Juno Adds a Little Flare to Jane Eyre - and Rochester (Get It?)
Lo and behold, the BBC recently opted to adapt another Jane Eyre - with Ellen Page, this time, as murky Jane. I saw Juno over the winter and, for at least an hour, I was completely smitten. What a bright, wonderful, multifaceted, colorful, sly, smile-on-your-face movie; I was taken and head-over-heels in love with Miss Ellen for the duration of a beer and a bowl of cereal, and for probably a little in the morning inbetween my waking and plaque-attack.
It is no secret that I harbor a bone-deep animosity for the Brontes, and especially Jane Eyre. I find it takes itself a little too seriously and is soap-operatically bogged by the weight of its own smug: of course, it must rain all the time; the love interest is tall and dark like the shadow of his past; all is despondent and dead - save an inheritance at about £20,000 because her pap bit the dust. Sure, there is a lot worth discussing in some highbrow, beatnik, all-in-black-and-thick-rimmed-glassed English-4400 course over an inordinately expensive coffee, but I never understood why one might read it voluntarily.
Bronte’s 1847 novel tells the love story of a governess and her master, Edward Rochester, with Gothic flourishes. It’s among the most-filmed English novels of all time, with well over a dozen productions reaching the big and small screens, including BBC-produced miniseries in 1973 and 2006. Among the actresses to play the title character over the years are Joan Fontaine, Susannah York and Charlotte Gainsbourg. [Steven Zeitchik]
Vic (Ms. Place) Said:
on June 11, 2008 at 8:03 am
I’m a little late reading this page, but this is news for me. I, too, loved Ellen Page in Juno. Ellen is too quirkily pretty to play plain Jane, but I think she will bring a modern twist to the tale. I like the Bronte sisters, but I don’t turn to their novels over and over as I do to Jane’s.
daybookery Said:
on June 11, 2008 at 8:16 am
I think you’re probably right. After I posted this, I learned about the wealth of other movies Miss Page had roles in, and I think she is very capable - if she must - of playing Jane Eyre. I personally don’t care much for the Brontes, but I am pretty sure Ellen’s star power will fill theaters and draw not only those who aren’t too familiar with the B’s, but even their opponents! Go Ellen!