Though a classic, I guess the title never allured me. Finally, and I’m not sure why, but a trailer for the 2005 version with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen usurped my attention. So I screened the DVD.

The best parts of the film are the punctuation. The moments away from all that rambling clever dialogue. The times with Keira Knightley, some spectacular backing scenery or landscapes, and the careful cinematographer. Four or five times, the film indulges in these beautiful moody sighs. I loved them.

But the rest of the time, everybody is trying so hard to say something so immensely clever, the one-upmanship is a bit tiresome. And I’d say distracting from the more visceral feelings of love. Probably, that’s why I appreciated the punctuation so much.

The acting is fine, though none stands out. The directing rather crisp. I enjoyed some of the more ambitious roving steadicam shots. Though a certain inconsistent zoom in out for short quick stints – bothered me. And early on, there’s just a little too much conversation taking place while people dance, the lines are delivered during offbeat moments. I found it annoying. Oh, as an American raised on “Monty Python” I fancy myself well adapted to the British tongue – however, I found this film audibley difficult.

Overall, though “Pride & Prejudice” as a title may imply something more (and perhaps in the book is), here it is essentially a soapy love story with supposedly clever dialogue. I admit my bias – I’m not much for soap.

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