Attention Janeites…

Starting this weekend, PBS’ Monsterpiece Masterpiece Theatre will be showing adaptations of all six of Jane Austen’s novels, including the definitive five-hour Pride and Prejudice adaptation starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. First up is a new take on Persuasion, the most overlooked of her novels, but one without a good film version; the most recent attempt prior to this one starred Amanda Root as Anne Elliott, who spent the entire film sporting a look of wide-eyed terror as if she was in permanent danger of having someone shove a twelve-inch carrot up her ass. Since the novel’s Anne Elliott is generally smart and independent, Ms. Root’s take didn’t quite work for me. The book is probably Austen’s wittiest, with some great characters and plenty of dry humor; the opening scene where Anne’s uncle decries the lack of attractive people about town is priceless.