The “Insane” Cinematography of Pride and Prejudice
I love 2005’s Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightly & Matthew Macfadyen and directed by Joe Wright. So I really enjoyed Danny Boyd’s video essay about the great cinematography in the film.
Pride & Prejudice isn’t a movie I’ve exactly seen a 100 times in my life. And believe me, I like a good romcom. But when I finally sat myself down, put on the 4K disc, and paid attention, I could not believe the level of craft on display here. The cinematography of this movie is insane. Some of the closest to my own personal tastes as I’ve ever found. So today, I want to talk about how director Joe Wright created some of the best extended tracking shots, ones, long takes, that I’ve ever seen.
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The cinematography is just stunning, but it’s how it’s married to the soundtrack that gets me. I’ve never heard a piano sunrise on the south downs, but now it looks and sounds like nothing else
I’ve thought this for years…., Some of the most beautiful and longest sequences …..
I love it too, it's one of my "deep breath" movies and I often listen to the soundtrack while I'm working. I don't watch it for script-to-page accuracy. For that, we have the impeccable 1995 BBC-adaptation starring Colin Firth (😍) and Jennifer Ehle. Perfect binge for a rainy day at home.
i watched this video and it blew me away. i always liked the movie, but learning how an artist puts thing together brings a whole new layer to it. and it IS art.
This is exactly what we mean when we say the liberal arts matter. Are you going to be a cinematographer? No. Is this going to help you understand an absolutely brilliant bit of cinema? Yes. And you'll be better for it.
Also, I love that even the shot in question clearly hates Mr. Collins.
Watched this last night and it made so much sense. I've loved this movie since I first saw it, even though as Swati says it doesn't have the "script-to-page accuracy" that I'd normally require to be able to love an adaptation of one of my favorite books. (Tho OMG I'll never not love the extra scene after Bingley blows the first attempt at asking for Jane's hand, and has to rehearse outside with Darcy! Chef's kiss addition!) And this video explains why! I always thought it was gorgeous: the texture and light and all the nature, but now I understand it's how the camera placed me within it all. I too experienced the ups and downs of the Bennets and Bingley and Darcy, and that makes all the difference.
A long "oner" is always good when you don't notice it, and I'd never noticed this in the few times I'd seen Pride and Prejudice. This is terrific.
I felt the same way about the ones done for Adolescence last year.
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