Film Thoughts - Violence + a review of Becoming Jane

On Screen Violence

I should say at the outset that I am not somebody who favours a more rigorous censorship of what is shown on our screens either at home or in the cinema. I think that violence on screen can serve a purpose, whether that purpose be moral, dramatic, character-driven, narrative, artistic or even aesthetic. Furthermore I think that there is enough information out there that people should be able to avoid things that are likely to offend.

What prompts me to write this are thoughts and conversations with colleagues I have had about the film Outlaw (now, depressingly entering its third week on our cinema screens). I must admit that I have not seen the film, nor have any desire to do so, so I write in ignorance, but that’s never stopped me before. I have, however, seen director Nick Love’s previous 2 films – The Business (dire) and The Football Factory (execrable) – and what concerns me about these films (and Outlaw looks as bad, if not worse, from the trailers) is that the violence in them seems to serve no purpose whatsoever. Rather plot, character, everything seems there to serve the purpose of more violence on the screen. I was going to say the films are about violence, but even that would imply more purpose than there actually is to them. No, they are a gratuitous glorification of the worst kind of violent thuggery.

What really depresses me is how many of the young people I work with, many of whom have their own behavioural issues, have cited these movies among their favourites. Cause for concern, surely? Yes, strictly speaking they are not old enough to watch these films, but we all know young people will watch 18 certificate films if they can - I did when I was that age.

As I said, I’m not looking for a new censorship, but a greater sense of responsibility by filmmakers might be welcome.


FILM REVIEW – Becoming Jane – 3.5/5

This film is a fictionalised account of the supposedly real romance between a young Jane Austen and a poor trainee lawyer. So, period piece, costumes, Jane Austen, romance – how chick flick can you get? Which means I probably shouldn’t admit to enjoying it, but I did.

For the second time this year (following Miss Potter) a famous British writer is portrayed on screen by an American actress – are there no young British actresses out there of sufficient commercial clout? Having said that Anne Hathaway gives a credible, spirited and lively performance in the role (with the added advantage that her English accent is considerably less irritating than Renee Zellweger’s was as Beatrix Potter).

James McAvoy (who is contractually obliged to appear in 10% of all films screened this year) provides the romantic interest as young lawyer Tom Lefroy with his usual sparkle and charm. And they work very well as a couple – there is a real chemistry to their exchanges. A touch of class and of comedy is provided by the older generation – Julie Walters, Dame Maggie Smith, Ian Richardson.

As it is well known that Austen herself, unlike her heroines, never married it should come as no surprise how the film turns out and if the scene where Tom lets Jane go after his uncle (Richardson) refuses consent to the pair feels a bit flat, the emotional punch is being saved for another parting later on. Initially the film seems determined to draw parallels between its characters and those of Austen’s novels, especially her most famous, Pride and Prejudice. However, as her life deviates from the course her heroines would follow, so the other characters gain a bit more life of their own – her mother (Walters) is granted far more of a positive, redemptive role than Mrs Bennett ever had and even Jane’s rejected other suitor emerges in a far more positive light than might be seen at first.

If this film has a weakness its that the scriptwriters are just not quite as witty as Austen herself and therefore struggle to write her at times and some of her exchanges with Lefroy are a bit rushed and garbled. The film has no great surprises, you know what you’re going to get, but it does it all very well and with a certain charm. Most girls will doubtless like it and more than a few guys might be surprised how much they enjoy it (but you don’t have to admit it).