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Becoming Jane

Becoming Jane

Romance · Drama · 2007

Though young Jane Austen's financially strapped parents expect her to marry the nephew of wealthy Lady Gresham, Jane herself knows that such a union will destroy her creativity and sense of self-worth. Instead, she becomes involved with Tom Lefroy, a charming but penniless apprentice lawyer who gives her the knowledge of the heart she needs for her future career as a novelist.

Movie details

Becoming Jane

“Her own life is her greatest inspiration.”

2007 Romance · Drama 2h 0m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

Though young Jane Austen's financially strapped parents expect her to marry the nephew of wealthy Lady Gresham, Jane herself knows that such a union will destroy her creativity and sense of self-worth. Instead, she becomes involved with Tom Lefroy, a charming but penniless apprentice lawyer who gives her the knowledge of the heart she needs for her future career as a novelist.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Becoming Jane?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Julian Jarrold

Written by

Kevin Hood · Sarah Williams

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway

Jane Austen

James McAvoy

James McAvoy

Tom Lefroy

Julie Walters

Julie Walters

Mrs. Austen

James Cromwell

James Cromwell

Mr. Austen

Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith

Lady Gresham

Joe Anderson

Joe Anderson

Henry Austen

Lucy Cohu

Lucy Cohu

Eliza de Feuillide

Court is in session

Put Becoming Jane on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.