Stars: Anne Hathaway, Leo Bill, Lucy Cohu, James Cromwell, Laurence Fox, Anna Maxwell Martin, James McAvoy, Ian Richardson, Joe Anderson, Jessica Ashworth, Tony Brown, Chris McHallem, Lucy McKenna, Giedrius Nagys, Donal O'Farrell

Director: Julian Jarrold

Summary: Like her heroines, Jane Austen must choose between love and money in this romance based on the life of the author. Anne Hathaway is the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE scribe, while James McAvoy is her suitor.

Like her heroines, Jane Austen must choose between love and money in this romance based on the life of the author. Anne Hathaway (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA) is the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE scribe, while James McAvoy (THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND) is her suitor. Focusing on the novelist’s early life and passionate love affair with Tom Lefroy and her refusal to marry Mr Wisely – a young aristocrat her parents are courting for her hand.

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Like Molière, which was released in cinemas soon after, Becoming Jane isn't a conventional biopic. Instead, Julian Jarrold (White Teeth) expands on events from Jane Austen's life that may have shaped her fiction. To his credit, he doesn't stray too far from the facts. In 1795, 20-year-old Jane (Anne Hathaway with believable British accent) is an aspiring author. Her parents (Julie Walters and James Cromwell) married for love, and money is tight. They hope to see their youngest daughter make a more lucrative match, and there's a besotted local, Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox, son of actor James Fox), who would be happy to oblige. Unfortunately, Jane isn't interested. Then, she meets brash law student Tom (The Last King of Scotland's James McAvoy), while he's staying with relatives in rural Hampshire.

As in many Austen novels, it isn't love at first sight--but rather irritation. Just as affection begins to bloom, Tom has to return to London, and Wisley, whose financial prospects are superior, proposes. To complicate matters, Tom's uncle (Ian Richardson in his final performance) disapproves of the outspoken young lady just as much as Wisley's aunt (Maggie Smith, lending the proceedings some subtle humor). Had Austen penned the script, Tom and Wisley would be combined into one person, but life doesn't work that way--and nor does Becoming Jane. Though Jarrold's effort may not be as swoon-worthy as Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice, it remains true to the spirit of the author's work. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Deleted scenes, Behind the scenes, Regency dance featurette, Make-up and costume design featurette, Filming the boxing scenes and filming the cricket scenes, Audio commentary Photo gallery, Theatrical trailer
Year:	2006
Release Date:	September 10, 2007
Runtime:	120 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	2 E D V D 0178
Keywords:	English, Becoming, Jane, Romantic, Drama
Genre:	Drama