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Movies & TV Movies & TV Reviews

Jane Eyre

JANE EYRE (Cary Fukunaga). 115 minutes. Opens Friday (March 18). For venues and times, see listings. Rating: NNN


This latest adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s novel about the eponymous orphan-turned-governess occasionally gets bogged down by clunky dialogue, but director Cary Fukunaga knows how to lay on the atmosphere and has found a superb actor for the lead.

Mia Wasikowska, who looked lost amidst Tim Burton’s fussy art direction in Alice In Wonderland, appears more at home as the plain but passionate young woman who falls under the spell of her gruff employer, Mr. Rochester (Michael Fassbender), not knowing he’s got some secrets locked up in the attic.

Moira Buffini’s cleverly structured script begins at Jane’s lowest point and then flashes back to her terrible childhood in scenes that are marred by Simon McBurney’s and Sally Hawkins’s caricature baddies. Rochester and Jane share some smouldering chemistry, but, unfortunately, their dialogue occasionally feels wooden. And Fassbender’s chiselled GQ-handsome looks are all wrong for the role.

The rest of the cast works well, with Jamie Bell exuding a low-burning flame as Jane’s brotherly saviour, St.-John, and Judi Dench adding layers of nuance to her kindly maid, Mrs. Fairfax.

Apart from Wasikowska, though, the biggest star is Adriano Goldman, whose cinematography captures the look and feel of each of the settings, especially Rochester’s imposing home, with its creepy, creaking staircases and candlelit scenes worthy of a La Tour canvas.

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