Jane Eyre (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Kristijonas F

  
  Yes, this film is gorgeously shot. Yes, it features stellar performances from the leads. Yes, one of the leads is indeed the unstoppable Mr. Fassbender. And finally, yes - Jane Eyre is as faithful of an adaptation of the classic Charlotte Bronte novel as you could possibly expect. But… More
  Yes, this film is gorgeously shot. Yes, it features stellar performances from the leads. Yes, one of the leads is indeed the unstoppable Mr. Fassbender. And finally, yes - Jane Eyre is as faithful of an adaptation of the classic Charlotte Bronte novel as you could possibly expect. But what this film deeply lacks is a fully-realized sense of purpose... Mia Wasikowska blows scene after scene out of the water, but the plot stumbles along, never quite explaining to the viewer what the events unfolding on the screen really mean, and the movie never reaches any sort of climax. The love story is, unfortunately, very stale.

• Alexander D

  
  Letâ(TM)s start out with the most noticeable quality of JANE EYRE. Itâ(TM)s not quite vividly colorful, but especially for a period piece, the visual aspect is very well-done. Whenever filmmakers create a period piece, one of the most paramount points to work on is the coloration.… More
  Letâ(TM)s start out with the most noticeable quality of JANE EYRE. Itâ(TM)s not quite vividly colorful, but especially for a period piece, the visual aspect is very well-done. Whenever filmmakers create a period piece, one of the most paramount points to work on is the coloration. When this is over- or underworked, the result is along the lines of THE HELP, a film that I would have viewed as flawless, had it not been ruined by itâ(TM)s bright, cheesy visuals. An on-target example would be JANE EYRE. The lighting and contrast heavily expound upon the dreary, bleak tone of the film itself. The performances may be the next best thing. In most cases, I would say, âWe have Judi Dench; â(TM)nuff said.â? But we have a talented Jane Eyre from beginning to end. Mia Wasikowska develops her role robustly as the titular character, an in-depth, odd personality. Just look at one of the production stills and youâ(TM)ll agree. http://themoviefreakblog.wordpress.com/review-jane-eyre

• Michael S

  
  A pitch perfect rendering of the Charlotte Bronte classic. "Jane Eyre" works on every level; from it's stellar period design to it's gothic look and tone, but it's the terrific scenes between Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender that really make the film. The… More
  A pitch perfect rendering of the Charlotte Bronte classic. "Jane Eyre" works on every level; from it's stellar period design to it's gothic look and tone, but it's the terrific scenes between Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender that really make the film. The characters could have been more fleshed out, and the chronology and pace could have been improved upon, but this is a sublime adaptation that resonates and conveys the passion and emotion essential to the story.

• danny d

  
  wonderfully shot, very well acted, but only semi engaging portrayal of one of the most well beloved novels of all time. really in the end it was a bit stoic, but many of the scenes were staged well enough to still keep me going and the dialogue at points was very well written.… More
  wonderfully shot, very well acted, but only semi engaging portrayal of one of the most well beloved novels of all time. really in the end it was a bit stoic, but many of the scenes were staged well enough to still keep me going and the dialogue at points was very well written. overall very good adaptation, but not what the novel deserves.

• Jakey L

  
  Garnered by a spirited adaptation of the Charlotte Brontë novel by Cary Joji Fukunaga and a riveting performance by the young Mia Wasikowska, this Jane Erye delivered were other adaptations failed to do, the picturesque persona of the protagonist. Stripped all of the romance and… More
  Garnered by a spirited adaptation of the Charlotte Brontë novel by Cary Joji Fukunaga and a riveting performance by the young Mia Wasikowska, this Jane Erye delivered were other adaptations failed to do, the picturesque persona of the protagonist. Stripped all of the romance and naivety commonly attached to these kinds of adaptations, Wasikowska performed solely on rawness and vulnerability of Brontë's character.

• Wildaly M

  
  I liked this adaptation but I didn't find it better than other adaptations for some reason. The cinematography is very good and the acting is not bad but I just didn't see the chemistry between the leads. I think Wasikowska was missing passion from her role.

• Saskia D

  
  I wasn't really interested in seeing this movie, but I'm not sorry I did. It's a costume drama without all the unnecessary theatricality. It was very balanced and modest which made the characters and they're affections stand out. Mia Wasikowska is great as Jane… More
  I wasn't really interested in seeing this movie, but I'm not sorry I did. It's a costume drama without all the unnecessary theatricality. It was very balanced and modest which made the characters and they're affections stand out. Mia Wasikowska is great as Jane Eyre, she reminds me a lot of a younger Claire Danes. Makes me want to read some of those English classics again. <div style="width:400px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/mia-wasikoska-jane-eyre-2011-mia-wasikowska-13597885"><img src="http://content7.flixster.com/photo/13/59/78/13597885_gal.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">

• Julie B

  
  Sorry, Tom Hardy, you've been knocked from the top of the modern-hottie-plays-brooding-Bronte-heroine heap. Fassbender, you may brood in my presence anytime.

• Matheus C

  
  This is an exquisetly produced adaptation, but it doesn't add anything new to the gothic romance genre. Besides the presence of Michael Fassbender and Judi Dench to shine some light into the proceedings, the whole thing is as cold and distant as Mia Wasikoska's gaze. The… More
  This is an exquisetly produced adaptation, but it doesn't add anything new to the gothic romance genre. Besides the presence of Michael Fassbender and Judi Dench to shine some light into the proceedings, the whole thing is as cold and distant as Mia Wasikoska's gaze. The real drama seems to be lurking in the shadows of Adriano Goldman's menacingly dark cinematography.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Judi Dench, Jamie Bell, Imogen Poots, Sally Hawkins, Amelia Clarkson, Romy Settbon Moore, Tamzin Merchant, Holliday Grainger, Freya Wilson Director: Cary Fukunaga Summary: Driven from her post at Thornfield House by her love for her… More
  Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Judi Dench, Jamie Bell, Imogen Poots, Sally Hawkins, Amelia Clarkson, Romy Settbon Moore, Tamzin Merchant, Holliday Grainger, Freya Wilson Director: Cary Fukunaga Summary: Driven from her post at Thornfield House by her love for her brooding employer and his secret past, young governess Jane Eyre reflects on her youth and the events that led her to the misty moors in this artful adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's novel. My Thoughts: "Jane Eyre is a dark and harrowing love story. The scenery and costumes were beautiful. The movie was well casted. Everyone fitting their roles perfectly. Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender were excellent and had great chemistry on screen. The film has great suspense and even had me jumping a couple times. I very much liked the character Jane. She is a strong female who gets pressured by no one and no man and stays true to herself. The only real complaint I have is the abrupt ending. Not that it wasn't great, it was just that I wanted more. I wasn't ready for the story to be over. I will be looking for the book to read since the film has peaked my interest. I will definitely be seeing this film again."

• familiar s

  
  Although it's a compelling piece of art (I don't consider my limited knowledge of art a hindrance to judge it), I didn't find the movie any more than a mediocre drama (I don't consider my limited knowledge of movies a hindrance to judge it) with some mystic… More
  Although it's a compelling piece of art (I don't consider my limited knowledge of art a hindrance to judge it), I didn't find the movie any more than a mediocre drama (I don't consider my limited knowledge of movies a hindrance to judge it) with some mystic elements thrown in just for the sake of it. I don't think (well, I do think, but I don't consider my limited thinking ability a hindrance to judge it) I was asking for too much, yet I hardly got anything. Thankfully, the performances were top-notch and the runtime restrained (I've heard that the movie leaves out much from the book it was based on, but what's offered is more than enough for me). My consolations to those who are tortured, if any; it wasn't intentional. I reckon with one and all who say that it's anything (includes censored words) but funny. And for those who have no idea what I'm talking about, it's not the least worth pondering about. If nothing, you can count on me for that. Laters, if you ever wish or our paths collide.

• Cynthia S

  
  A Jane Eyre presentation that actually made me jump a couple of times. This version definitely went for the eerie factor. The production, and especially the lighting and staging, is wonderfully done. The entire cast was perfect, and I especially enjoyed watching Judi Dench. This is an… More
  A Jane Eyre presentation that actually made me jump a couple of times. This version definitely went for the eerie factor. The production, and especially the lighting and staging, is wonderfully done. The entire cast was perfect, and I especially enjoyed watching Judi Dench. This is an excellent version of a terrific story.

• Lewis C

  
  First of all, this is a gorgeous movie. Every indoor shot, close-up, and sweeping view of the landscape is an example of how cinematography can elevate a movie. Jane Eyre is a classic story for a reason, and this is as fine an adaptation I've encountered with great acting… More
  First of all, this is a gorgeous movie. Every indoor shot, close-up, and sweeping view of the landscape is an example of how cinematography can elevate a movie. Jane Eyre is a classic story for a reason, and this is as fine an adaptation I've encountered with great acting all-around, but it's the visuals and gothic atmosphere that really made me enjoy this as much as I did. On the negative side, there never really seemed to be enough interaction between the characters to justify their attachments to one another. I'm speaking specifically of Jane and Rochester, who are portrayed as being totally in love with each other without much of a reason why ever seen by the audience. That's a small complaint, though, and one that's easily overlooked if you're watching the movie for more than just the romantic aspect, like I was. I've got to admit, Mia Wasikowska was an excellent Jane. She fit into the time and place shown like a hand in a glove, naturally speaking the poetic dialogue. Michael Fassbender continues his inexorable climb to A-list actor status, and Judi Dench (who I didn't even know was in the movie until I saw her on the screen), is a welcome presence, as always. Jane Eyre isn't a perfect movie, but for me, its strengths far outweighed its flaws.

• Mark R

  
  Adapting a classic work of literature can be a risky prospect for any filmmaker, particularly when said work is as familiar and oft told as Jane Eyre (which, leaving aside the novel, has been filmed an astonishing twenty-one times according to IMDb). The question must be asked whether… More
  Adapting a classic work of literature can be a risky prospect for any filmmaker, particularly when said work is as familiar and oft told as Jane Eyre (which, leaving aside the novel, has been filmed an astonishing twenty-one times according to IMDb). The question must be asked whether or not a new version is ever going to be necessary, for surely every aspect of the story has been explored on the screen already. Director Cary Fukunaga wisely chooses to play it fairly straight with this latest version of Jane Eyre, and what results is a moody and atmospheric film that hits all the right notes of the classic tale. For a novel to be adapted repeatedly as Jane Eyre has speaks volumes about the quality of the source material, and as such it's probably unnecessary to delve into the story too much here. What Fukunaga brings to her version of the story however is a focus on certain themes in the novel, most notably that of deceit. The story is a very dark one, perhaps the best representation of Gothic literature ever created, and the notion of deceit looms over the narrative like the ever-present clouds over Thornfield Hall. Accused of deception at an early age by her benefactor, the villainous Mrs. Reed (Sally Hawkins), in fact Jane (Mia Wasikowska) herself appears to be the only pure and honest character in the story. However, though not in any way malicious, her life remains one of deception out of self-preservation. Wasikowska's Jane is every bit the plain and solitary young girl of Charlotte Bronte's novel, and her the mask she wears is of a person who wishes for nothing more than to blend into the background, not just at Thornfield, but in the world as a whole. There are rare occasions when she does voice her desire for more out of her existence than a life of servitude, but in the absence of any interior narration and without the luxury of the novel's pseudo-autobiographical, almost diary style, it's difficult to read Jane and understand her true nature. Only when she meets Rochester (Michael Fassbender), a man who sees through her deception to the passionate and ambitious core of her being, does Fukunaga expose the real Jane, and it's in these scenes that the film shines. Bronte's wonderful verbal sparring between Jane and Rochester remains intact, with many lines of dialogue lifted from the novel in their entirety, and the love between them blossoms from the novelty of each having an intellectual and moral equal. Casting Wasikowska and Fassbender was an excellent choice on the part of Fukunaga, yet the rest of the cast also excel in the supporting roles. Most surprising is Jamie Bell as St. John Rivers, breaking away from his typical youth characters and showing real growth as a performer. Rivers functions as an almost polar opposite to Rochester, and Bell plays him as ineffectual and emotionless, precisely what Jane doesn't wish to become herself. When the moment comes for Jane to finally stand up to Rivers and choose between what she desires and what is 'proper', Bell delivers some of his finest work. There are no doubt still going to be many people to debate whether audiences need another version of Jane Eyre, and obviously in a two-hour film there are going to be aspects of the novel deemed important by some that had to be left out. There is worth to the film though, and for people in search of a classic story told with genuinely suspenseful atmosphere fuelled by terrific performances, Jane Eyre more than fits the bill. tinribs27.wordpress.com

• Alireza M

  
  All events in this movie happen hastily and that's the main problem in movies which are adapted from novels with long storyline specially this one.

• Reid V

  
  While most attempts at translating literary classics to the silver screen often ends in disaster. this film may be the closest you'll come to visually capturing the spirit of the novel. From the very first scene, you get a sense that this film is going to be much different from… More
  While most attempts at translating literary classics to the silver screen often ends in disaster. this film may be the closest you'll come to visually capturing the spirit of the novel. From the very first scene, you get a sense that this film is going to be much different from the other schlock regarding 19th century England. Fukunaga uses the light, sound, and expert camera use to create some incredibly striking moments. While this film also focuses on the darkness of this period rather than just focusing on the love lives of the aristocracy, somehow amid all of the doom and gloom, Fukunaga finds real & passionate beauty. This is augmented by the exceptional cast especially the leads Wasikowska and Fassbender. My biggest qualm with the film is how compact it feels. Often conflicts aren't allowed to breathe and the film seems to speed through some very vital moments. I don't blame Fukunaga for this as I can just imagine studio execs telling him to "speed it up, make them kiss already!" None the less, it is a strong and excellent attempt at bringing Charlotte Bronte's famous novel to life once again.

• c0up  

  
  'Jane Eyre'. Filled with haunting, vivid imagery, meticulous direction, and a commanding, wonderful performance from Mia Wasikowska

• Spencer S

  
  Any BBC remake of an Austen or Bronte goes along the same tired and delightful path that the feminine element eat up with the sophistication of a Victorian era without the desperation of a Twilight book. This adaptation of the scrupulous and eccentric Jane Eyre was desperately trying… More
  Any BBC remake of an Austen or Bronte goes along the same tired and delightful path that the feminine element eat up with the sophistication of a Victorian era without the desperation of a Twilight book. This adaptation of the scrupulous and eccentric Jane Eyre was desperately trying to break this tradition with a much darker and foreboding portrait of the governess sent to Thornfield to care for the ward of Mr. Edward Rochester. The rainy, dark, Moorish setting for this porous love story is that of a very sinister period piece, with some choice decisions in direction, cinematography, and acting. Still, this rendition was the limp film of its predecessors, playing into every cop out possible. Besides the unique versatility of Wasikowska's Jane Eyre, the characters just don't pop off the screen in a very irresistible fashion. Though Fassbender is very rugged and chiseled, his "moodiness" is placated with one scene, in which it is only hinted toward his changes in demeanor, where he's off camera. Much of the original book is rushed through, and we are left with a very pretty and well shot episode of a teen soap opera. Yes, the empathy for the poor, dilapidated Eyre is always weighing on one's psyche, but the depression of her circumstances is never fully broached. She's so monotone and irregular that any human connection is simply seen as a mistake; then, magically, she and Rochester turn into a couple of ill fitting youngsters, abounding in the gardens and tight lipped kissing throughout the hall. It was very heavy subject matter to take on, and the way they executed their supposedly "dramatic" version was comical at times. Still, a love story is nothing more than recycled material, so I give considerable kudos for some beautiful scenes, if not for the flimsy premise.

• Left J

  
  "Lovely, peaceful, thoughtful but most of all silent. It's a colorless but odored film" Jane Eyre is such a common name in movie history. So many adaptations of the novel have been made and so many different portrayals of this troubled character but this is a… More
  "Lovely, peaceful, thoughtful but most of all silent. It's a colorless but odored film" Jane Eyre is such a common name in movie history. So many adaptations of the novel have been made and so many different portrayals of this troubled character but this is a tremendous result concerning both the accuracy and the execution of the story. This film is a cinematic piece that feels like a novel. It's lovely, peaceful, thoughtful but most of all silent. By silence I mean invisibility. It's a colorless but odored film. After spending cold and harsh times under the administration of a stark boarding school where she was sent by her aunt Sarah (Sally Hawkins) after her parents died of typhus, Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska) finds herself working as a governess for Adle Varens (Romy Settbon Moore), the ward of Edward Fairfax Rochester (Michael Fassbender), master of Thornfield Hall. Dealing with her own dark cornered past, with her disciplined and compassionate personality, Jane finds home and warm under the Rochester roof. She gets an immense pleasure and a certain amount of happiness knowing that the charming Edward Rochester looks at her with desire and passion and equality. She reaches brightness once she's asked for wife. The love story appears to become full and untouchable, almost as gracious as a fairy tale. Her poisonous past is gone and now she's a young woman in front of taking decisions that will change her life completely: from poor, obscure, plain and little to rich, consp*cuous, complex and big. But when's she's about to put the big veil she must face a secret that might get her more disappointed than ever. The love story becomes futile and disturbing. For her, her fate seems to be a nature's catastrophe. However, she's not a woman to fear the attempts of destiny to discourage someone's choice for a future so she takes matters in her own hands. She becomes mature and sterile to naivety. While fighting her own demons she becomes reluctant to her own sudden life changing news. She'll find herself in an opposite position from the beginning, eating from different dishes from the beginning, meeting the opposite man she once met but dealing with the same problems regarding love and life. She's young, colorless but filled with meaning like one of her own paintings. Though I'm not very found of Mia Wasikowska, I admit she probably portrays the best Jane Eyre ever. She's deep and she feels the connection with her character. She identifies with it and she deals with her emotional progress. Michael Fassbender is one of the best actors out there right now, but his performance here felt chained. I felt he was sometimes just conventional and other times he passed that scale greatly. I'm more interested in his work in Shame and A Dangerous Method. The good acting was accompanied by a very good cinematography that suffered only at times by being too pale. The editing was simple but on point. The music by Dario Marianelli did not felt as vibrant as it should. It was too melancholic and dreamy like even for a grey atmosphere like this one. Jane Eyre is one of the good movie of 2011 but it becomes fragile once you're done with it. You might even forget it if you're not a big fan of the novel. But don't get mushy about it because I gave enough reasons for you to see it and judge it for yourself. Storyline/Dialogue: 7,5/10 Acting: 8/10 Techincal Execution: 7,6/10 Replay Value: 7/10 =========================== Overall: 7,6

• Drake T

  
  Not as good as I was expecting, although kudos to both Wasikowska and Fassbender. It felt like Jane's life was just inherently mundane and the director strained to keep it from feeling so. As the story progresses her character is developed in untimely, sudden outbursts that… More
  Not as good as I was expecting, although kudos to both Wasikowska and Fassbender. It felt like Jane's life was just inherently mundane and the director strained to keep it from feeling so. As the story progresses her character is developed in untimely, sudden outbursts that called for some better flow. Maybe too subtle for me but there just wasn't much in this period romance that particularly grabbed my interest. The acting was great but the players often felt over dramatized in its contrasting monotone background.

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