Free screenings of Becoming Jane
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July 23rd, 2007 at 8:54 am
I already got my passes on Friday! I can’t wait to go!
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:55 am
Too bad. Not in mine. Shall have to pay full price.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Got ‘em.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
The Seattle Harvard Exit theater is walking distance from my mom’s and sister’s houses, on Wed, Aug 1st. I am registered to go with two guests, though they say they overbook on purpose, so we’ll come early. See all you Seattlejaneites there!!!!
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Saw it today. Hide the sporks and razor blades before you go. This is no Shakespeare in Love.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Uh…Mags, does this mean you did or didn’t like it? Are you going to give us a review with lots of spoilers? I would like to know details about this film.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Mags my dear please expound upon your short review! I’m sure we would all like to know your feelings on the subject.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:33 pm
I found it immensely depressing. Not sad; depressing. The trailer promises something kind of fun, though of course we know the romance thing doesn’t work out, but I was hoping for a few laughs at least. It’s a big downer. It’s not so much that it’s *bad* as it is a completely Made Up Story, to the point where at times it is ludicrous, so I didn’t appreciate having to sit there being depressed. It’s cold, and dark, and there’s no sun, no warmth to it. I can’t explain it. It’s like a cold, rainy March day of a movie.
Oh, and everyone who has seen NA07 will recognize some of the scenery.
Tonight I got to see P95 on the big screen for the first time. It was a nice antidote.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I got tickets as well, expressedly looking forward to the depression.
July 24th, 2007 at 1:14 am
> Tonight I got to see P95 on the big screen for the first time.
That’s interesting—where is it being shown? One of my favorite adaptations.
July 24th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Three local independent theaters in the Philly area are having “Jane Austen Summer Nights.” Last week MP99 (yes, went and saw it for the first time since 1999, and was slightly traumatized), P95 this week, P&P05 next week. Probably won’t go next week because of the Becoming Jane screenings, though. P95 is my absolute favorite all-time Jane Austen adaptation, so it was a real pleasure to see it on the big screen with my Janeite friends. Fairly full house, too!
Lynne–that’s the ol’ Janeite spirit!
I will add that the opinions of the small group of Janeites who saw it with me ranged from “loved it” to “a travesty,” so there you go.
July 24th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Thank you for your sentiments Mags. Glad to know that you are not still in your state of depression!
I plan to see it here as well if only to ensure that you will not have suffered alone! 
July 24th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
My city is full.
July 24th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Anyone from San Diego in a Jane Austen book club or fan club? Because we have extra tickets that we need to send out.
July 24th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
How was WWE on the big screen? I can’t imagine the delight of seeing the curls and the too-tight green coat, and the sidelong glance.
I’m sorry Becoming Jane was such a slog. The trailer at least promised a pleasant costumer–something along the lines of “My Brilliant Career” in empire-waist gowns.
July 24th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Larsen, how do the San Diegoans get the passes?
K–it wasn’t so much the presence as The Voice. The sound in general was really lovely–all those whispered conversations one has trouble hearing on the DVD were quite clear–and I nearly swooned when he said, “In my heart, I know you….intimately.” Though of course I said, “Weasel Boy!” when he first came onscreen. Poor Sam.
July 24th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Oh, now that’s not very nice considering he was kind enough to discuss the long tracking shot during one of the final scenes (the card party) with you over espresso.
July 24th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
*giggle*
*blush*
(I am SUCH a dork.)
July 27th, 2007 at 3:24 am
Just returned from the preview of Becoming Jane at the Landmark Theater in Los Angeles. Such a complicated disappointment. I could have enjoyed it if it had been titled, “Inventing Jane” or “The Jane of My Imagination” but to purport to be a biography, at any level, is beyond absurd and misleading. No account of Jane Austen’s life mentions an elopement with Tom Lefroy. There are other expressions, mannerisms and aggressive statements by Jane which are not supported by the descriptions provided by those who knew her personally and intimately. The first scene shows Jane’s parents engaged in sexual activity which I found distasteful and crass given Jane’s ability to suggest sensuality and passion without ever having to openly display it. The entire thing would have been much more welcome had the imaginary scenes been acknowledged as such at the introduction. The scenery and photography are beautiful and the actors were remarkably and surprisingly good.
July 27th, 2007 at 3:25 am
I’m having a really hard time convincing one of my friends to come with me to the screening. One of the phrases that keeps popping out of my mouth is “I don’t even know if I would see it unless the tickets were free and they are FREE.” I’m starting to think that my sentiments are truer than I initially thought.
July 27th, 2007 at 7:05 am
Juana–that’s how I felt. I kept sitting there thinking, “But Jane Austen wouldn’t DO that.”
July 27th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
“The first scene shows Jane’s parents engaged in sexual activity which I found distasteful and crass given Jane’s ability to suggest sensuality and passion without ever having to openly display it.”
Oh dear that isn’t good. Yet the movie’s rating of PG says only for brief nudity and mild language. I have my free passes right here! Thanks to JASNA. I don’t think I can go that one night though.
Anyway my question is how bad could this scene really be if it isn’t mentioned in the ratings?
July 27th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
“Anyway my question is how bad could this scene really be if it isn’t mentioned in the ratings?” Okay, here’s “how bad” it is, but you decide: The Rev. Austen and Mrs. Austen are in bed and are discussing their marriage and perfection in a marriage. Mrs. Austen tells him, something to the effect, that she has “shared his bed” for X years and she has still not encountered perfection. Mr. Austen says, “Yet”, and disappears under the covers. Mrs. Austen then looks very surprised at whatever he is doing to her and says “Oh My”. So it’s nothing explicit but it is certainly distasteful and crude. It just is contrary to all that Jane Austen represents and shocking only because the movie is purportedly about her and her passionate but proper family. I would expect such scenes in other works, but not when it involves this wonderous author who showed us so much about behaving appropriately and within the norms of that complex social structure. As I said before, “Inventing Jane” would have been a much better and less offensive title.
July 30th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Thanks Juana. I am not taking my daughter to the screening.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I went to the website, and it showed the date and time for Philadelphia (7:30 on 7/31), and gave the address, but it didn’t say anything good like Here’s Your Pass! And the party I spoke with at the theatre seemed quite, quite sure that a pass would be needed, so … can you give me some more information? I would really (I think) like to see this tonight.
Thank you so much!
July 31st, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Philly’s full…they filled up really quickly. You can try to show up and beg your way in, but I don’t know if it will work. They always overbook these things.