Emma (1996) (TV)
After my recent disappointment with the adaptation of the Guthrie’s Jane Eyre, I found the 1996 Emma, made for television, a pleasant surprise. I remember the Paltrow Emma as uneven, but I thought this version was paced well. I appreciated its depiction of class and living conditions. Beckinsale was convincing and girlish in the title role, and looked much more normal than what she’s morphed into over the years. There were several strong supporting performances: Mark Strong as Mr. Knightley (who I’ve seen and enjoyed recently in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, and Stardust), Lucy Morrison as Mrs. Elton, Samantha Morton as Harriet Smith, and particularly Olivia Williams as Jane Fairfax. The adaptation hewed closely to the novel; that, along with the casting, were what made it so enjoyable for me.