Becoming Jane (2007)
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57% of critics liked it
(136 reviews) -
74% of users liked it
(131,505 ratings)
Events from the life of the author Jane Austen inspired this romantic historical drama, which speculates of a romance that may have had a significant impact on her life and work. Twenty-year-old Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) is the daughter of Rev. Austen (James Cromwell), a minister who looks after a… More Events from the life of the author Jane Austen inspired this romantic historical drama, which speculates of a romance that may have had a significant impact on her life and work. Twenty-year-old Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) is the daughter of Rev. Austen (James Cromwell), a minister who looks after a flock in a small rural community in Southern England with his wife (Julie Walters). While her older sister, Cassandra (Anna Maxwell Martin), is engaged to be married, Jane resists her family's efforts to match her up with Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox), the wealthy but dull nephew of Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith), a minor member of the British nobility. Jane has the heart of an artist, and hopes to distinguish herself as a musician or a writer, though her parents don't think much of her prospects. When Jane meets Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), a young man her own age, she's intrigued; while he scoffs at her writing style, he clearly sees she has talent, and is eager for her to learn more of the larger world by exposing her to more daring literature and modern pastimes such as boxing. As Tom begins to court Jane, she finds herself increasingly attracted to this poor but keenly intelligent man, though she soon realizes her own ideas about love and marriage are sometimes at odds with the conventions of the society in which she lives. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Julian Jarrold
- Written By
- Sarah Williams, Kevin Hood
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- In Theaters
- Aug 3, 2007 Wide
- Studio
- Miramax Films
Critic Reviews
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David Fear, Time Out New York
Hews frustratingly to the middle of the road.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Not only is that a huge stretch of the facts, it makes for a dull and overly familiar melodrama.
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Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Hathaway never makes us think the woman could write anything more complex than a diet book.
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J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
This never rises above a date movie, but it's functionally literate (the lovers have some pleasant banter about the realistic merits of Tom Jones) and features a fine supporting turn from Ian Richardson.
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Christy Lemire, Associated Press
Becoming Jane becomes a rather ordinary, though sporadically entertaining, game of dress-up.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Anne Hathaway
as Jane Austen
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James McAvoy
as Tom Lefroy
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Julie Walters
as Mrs. Austen
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James Cromwell
as Reverend Austin
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Maggie Smith
as Lady Gresham
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Anna Maxwell Martin
as Cassandra Austen
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Lucy Cohu
as Eliza De Feuillide
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Laurence Fox
as Mr. Wisley
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Ian Richardson
as Judge Langlois
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Joe Anderson
as Henry Austen
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Leo Bill
as John Warren
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Jessica Ashworth
as Lucy Lefroy
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Eleanor Methven
as Mrs. Lefroy
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Michael James Ford
as Mr. Lefroy
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Tom Vaughan-Lawlor
as Robert Fowle
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Elaine Murphy
as Jenny
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Guy Carleton
as Coachman
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Russell Smith
as 2nd Coachman
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Philip Culhane
as George Austen
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Helen McCrory
as Mrs. Radcliffe
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Louise Marie Kerr
as Admirer
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Sophie Vavasseur
as jane Lefroy
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Gina Costigan
as 3 Caroline
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Chris McHallem
as Mr. Curtis
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Don Doherty
as Michael Patric
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Tara Nixon O'Neill
as Wine Whore
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Tom Maguire
as Miscreant
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Lynda Lee
as Soprano
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Donal O'Farrell
as Black Bob




