The first time I saw this film I was about ten and I abhorred it.  I was bored.  I dismissed this film as one of those movies I'll never like, but then last year I was delighted when watching `Pride and Prejudice' and it hit me...I'm not ten anymore and I just might like these kinds of movies now.  So, I decided to give `Sense and Sensibility' a try and I was quickly set at ease for I became completely absorbed in this film.

The film focuses on the Dashwood family, more notably the two eldest sisters Elinor (Emma Thompson) and Marianne (Kate Winslet).  We see their struggles to find true love and keep it and we're endeared towards them as their attempts at happiness are met with the harshest of resentment and persecution.  That's not to say that this isn't a happy and warm film, it's just sad to see what they must fight against, most notably their evil sister-in-law Fanny (Harriet Walter).  As Elinor struggles to provide for her family emotionally she shelters her own emotions and refuses to confide in anyone whereas Marianne is open in her emotions, very charismatic and almost selfish in her manner.

To me the acting is what really drives this movie home.  Both the leading women are great, but it's Kate who lifts this movie (and pretty much every movie she does) and causes it to soar above the rest.  Her Marianne is not only convincing but memorable.  In my humble opinion she deserved the Oscar.  Alan Rickman is also very good here as the gentleman Colonel Brandon who wants only the best for Marianne, and Greg Wise is every bit charming as he is despicable as Willoughby.  Now I'm not a fan of Hugh Grant, at least not a huge fan.  I much prefer his selfish play boy types like in `Two-Weeks Notice' and `About a Boy', so here I felt he was a bit miscast.  He works, just not wonderfully.
The first time I saw this film I was about ten and I abhorred it. I was bored. I dismissed this film as one of those movies I'll never like, but then last year I was delighted when watching `Pride and Prejudice' and it hit me... I'm not ten anymore and I just might like these kinds of movies now. So, I decided to give `Sense and Sensibility' a try and I was quickly set at ease for I became completely absorbed in this film. The film focuses on the Dashwood family, more notably the two eldest sisters Elinor (Emma Thompson) and Marianne (Kate Winslet). We see their struggles to find true love and keep it and we're endeared towards them as their attempts at happiness are met with the harshest of resentment and persecution. That's not to say that this isn't a happy and warm film, it's just sad to see what they must fight against, most notably their evil sister-in-law Fanny (Harriet Walter). As Elinor struggles to provide for her family emotionally she shelters her own emotions and refuses to confide in anyone whereas Marianne is open in her emotions, very charismatic and almost selfish in her manner. To me the acting is what really drives this movie home. Both the leading women are great, but it's Kate who lifts this movie (and pretty much every movie she does) and causes it to soar above the rest. Her Marianne is not only convincing but memorable. In my humble opinion she deserved the Oscar. Alan Rickman is also very good here as the gentleman Colonel Brandon who wants only the best for Marianne, and Greg Wise is every bit charming as he is despicable as Willoughby. Now I'm not a fan of Hugh Grant, at least not a huge fan. I much prefer his selfish play boy types like in `Two-Weeks Notice' and `About a Boy', so here I felt he was a bit miscast. He works, just not wonderfully.