Genres

Visitors Review

crnroyal 2012-05-20 05:52:25

Better than expected!

We wanted to give you our views on this movie, because we have apersonal interest in the making of same. We had no preconception ofit's content. However, we have read and/or seen other Jane Austen booksor adapted movies. This was a special occasion for us. This moviereally brought together, all of the intricacies of couplerelationships. Our granddaughter was chosen as an extra for the movie-"Jane AustenBook Club". She spent 8 hours being filmed for the (climbing/birthday)scene. We went to see the movie, not so much for the story, but to seeher. We didn't catch our granddaughter's segment-maybe it was cut orwe'll catch it on DVD. Nevertheless,to our surprise,we found the movieto be very entertaining,provocative and funny. A must see for couples!Joe & Theresa

TxMike 2012-05-20 01:43:14

Good movie, the story and characters parallel what Jane Austen might have written.

Things happen and the characters have issues. One of them suggests thatthey read Jane Austen's 6 major books and meet monthly to discuss them.Each person would have responsibility for a different book, and eachperson would be responsible for the location of the meeting.I am not necessarily a Jane Austen fan, and I have not read any of herbooks. In fact, I don't know how many books she wrote, maybe it wasonly 6. However I did recently see the excellent 'Becoming Jane' withAnne Hathaway as Jane Austen, so I feel like a know a bit about her.While the characters in the movie are discussing Austen, they alsobehave as characters in Jane Austen's books might. There is a nicesingle lady (Maria Bello) who raises dogs, and who tries to fix upothers, but doesn't allow herself to get close to others. She seemslike an Emma type.Of the 6 who meet to discuss Austen, one is a young man invited on awhim, who looks like a mistake, but actually turns out very well.All in all an entertaining movie.

2012-05-10 21:19:11

Cute chick flick

This review is from: The Jane Austen Book Club (DVD) This is a cute "chick flick". It's something to put on and enjoy while folding the laundry in the afternoon, or while curled up on the sofa, with a dish of ice cream, on Saturday night. I've watched it several times and really enjoy it. Of course, it's not one my husband ever wanted to sit down and watch with me (you say the words "Jane Austen" and he immediately has a million other things to do). But it's one I can enjoy by myself time and time again.I love Jane Austen's books and have seen most of the movies made from them, so this was fun because it focuses on the Jane Austen novels, even though it's not a movie of one of her books. There are some funny parts and the dialog is good. Plus, I love all the references to Jane Austen and her beloved characters. There are some really good actors here as well. I have always liked Amy Brenneman. Kathy Baker does a great job as does Maria Bello. I enjoyed Emily Blunt as well. And Hugh Dancy is just cute!I tried to read the book this movie is based on, but couldn't get into it (I gave up after a couple of chapters). Odd, because I usually enjoy the book better than the movie, but in this instance I found the book to be too dry and detailed and didn't get to the cute "chick flick" part that I enjoy so much about the movie. This is a cute movie and a really good price. Probably can't find it for a better price than Amazon.

2012-05-10 03:22:28

Loved it !

This movie was really funny, smart, sad sometimes, it has a little bit of everything and that's what makes it great.

Fallbrook Doctor 2012-05-05 05:18:05

Go see this movie!

This was a wonderful refreshing movie about our most intimate relationships. The acting was wonderful, storyline great! Take your spouse or friends but go see this movie!

Philby-3 2012-05-04 19:47:26

Snoozing with Jane Austen

One of the male characters in this movie thinks an Austen is a car,quite remarkable really as Austins (deeply mediocre cars once made inEngland) have not been sold in the US for thirty years. NeverthelessJane Austen, who published her last book about 180 years ago, is stillread even in California.The Jane Austen Book Club comes about through the efforts ofmuch-married Bernadette (Kathy Baker) to console her kennel-owningfriend Jocelyn (Maria Bello) who has lost a favorite dog. Other membersare Sylvia (Amy Brenneman), whose lawyer husband (Jimmy Smits) has goneoff with a co-worker, her lesbian daughter Allegra, teacher Prudie(Emily Blunt) who is neglected by her husband and fancies one of herstudents Trey (Kevin Zegers), and one male, Grigg (Hugh Dancy with agood American accent), a successful businessman and science fiction fanwho Jocelyn is trying to get interested in Sylvia but who actuallyfancies control freak Jocelyn herself.The group plow through all six Austen novels, which come to be seen bythem as lessons in manners. In one surreal scene Prudie is about tocross a road to join her possible teenage paramour who is waitingoutside a motel for her. The traffic light, instead of "Walk" reads"What would Jane do". Naturally "Don't Walk" follows.With eight or nine main characters, including Sylvia's aging hippiemother and nightmare house guest (Lynn Redgrave), it is a tight fit in105 minutes to get all their stories in, but in adapting Karen Fowler'sbook first time director Robin Swicord covers the ground quiteefficiently. The film is not so much about the novels as about thegroup of friends; after all we know what happens to the Austenheroines, but the fates of the club members is up in the air.Channel 4 in Scotland did something similar in their 2002-03 series"The Book Group" (with a lonely American in Glasgow starting thegroup), but this film does not match the hilarity of that series. It ispleasant to watch and you don't need to know much about the novels tounderstand what's happening, but it's a bit of a snooze, and I'm afraidI don't buy Jane Austen as a marriage counsellor. After all, she nevergot to the altar herself. As for Jimmy Smits becoming a latter dayAusten fan – I can't suspend my disbelief that far.

2012-05-01 20:15:36

A Fairy Tale - But a Good One

This movie was totally cute - quiet and refreshing (really 3 and half stars). If you've read Austen's novels, you will obviously like the "book club" bits and see the parallels in these women's lives. I only had a small problem with the whole boys=sci-fi thing. Maybe it's rarer than I think, but I'm both a lifelong sci-fi/fantasy geek/fangirl and a Jane Austen aficionado. Hello? We are out there! I totally loved the reference to Star Wars. It's certainly not a point only a fanboy could make!**upon second viewing in 2010, i have amended it to four stars

Danusha Goska 2012-05-01 06:23:30

Pleasant; Characters and Resolution Did Not Convince, Engage or Arouse Feeling

"The Jane Austen Book Club" was a pleasant movie, one I didn't mindwatching once but would not want to watch again. There were a couple ofvery good lines, and the actors are all, without exception, fine.Production values are high.The characters and resolution didn't convince or engage me, though. Ijust did not believe, at any point, that these were real people. Iespecially did not believe the final scene. "He ended up with her? Idon't think so," was what I kept thinking. I didn't believe the finalcouplings, and I did not care.I had the same problem with this movie that I had with the book onwhich it was based. Both book and movie felt like writerly exercises tome. I felt as if the writer, Karen Joy Fowler, got this neato schematicidea in her writing class, "Aha! A book club of bourgeois people whoread Jane Austen and fall in love!" and went about filling in thepieces of that puzzle without ever investing any of the characters withreal human warmth.One characterization stands out, though. Emily Blunt as a depressivewoman with a bad mother, a mediocre marriage, and a temptation to dovery bad things, creates a moody air all by herself. It's as if shecame in from the set of a daring indy movie. I hope she's given chancesin the future to live up to the promise she shows here.

Tim Kidner 2012-04-28 04:37:46

Not a Jane Austen Film Club?

The rented DVD had tags of this being an all-star rom com. Those twowords normally, especially when in conjunction with each other sends merunning to the hills.With some preconceived notion that, by its very title and the nature ofthe 'club' in question, I felt this would be lifted up and above theusual trite that passes off as a humorous romantic movie these days.So - it wasn't quite as I expected, but then it wasn't as bad as Iexpected it could be, once I (sort of) knew what to expect.... Follow?It makes perfect sense that a cross-section (mostly women) ofCalifornian people with time to spare and quite a few loose ends intheir lives to tie up would follow Austen as their chosen book clubauthor. That it doesn't try too hard to either be high-brow literature or anout and out banal people-in-need-of-therapy (a few don't, actually) sobsession makes it all gently perceptive. How a common theme, which couldbe anything ie ten-pin bowling, can become a focal point in which folkcan socialise and hopefully, put their lives into perspective. Thatthat subject is in fact a world-loved and world-known author whosecharacters are so everyday, they can be transferred, by type, a fewcenturies forward and interwoven into the lives of readers any time -and anywhere. Just for the record, I'm not a follower of Jane Austen's works but doknow the salient titles and a few of the key characters and I'm sure ifyou do, you'd get more from the film than maybe I did. Admittedly, I didn't recognise many (if any) of the cast but found theentire viewing experience a refreshing, often witty one that thankfullydesisted obvious stereotyping. In short, yes worth the modest rental fee and for those who like suchstuff, but with an added intelligence, go for it.

Ed Uyeshima 2012-04-27 20:29:54

Strong Cast Enlivens a Superficial Female Fantasy Layering Modern-Day Soap Opera Elements Upon Austen's Works

It really isn't the singularly ultra-feminine orientation thatalienates me from this 2007 hodgepodge tribute to the power of JaneAusten's prose as much as the cursory, heavy-handed way thatdirector/screenwriter Robin Swicord has approached her adaptation ofKaren Joy Fowler's 2004 novel. Austen's enduring popularity hasinspired several recently filmed productions of her early 19th centuryworks, and Fowler cleverly interweaves the author's six novels byincorporating her pertinent themes into a contemporary story ofmanners. Unfortunately, with a running time of 105 minutes, Swicordbarely has time to tap into the themes of each novel as Fowler could,and the result feels rushed and misshapen by the machinations of themodern-day stories toward a too-perfect resolution. Despite thepresence of a sterling ensemble of proved actors, there's justsomething ultimately patronizing to viewers of either gender when afilmmaker needs to wrap up the numerous loose threads of the omnibusplot into a neatly tied bow at the end.The multi-decked story is a pure Harlequin romance fantasy bringingtogether a group of five women and one man into a monthly book club in,of all places, Sacramento (though it was filmed in LA). The den motheris Bernadette, a fiftyish, six-times-married free spirit who decides tostart the book club to cheer up longtime friend Sylvia, facing thebreakup of her twenty-plus year marriage, and new acquaintance Prudie,a young high school French teacher with an insensitive husband. Joiningthe clutch is Bernadette and Sylvia's good friend Jocelyn, a dogbreeder who has already given up on having possible long-termrelationships (just like Austen's "Emma"); Sylvia's daredevil lesbiandaughter Allegra, who treats love and sports in the same risk-takingmanner; and Grigg, a software whiz and science-fiction geek who hasnever read Austen before. Their lives outside the club intertwine, inparticular, Jocelyn's repeated attempts to match the now-separatedSylvia with Grigg. I imagine familiarity with Austen's novels would behelpful since many of the literary references occur in rapid-firesuccession, but it isn't mandatory since Swicord primarily focuses onthe characters' predicaments in a more predictable soap opera fashion.A strong cast helps, but more often, their portrayals feel like chesspieces in a timer-dictated game. Channeling a lot of FrancesMcDormand's innate pragmatism, the ever-dependable Maria Bello ("AHistory of Violence", "World Trade Center") is sharp as always asJocelyn. Kathy Baker is earthy goodness as Bernadette, though hercharacter feels more like a plot device to allow the others a soundingboard. More familiar for her TV work, Amy Brenneman gets to experiencethe most drastic transformation as Sylvia, moving stepwise fromdispensable wife to emancipated woman, while Maggie Grace brings therequisite looseness to daughter Allegra. With her severe haircut,repressed wardrobe, and pretentious manner, Emily Blunt ("The DevilWears Prada", "Dan in Real Life") continues to sharpen her versatilityas the insecure Prudie. As put-upon Grigg, Hugh Dancy ("Evening") doeswhat he can with a relatively thankless part. Smaller parts are playedby Jimmy Smits as Sylvia's male-menopausal husband, and surroundingPrudie, Kevin Zegers ("Transamerica") as her hormonally chargedstudent, Marc Blucas as her lunk-headed husband, and Lynn Redgrave asher pothead hippie mother.There are quite a few extras on the 2008 DVD with the obligatorycommentary track probably the most informative feature withlight-hearted remarks provided by Swicord, editor Maryann Brandon,co-producer Julie Lynn, and actors Dancy, Grace and Blucas. Fourfeaturettes are provided - a standard eighteen-minute behind-the-scenessegment with the cast and crew interviewed in brief snippets; a22-minute overview of Austen's life as narrated by her devotees; atwelve-minute short - interesting but somewhat contrived - on howSwicord adapted each of the principal characters in Fowler's book to aliterary counterpart in an Austen novel; and a throwaway segment fromthe premiere in LA (it had a short theatrical run before going tovideo). There are also seven deleted scenes, including the last onewhere they tried repeatedly to have a ridgeback dog sniff at Dancy'scrotch. Austen devotees may enjoy the constant references to her works,but I wonder if they will appreciate the conventional storyline uponwhich they precariously hang.

Amy Adler 2012-04-24 09:41:05

Book a showing of this very worthy film, you will not be disappointed

Sylvia (Amy Brenneman) and her husband, Daniel (Jimmy Smits) have beenmarried for a little over 20 years. But, one day, Daniel drops the bigbombshells that he is seeing another woman and that he wants a divorce.Sylvia is heartbroken, so much so that her young, beautiful, lesbiandaughter Allegra moves back home to keep an eye on her. Close friend,Jocelyn (Maria Bello) is also hovering over Sylvia and decides tocreate a book club so that the jilted lady will be surrounded byfriends, conversation, and hope. Joining the club is a six-timedivorcée (Kathy Baker), an uptight young French teacher, Prudie (EmilyBlunt), and Allegra herself. But, because they decide the club will bedevoted to Jane Austen and her six books, they need one more member toput someone in charge of each, distinct book discussion. Therefore,Jocelyn invites Grigg (Hugh Dancy), an attractive young man she met ata hotel bar, to join them. In truth, he has eyes for Jocelyn and,although a science fiction fan, would read almost anything to get toknow her better. Thus, the discussions start, but the repartee is, attimes, only a brief breather from the continuing problems of the clubmembers. These troubles include death, near-infidelity, sky-divingcrashes, crazy mothers, and more. Will the club work to the benefit ofits members? This is a lovely film about the friends and relationshipsthat make human existence bearable. As the bosom buddies, the movie'sfine cast members are all quite wonderful, with Blunt, especially,still managing to make her flawed, confused character, endearing. TheCalifornia setting is beautiful, naturally, and so are the costumes.Then, too, the script is lively and refined, echoing Austen's greatbooks. Indeed, there is enough of Jane's novels worked into the film'scontent to satisfy the fans of her highly esteemed works. In short,book yourself a showing of this film and invited your friends to joinyou at the viewing. Forgive me, but you will "club yourself" if youdon't!

2012-04-24 06:42:16

A strong cast and great screenplay make for a charming movie

Being a lifelong fan of Jane Austen's works and movie/series adaptations, I was curious to see how the book would translate onto the screen and was pleasantly surprised to find it well-made.Based upon the book of the same name by Karen Jay Fowler, the movie centers upon the love lives of five women and one man who come together in a book club devoted solely to discussing the major works of Jane Austen [Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion]. The cast of characters comprise Sylvia [Amy Brennemann] who is horrified when her husband of more than 20 years, Daniel [Jimmy Smits] leaves her for another woman, Jocelyn[Maria Bello] who is single and seems content working as a dog breeder, Prudie [the delightful Emily Blunt in an emotionally complex role] a married french teacher who finds herself sexually attracted to a young stud at her school, the six times married Bernadette[Kathy Baker] who wishes for another shot at happiness, young, adventurous Allegra who is a lesbian and also Sylvia's daughter, and finally Grigg [Hugh Dancy] a computer whiz and the only guy in the club.The stories of these characters and their lives play out a la the stories in Jane Austen's novels, and it is quite convincingly done. There are many memorable lines of dialogue that tend to stick with you, and what truly makes this movie work is the strong, palbable chemistry between the cast. The acting is above average and very credible, and there is subtle humor throughout which adds to its charm and balances some of the serious themes explored.On the whole, I loved it for its very human portrayal of the complexities within relationships with Austen's works being the sort of manual of love and conduct. My only complaint [as with the book] is how everything is sorted out in the end, kind of like Austen's books themselves.

cmgilliford 2012-04-23 14:05:26

Great, wonderful, terrific

Had not seen any publicity for this film so had no idea what to expectbut what a breath of fresh air this film is. An amazing ensemble cast.Really hits the right balance in all ways. It could have been a soppy Chick flick but turned out to be anintelligent and thoughtful piece of writing which the actors carriedoff brilliantly. Can't wait for another one by this collaboration ofproducers and director. Bravo.This does not fit into any one genre I don't think. That is one of thethings I enjoyed about this movie. It wasn't romance, comedy or dramabut had all of those elements.

jotix100 2012-04-23 01:35:07

Book-of-the-Month Club

Jane Austen, the English author, left a body of work that, to this day,seems unsurpassed by any other novelist of her time. She was not aprolific writer, and yet, her six novels have survived the passing oftime; they have become a must read for English literature studies.Bernadette, a Californian lady that loves the works of Jane Austenproposes to start a book club in which each member would lead thediscussion of one of the six novels that must be read. Her only problemis she can only count with two other friends. Bernadette is set ingetting the rest of the group by sheer determination that pays off inunexpected, and satisfactory ways.The group that Bernadette assembles could not so much different.Jocelyn, a dog breeder, leads a lonely life in her rural place. Sylvia,a librarian, discovers her husband Daniel wants to leave her. Herdaughter Allegra agrees to join, perhaps a bit reluctantly. Prudie, theuptight teacher, whose marriage seems to be disintegrating before hereyes, is talked into coming aboard. The last member Bernadette finds isnot a woman, but a computer specialist, Grigg, whose taste runs moreinto science fiction. Bernadette feels the last member will be good toboost Sylvia's morale who is depressed after Daniel's desertion.Director Robin Swicord, who also adapted the original novel by KarenJoy Fowler, shows an affinity to the material that is no smallachievement. Ms. Swicord's second film is an enjoyable time because itinvolves the viewer in unexpected ways. The narrative brings parallelbetween the work of Jane Austin and the characters that are trying tomake sense of the meaning of it. Another coup for Ms. Swicord is theincredible talented cast that was put together to bring to life a storythat in someone else's hands would not have had the impact this filmhas on many levels. It is a highly feminine work, but it should notscare discriminating fans.Kathy Baker, who plays Bernadette, is a welcome addition to any film.The luminous Maria Bello, another excellent actress, does justice toher Jocelyn. Emily Blunt is perfectly snobbish as Prudie. Amy Bravermanand Maggie Grace appear as mother and daughter, Sylvia and Allegra. Theother principal, Hugh Dancy, does a surprising turn as Grigg. JimmySmits is seen as Daniel.Robin Swicord's understanding with the material and her love for JaneAusten made a rewarding film that will delight audiences of all ages.

2012-04-21 01:54:20

Made just for me

While watching this movie I got the feeling it had been made just for my own personal enjoyment. After watching it, I purchased the book. Actually, I liked the movie better! I think the story was tighter and made more and deeper references to the details of the Austen novels. Janeites will be thrilled!Plus I love Jimmy Smits ;-)

BoomerMovieFan1 2012-04-20 10:10:42

Half of a good movie

Jane Austin Book Club is half of a good movie. I like Jane Austen and Iwanted to like this movie. It had good acting. It had more characterdevelopment than you see in most movies. And I personally like movieswith a lot of talking. The problem is that out of the six members ofthe book club, three were unlikable. Allegra is a hedonistic,self-centered woman who has trouble maintaining long termrelationships. Bernadette is a supercilious know-it-all. And Prudie,the most problematic member of the club, is so neurotic and so cluelessthat you wince every time she opens her mouth. If you're going to put aneurotic main character in a movie, he or she needs to at least becharming and attractive enough to offset the mental issues (OK, she ISreally cute, but it's not enough). In an ensemble cast, it simplydoesn't work to have so many unlikable characters. Another big problemI had with the movie is that the ending is right out of female fantasyland. No way this is gonna happen in the real world...am I right??Still, most Jane Austen fans will probably like the film and I wouldrecommend it to them because of the many references to her novels.

2012-04-20 04:00:00

Not recommended!

Jane Austen would be mortified to have her name attached to this movie! I was appalled that this movie was given a PG13 rating. I would never watch this movie with a teenager! I was totally unprepared for the emphasis placed on the relationship between a lesbian teenager and her various lovers. The characters in Jane Austen's stories had morals and practiced marital fidelity. Qualities totally lacking from this movie!

2012-04-19 17:25:06

Good Austen following

This review is from: The Jane Austen Book Club (DVD) I read the book before the movie and I have to admit it seems like the movie was a little rushed to get to the ending when everyone lives happily ever after. I wasn't too thrilled to have the daughter's lifestyle constantly pushed throughout the movie but I guess they felt it was important to the story line. I loved the Austen discussions and a male point of view - Grigg certainly held his own with all of them and didn't ever feel intimidated buy the haughtyness of some..

dalefried 2012-04-17 19:31:29

Literacy, Fast and Furious

What to think of a film that has the most literary references than anysince 'Love and Death'. The danger here is that those with littleknowledge of Jane Austen will have no understanding of what is going onsince the dialogue twists and turns on discussions of characters andthemes in 200 year old novels.But unlike a Woody Allen punch line comedy full of in-context jokes,you do not need a complete understanding of Austen to appreciate thisliterate work. The reason Jane Austen interests people two centurieslater are the universality of her themes. Seeing these themes playedout can work at many levels. Addicts will revel in the dialogue'sappreciative in jokes. Those with some experience like me will pick upthings here and there while enjoying the whirling dervish playing outin the verbal repartee. Neophytes will simply enjoy the charactersliving out these timeless motifs likely leaving desirous to learn more.Some have complained about the lack of directorial artifices to woo ushere and there. What better way to emphasize the literacy of it all byletting good actors use wordplays to move us instead. If this is toosubtle for you, 'American Gangster' awaits.Others have complained about obvious symbolism in the characters. Awoman trapped in her time, Austen wailed subtly against her capture byfocusing thematically on one potential way out through love andrelationships. The film and the book it is based on strive to provide ameaningful glimpse into the core themes of this wonderful writer andhow for the most part these strivings remain among us as lively asever. If the characters are archetypes, they are necessarily so andonce understood become more powerful in their abstraction.But it is their likability that rues the day and throughout you feelfor them as they traipse through their foibles. The fixer who caresmore for the happiness of others than her own, a defense mechanismagainst longed for passion. The mother who wades through the ultimatedisappointment with courage that makes her stronger when her dreams ofmarital bliss return. The aggressive young lesbian courageouslybouncing between adventures until disappointed into seeking another.The young teacher walking to the edge of a potentially luxuriousmistake and passionately imploring her man to save her from herselfthrough Austen. The older woman wanting to keep tasting because theeffort, though difficult, is worth it. And in the middle, the almostgoofy, literature driven, emo-dreamboat who attracts them all invarious ways though suffering from an almost paralyzing inhibitionultimately resolved Unfortunately most men won't get it or even take the time to appreciateit all. In my screening, women outnumbered men 17-2. In the end thisintelligent, optimistic feminism may have too small an audience to saveitself from obscurity, but if it ends up a voice in the wilderness, itis far better left said than not.

2012-04-17 09:51:37

femdom flic

WARNING! Guys, don't sit through this one will have the same effect on you as sitting in an ice cold stream. This is a woman's movie and more than that, it's a film that disparages men. Were the genders reversed, women would be outraged. The male book club member is a wimp and treated like a toy by Bello, his main "romantic interest." He is way too eager for approval. Bello calls him "compliant" and he is, acting like nothing so much as an eager pup, nosing around her feet, tail awag. If you believe Bello's character would get all misty eyes and palpitated over this kid, you're deluded. All the women are all either ill used by their insensitive husbands or free-spirited, creative, gorgeous, lesbians. The men are either brutes or Gumbies. The film goes to great lengths to show women doing swell things to free their spirits, like solo sky diving the first time out---ridiculous.Okay, guys, you've been warned. As for you pliable Gumby males out there... snuggle close to your femdom and enjoy!