The Jury Is Out…
I just finished watching part one of Andrew Davies’ adaptation of Sense & Sensibility and I’m not quite sure what to think, yet. I can say that I didn’t particularly care for the opening scene between Willoughby and Eliza with all of the steamy “ooh” noises and overt skin shots. Frankly, I was embarrassed by how hard they were trying to make it “sexy” in a modern-day sense. I watch period pieces for a reason. If I want a skanky modern scene, I can turn to any channel on my TV. Perhaps Andrew Davies hasn’t figured out that women don’t necessarily need or like explicit scenes. Unlike a dude, I don’t get turned on by visual stimulus.
The entire production dragged painfully and the acting was disappointingly mediocre. I also found Dominic Cooper to be too smarmy as Willoughby. “Willoughby! Willoughby!” The name can’t help but conjure an image of the gorgeous Greg Wise. (See inset picture of gorgeous, brooding man.) Unfortunately, I also could not help but compare this production to Ang Lee’s 1995 S&S, which was adapted by Emma Thompson, and one of my top twenty faves.
Thus far, this is my least favorite current adaptation of an Austen work… We’ll have to see if part two redeems the production. To Be Continued.
i too feel that only one man is synonymous with “willoughby!” but i thought it was ok. the actors were better than the actresses. i do like the new edward…he has ‘eye candy’ quality, and the acting was not horrible.