Emma: Based On a Boring Book, Made From a Nightmare

I cannot start writing this without first pointing out, even though it didn’t come out until over a decade later, this movie, Emma, was very much part of the Weinstein scandal. His MO was to ask women back to his hotel suites where he did weird and inappropriate things like ask for a massage and get naked in front of them.

In the case of Emma, Gwyneth Paltrow was 22 years old. Filming had not started yet and she was being summoned to Weinstein’s suite at the Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel. He asked her for mutual massages. Paltrow has since outwardly spoken about this advance from Weinstin. She has expressed how scared she was. And how she was sure that the person who launched her career would now ruin it.

Now on to the movie. This movie follows the book quite well. But once again, I’m watching this movie but I’m following the outline of Clueless. Drawing lines from one character to Clueless characters. Connecting dots from one scene to a Clueless Scene. I added Clueless into this series because, A. it’s been a long time since I’ve seen it. B. I’m curious how much it actually matches up to all this Emma stuff.

I’m not sure where I am more offended, Harriot, casted as a normal sized woman. And although I love Toni Collette, she is awfully clumsy and over does the unrefined women that Emma shapes into herself. While Emma is skinny as all can be, while playing perfection. On the other hand in Clueless, they are both skinny as can be. It is basic movie knowledge 101 that there are no coincidences in decision making. Harriet’s size was a conscious decision made by the casting director.

A few other items that put a craw in me. No one surely thought the wigs on the men were a great choice either. And all the apples! Did someone think that looked natural? Is natural what they were even going for?

Between scandals and poor choices made during the making. I have a hard giving this film much praise. I’m onto continue with this series and watch the more recent Emma. Hopefully it has more tact than this one. But since Weinstein is not involved, it’s starting on the right foot.

Read Emma By Jane Austin – Emma Series Part 1

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