Persuasion (2022) ***

Innovative adaptation of Jane Austen's best novel.

Emma. (2020) ***

Love And Friendship (2016) ****

A superlative comedy of manners adapted from Jane Austen's most obscure novel, "Lady Susan".

Becoming Jane (2007) ***

Exactly like ''Shakespeare In Love'', ''Becoming Jane'' is a fictional film about a famous English writer, whose plot is inspired by her various novels. Both films suggest in turn that those writers might have been inspired by those romantic adventures in their later works. Both William Shakespeare and Jane Austen are perfect subjects for such films, because very little is actually known for certain about their lives. What is known for certain, however, is that Jane Austen is one of the greatest English novelists. It could be argued that her entire oeuvre is composed only of masterpieces. Every single novel of hers is the best in some particular way. ''Sense and Sensibility'' is her most touching work. ''Pride and Prejudice'' – her wittiest and cleverest. ''Emma'' – her most enduringly popular (and modern). ''Persuasion'' – her best written one (and most critically-acclaimed). ''Mansfield Park'' – her most complex and profound. And ''Northanger Abbey'' – her most entertaining. All of those novels have been adapted for the screen, most memorably with ''Pride and Prejudice'' in 1940 (starring Laurence Oliver), ''Sense and Sensibility'' (with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet), and ''Persuasion'' (both in 1995). ''Emma'' has been adapted twice - a modern version called ''Clueless'' in 1995 with Alicia Silverstone and a more faithful period adaptation from 1996 starring Gwyneth Paltrow. And then, there was Patricia Rozema who literally massacred Austen’s ''Mansfield Park'' in 1999, completely misreading this complex novel, and turning a masterpiece of clever humour into a serious and heavy-handed melodrama. Directed by Julian Jarrold, ''Becoming Jane'' tells a purely fictional tale of young Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) courted by a handsome Irish aristocrat (James McAvoy). Inspired by her various novels (especially ''Pride and Prejudice''), the dialogue is full of Austen’s witty phrases and clever retorts. The performances are superlative. It is definitely a great and very entertaining film.

Mansfield Park (1999) *

Directed by Patricia Rozema. Frances O'Connor and Embeth Davitz star in this frustratingly modern re-telling of Jane Austen's most brilliant, yet least popular novel. Unconditional Austen purist will be shocked by the cavalier attitude Ms Rozema has taken towards a literary classic, turning positive characters into monstruous villains, while totally eliminating Austen's uniquely subversive wit and replacing it with shrill, victimologist rhetoric.

Emma (1996) ****

Very entertaining adaptation of Jane Austen's greatest novel. Gwyneth Paltrow plays the charming and intelligent heroine, who also happens to be quite vain and conceited. She constantly meddles in other peoples' affairs, with decidedly mixed results. It takes her a while to realize that, at 21, she might not know quite everything.

Sense And Sensibility (1995) ****

A superlative adaptation of Jane Austen's first novel. Witty, moving and very well made.

Clueless (1995) ****

Superb film starring Alicia Silverstone as the most popular student in a Beverly Hills high school. She's gorgeous, blonde, fashion-conscious and always ready to help a friend in need. Loosely adapted from Jane Austen's novel "Emma", this movie is like a delicious candy slowly melting in one's mouth.

Persuasion (1995) ***

A faithful adaptation of Jane Austen's last novel. A quiet, very understated comedy of manners.

Pride And Prejudice (1940) ****

An excellent adaptation of Jane Austen's most popular novel. A superb comedy of manners.