Movie review - "Pride and Prejudice" (2005) ****

Why another version of the famous story? This year alone saw Bride and Prejudice and the memory of the BBC series still lingers long. Perhaps Working Title wanted a sure-fire hit and/or a vehicle for hot new it girl Keira Knightley. Well, at least they had the decency to hire a director with a vision, for it works marvellously. Keira is not an automatic choice for Elizabeth Bennett and not the world's best actor but she has star quality (compare her with Rosamund Pike, who plays Jane, who doesn't have it). There is a superb support cast, every little part cast with top top perfection. The big screen is used to pick up little subtlies, such as the difference between the other sisters and the relationship between Mr and Mrs Bennett. (It shows he is a bit on the hopeless side.) Matthew MacFadyen has a star making turn as Darcy and it is filmed beautifully.