to what I imagined her character to be when I read the novel. I’ve often felt that the previous adaptations softened Emma to make her more acceptable, but book Emma has a “mean girl” quality that the 2020 version didn’t back down from. I’ve met this Emma before. Pretty, popular, the “it” girl. Not really evil, but because her entire life other people have catered to her every whim, she can be self-centered and oblivious to how she comes across. Sometimes they grow up and become better people (like Emma). And I feel that was really done well in the 2020 movie. All things considered, 2009 is still my favorite, but 2020 is a close 2nd.

[taylorgayhart]

I loved this movie! I feel like we already had a realistic/grounded version of Emma (more than once) so I liked to see a stylized and unique version.

[tannhauser]

My favorite version of Emma is Clueless.

[sweetasbloodredjam]

I thought the satirical tone of the movie was a delightful take on Austen because that’s who she is as a writer. Her characters are often condensed to the point of almost being caricatures, her narrative voice takes delight in her characters faults and follies and is full of sly remarks and jokes and she explicitly makes fun of other literary genres in her work. 

The 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice is beloved in part because it rounded out a lot of those edges in her writing and filled the gaps with a warmth that the book doesn’t really have. 2005 P&P felt real because they softened the characters from their book counterparts, drew out flaws that were hinted at but often never fully explored in the books and heightened the moments that let you see that there IS love and warmth in Lizzie family even if their’e silly. It did a fantastic job of humanising these characters and their motivations.

In 2020 Emma they went the opposite route, Emma is self-centered, so they cantered the world around her.
A lot of the side characters stay rather flat until we’re 2/3s through the film because that’s literally how she sees them. She regards people as playthings to act out the script she writes for them despite very little knowledge of or interest in their inner worlds.

She’s well regarded by her social circle more because of her position in society and superficial good manners rather than her actual good nature and she, in turn regards most people by their position in life rather than their character. She’s a classist snob and mostly relates to people according to what duty and manners demand, rather than actual, personal connection. 
These are her explicitly stated flaws in the novel. So I feel like the movie actually does a great job of showing us that. Emma is for great stretches of the book an unlikable character, but Austen shows her through the lens of people admiring her to lull us into admiring her wit, playfulness and intelligence in the first half of the novel (she does something similar to cloud the readers first impression of Darcy). Austen shows us Emma as she wants to be seen and leaves clues to her true character, while the movie shows us all of the little things she doesn’t want others to see, but DOES think and do.

That’s what makes Knighley so extraordinary and so perfect fo Emma. He KNOWS her, he sees right through all of her bullshit little mannerisms at all of her faults, but also, more crucially all of her real goodness. He DOES see her good heart, when barely anyone else, but maybe Mrs. Weston and Miss Bates (who are both blind to her faults) actually sees it. They see her good position, and her good deeds, but not her real character. That‘s why he berates and constantly demands better of her, the Emma he falls in love with, is the Emma that admires him deeply for showing regard to her friend.
I get how it seems extreme and abrfaisive to potray her that way, but i absolutely think it is true to the novel. Austen even said she thought no one would really like Emma as a heroine, but her. her flaws are NOT supposed to be little.

I think the 1996 Gwyneth Paltrow version actually does a similar thing the 2005 P&P did, in rounding out the characters and making Emma genuinely less flawed and more likeable in the first half of the story, that‘s not a criticism, it‘s a good adaptation and it‘s much more pleasant to watch at first because you don‘t have to content with an unlikable character for so long (also Paltrow is genuinely charming and very good in this role, regardless of her real-life image), but ultimately i find the Emma 2020s take more satisfying because the character journey is just that much bigger.

Anyways, sorry for writing a novel of my own here, congrats if you got this far, lol.

[lovetolovefairytales]

I didn't think Emma was that much of a brat in the 2020 film.

[coloraturaElise]

First, a disclaimer: I have actually read Emma, many times, and do not find Jane Austen 'silly', as did a person who proceeded to go on at great length about how accurate this new Emma was, while admitting they had never read the book! Yes, 2009 Emma is the best, and I agreed with almost everything you said about 2020 Emma, but most of those things didn't bother me because I didn't need this Emma to be realistic, by-the-book because I have that 2009 Emma for that (and the 1996 version/s as well). The highly stylized look of the new Emma was interesting to me from an artistic perspective, and I loved the music and costumes. The over-the-top humor was also more entertaining to me than distracting. I just loved how John Knightley's family got a little more attention in this version, and my favorite scene with them was when they got into their carriage to return home and the kids immediately started screaming...the way that was timed really made the most of the humor, as in the scene when Harriet tells Emma she's the best piano player, and then Jane immediately ATTACKS her very difficult piano sonata....I burst out laughing (musician here)! I also loved that they cast musicians who could play and sing...that's so rare these days! So my overall experience was a very positive one because I was entertained, even while noting the unnecessary butts, baby pooping, and bloody nose. I agree that they were trying to appeal to 21st century audiences more, but I felt that the 2005 P&P did the same thing, though in a more subtle way.

[Primenumber]

I think the one thing modern regency films get almost by accident was how unbelievably thirsty every young person was. This is historically accurate, people back then were repressed horn dogs. And that dance scene was freaking hot.

[fleuredelicate]

I think you are being a little too hard on this adaptation, the cotumes are pretty accurate, emma is a snob and a brat but if Jane Austen herself thought people wouldn't like her i think it says something about her attitude which was perfectly captured in this film, she was extremly kind to harriet and she was sad that she might have caused her pain by making her believe that elton loved her, the scenes with the servents were an amazing addition becuse no they were not just standing by, in pretty much every scene, they had something to or else why would they be included ! I found this review to be a little too picky because the "issues "you pointed out to are not actual issued lol i get that you already had an adaptation that was near to your heart, and i agree it is amazing but this film was nothing short of being great i suggest you watch it again it gets better every time ❣

[mamaowlbear]

I actually loved this version of Emma, and honestly saw her as ultimately good hearted but clueless (see what I did there) in some things. I tried to read the book in high school and HATED Emma. I thought she was a stuck-up air head. I felt the modernizing of her behaviors in this movie actually helped me relate more to her as someone who is not a Regency scholar. I totally bought into her learning lessons. Not to mention there were moments that truly made me laugh out loud.

[oekmama]

Well, Miss Austen DID say that Emma was a heroine that only she could like. I’ve heard people raving about the costumes, and that’s about it. But I’m still looking forward to playing that Bingo! I feel like I’d rather take the weekend and reread! 😁
I did like the Romola Garai version and was pleasantly surprised that it was better than the Gwyneth Paltrow one.

I think Jane Fairfax gets a really bad rap. She was forced to adjust her behavior and how she presented to the world to fit her station and limited prospects, while at the same time keeping her secret. She’s pretty much the picture of a gentleman’s daughter slowly running out of options. But yet she manages to keep it all together and present the socially acceptable face to society. Which irks Emma to no end. I often compare Jane to passive aggressive Lucy Steele. Jane reminds me a lot of Jane Eyre who actually had to become the governess.

[KatieDavis]

I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion, but I LOVED the 2020 Emma!!! Far and away more than any other version. I loved the satirical take on then book. They went for over the top visual beauty and satire to the point of mild absurdity for an exceptionally pleasing comedy. I feel it was clear that they were specifically not trying to recreate the novel which they knew they could never do proper justice. I think that is the best way to avoid disappointing die hard fans of the book. I prefer a unique reimagining over a closer adaptation that will never live up to the book which always lets me down.

[Palaa]

I believe Ellie's take of Knightley nudeness is a little too simple. Not only we got to see his butt, also Emma heating her butt in the fireplace, and Knightley laying on the floor after the whole scene with Emma. I believe what they wanted to do with this (plus the casting of a much younger Knightley than in the books) is to humanize them. Mostly Knightley. The guy in the books is an almost unreal one, like a mighty god, but here we got to see his desperation and doubts, which was a very interesting Knightley to see.

[FahnFahn_o]

I will say though, in the 2020 Emma scene where Emma insults Miss Bates, that version scene was the most impactful emotionally devastating one of all.

[victoriakeiller]

It might have been a bit stylised but I think the past wasn’t as dark as most movies make it seem so I don’t see why they couldn’t make it bright and happy. I think past films have skewed our ideas

[emmabennet]

While I will always find the 2009 miniseries adaptation of Emma more endearing, I think Emma 2020 was truer to the spirit of the book and the characters. 2009 Emma and 2005 Pride & Prejudice are a lot warmer, more romantic and serious than their respective 2020 and 1995 counterparts, but I think the lighter, more comical tone of 2020 Emma is truer to Jane Austen's style. Now I'm not going to say 2020 Emma and 1995 Pride and Prejudice are stylistically similar, but I think they are both truer to the characters from the book. I fell in love with the 2009 Emma miniseries before I read the book, and I remember being a bit disappointed because book Emma is a lot less endearing than Romola Garai's portrayal, which is incredibly lively, charming and endearing. It's easy to overlook or forgive the faults and bad behaviors of Romola Garai's Emma. Jane Austen does not romanticize Emma so much; Emma's elitist, stuck up personality is very clear. Emma 2020 does not smooth over her stuck up personality but balances it with Emma's virtues and humanity - her devotion to her father, her intimate friendships, and eventually her atonement and growth. Where Emma deviates positively from the book (and from the 2009 miniseries), is her redemption arc is much more pronounced. Emma's apology and effort to make amends with Harriet is very satisfying and made me realize how the 2009 adaptation really did Harriet wrong.

[insipidwallflower]

I thought the stylization in this film wasn’t terribly unbelievable. Pride and prejudice was also stylized to the same degree, except there are earth tones and more grungy aesthetics whereas Emma has a more colorful pastel palette, which was really more in line with the fashion of the period, they loved colorful fanciful clothing. The plot changes that modernize the story I think makes it hold up a bit better to a modern audience while still preserving the essence of the novel (for example Emma remaining friends with Harriet). To me emmas characterization was less of a dual personality situation, rather a girl with a good heart who was unhappy with her life and put on this persona of superiority to control the aspects of her life that she could. The costuming is so accurate too and it really elevates the film.