2/7: Jane Eyre (2011)

On the 15th day of my 34 Days of Oscar, I saw the 2011 version of "Jane Eyre". This movie, starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender has been nominated this year for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design.

The Academy Award for Best Costume Design was not created until the 21st Academy Awards in 1949. For the first 9 years, the award was divided into 2 categories: Black and White films and Color films. In 1957 and 1958, the 2 categories were merged into one, but the next 8 years had the Award split back into the 2 original categories. Because of the lack of Black and White films, the 2 categories were combined one final time at the 40th Academy Awards in 1968. Only two times since this final merge in 1968 has a contemporary set film won this award, the last time being "All That Jazz" in 1979. All other winners have been either fantasy movies or period pieces.

"Jane Eyre" is the story of Jane, played by Mia Wasikowska, an orphan who grows from a harsh childhood to be a talented governess. After leaving school, she travels to the Thornfield Hall at the request of Mrs. Fairfax (Judi Dench) to be a governess to young Adele, the ward of Mr Rochester (Michael Fassbender), master of the house. While at the house, Jane is witness to mysterious happenings, including a mysterious fire that almost kills Rochester and an attack on one of Rochester's guests in the middle of the night. As Jane and Rochester become closer it is his dark secret and the mysterious happenings at the house that threaten to pull them apart.

I had never read or seen any previous adaptation of "Jane Eyre" before seeing this movie. I was extremely entertained and this movie was not at all what I thought it would be. I thought Wakisowska and Fassbender both were great and Judi Dench was outstanding too. As "Jane Eyre" is nominated this year for Best Costume Design, I tried to pay particular attention to the wardrobe in an attempt to critique it. Costumes, and the attention to detail on those costumes, are important plot points in this movie. The separation between classes mentioned at times, but it is constantly shown in the style of clothing the characters wear. If someone is rich, there is mention of how elegant they look, but when someone poor mentions that they have nothing good to wear, they are told that nobody will notice anyways. If you were to show me costumes from 10 movies set in this same period, I'm not sure I could pick out the ones used in this film, but while watching "Jane Eyre" I did notice how well the costumes were made and how they enhanced the scenes they were in. After seeing this movie and thinking about it, I understand why it was nominated for Best Costume Design at this year's Academy Awards.

Overall, I give Jane Eyre" a 3.5 out of 5 star rating. It was an entertaining and not always predictable movie. There were more moments of suspense than I expected from a period piece and the acting was pretty good overall. This kind of movie is not everyones cup of tea, but I didn't think it would be very interesting to me and I was happily proven wrong.