Yet another film based on a great book Sense and Sensibility . Emma Thompson wrote and won an Oscar for her screenplay as well as starred as spinster Elinor Dashwood. The film had all the elements in it to make it great, actors; Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman, a great director in Ang Lee, and beautiful locations. The only weak link was perhaps Hugh Grant who did okay in portraying the restrained gentlemen of the time but still when I watch him I get the sense of it's Hugh Grant as blank whereas Rickman and Thompson become the character they portray so you fully become ensnared by them.After their father dies the Dashwood sisters along with their mother learn they only get a small sum to live on while their brother gets the bulk of the estate. Their brother's wife invites her own brother Edward (Hugh Grant) to visit. Slowly Elinor; played wonderfully by Emma Thompson, and Edward start to develop a friendship. Appalled Fanny forces her husband to do something about it which results in the girls ending up on a small cottage owned by Mrs Dashwood's cousin.
Elinor misses Edward but continues to restrain her emotion much to the dislike of Marianne; played with passion by Kate Winslet in only her second role the first being in the amazing Heavenly Creatures. Marianne wears her heart on her sleeve which is not the norm for ladies of the time. During one of the cousin's functions she is introduced to Colonel Brandon; greatly portrayed by Alan Rickman. He falls for her instantly though he is many years her elder. She likes his company and attention until she is helped by a stranger after spraining her ankle in a field. Willoughby is dashing, young, and in a well to do family so naturally Marianne is drawn more to him. Everything goes fine for them until Colonel Brandon receives an urgent message from London and leaves an event he is holding at his estate. Not long after Willoughby is called back to London as well but never confides his true feeling to Marianne.
Elinor continues to hide her feelings for Edward but her emotions are tried when she discovers Lucy Steele has secretly been engaged to Edward for years. Marianne continues to try and contact Willoughby but to no avail. But in the sisters dismay a ray of hope arrives when they are invited by their hosts to join them in London. Elinor gets to see Edward again but the meeting is again a very painfully restrained moment as Lucy Steele joins the reunion. The pain on both Edward and Elinor's face is beautifully shot by Ang in the scene. Edward clearly wants to tell Elinor and Elinor wants to believe it is not true but neither are able to say a thing with the proverbial elephant in the room.
Meanwhile Marianne seeks out and finds Willoughby but is unable to get the reunion she seeks as well. Distraught both head home but are slowed when Marianne falls ill when she walks in a rain storm to view Willoughby's family estate. Colonel Brandon finds her and brings her to Elinor and helps to aid in her recovery. I won't go into more detail as you should watch the film. While there are several great performances Emma and Alan are the two best. Emma portrays Elinor's dismay and restraint so perfectly until she simply can no longer hold it in. The scene when she finally lets it out is just amazing. And Rickman as Colonel Brandon is an cinematic perfect fit. He has the natural melancholy about him which fits the character then you include his acting and it's pure magic. Great book, great film.
