A One Mann’s Movies review of “Emily” (2022).
I wasn’t particularly impressed by the trailer for this one. And on understanding that actress Frances O’Connor had written and directed this as her debut feature film, my first thought was “uh, uh – here comes a vanity-project disaster”. But nothing could be further from the truth. For Emily, a drama based on an “imagined” variant of the short and tragic real life story of Emily Brontë, is an utter triumph. A visual and audio feast of movie-making that has effortlessly secured a place in my top 10 films of 2022.
Bob the Movie Man Rating(s):
Plot Summary:
Emily Brontë (Emma Mackey) is known as a “strange girl” in the Yorkshire village of Haworth. Headstrong, anti-social and easily led (particularly by her wayward older brother Branwell (Fionn Whitehead), she is the antithesis of her learned sister Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling). And she drives her father (Adrian Dunbar) to distraction. When a new pastor, Weightman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), shows interest in Emily, events are triggered that could either lead to salvation or tragedy for the troubled young woman.
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Emma Mackey, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Adrian Dunbar, Alexandra Dowling, Fionn Whitehead, Gemma Jones, Amelia Gething.
Directed by: Frances O’Connor.
Written by: Frances O’Connor.
Twitter Handles: #EmilyMovie; #emilybronte.
“Emily” Review:
Positives:
- It’s an extraordinary performance by Emma Mackey. She was the best thing by far in the recent “Death on the Nile“, playing the spurned fiancée. (I described her as “shimmering with real charisma and star quality”). Here she shows she has real acting depth. The characterisation here of Emily as being severely autistic (which seems to be backed up by various biographers) is perfectly reflected in Mackey’s striking gaze and slightly ethereal manner.
- Frances O’Connor does a marvellous job in constantly surprising you with visual flair and audio extremes. Some of the scenes are pure poetry: the sisters running in slow-mo in the rain; erotic glances of Mackey onto the moors at her approaching ‘Heathcliffe’; a dramatic mask-driven seance. These are all scenes that will stay in my mind for a long, long time. And the use of audio: the combination of sound effects; Abel Korzeniowski’s dramatic (and sometimes ear-splitting) music and total silence is just breathtakingly effective.
- The ensemble supporting cast is also superb. Alexandra Dowling, Adrian Dunbar (from “Line of Duty”), Amelia Gething, Fionn Whitehead and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (seen recently in another period drama, “Mr Malcolm’s List“) could have been completely upstaged by Emma Mackey, but aren’t.
- The cinematography by Nanu Segal – a lady whose previous work I’m not familiar with – is exquisite with gorgeous panoramic shots of the Yorkshire moors, superb close-ups of Mackey’s magnetic eyes and expert low-light shots.
Negatives
- I have nothing here. This is close to movie perfection in my book.
Summary Thoughts on “Emily”:
A superb cinematic experience, I simply loved this one. Emma Mackey is utterly mesmerising and if there isn’t Oscar buzz for her for this performance then there bloody well should be! Comes with a strong recommendation.
By the way, I owe you an answer to my riddle in my review title. You think of The Corrs and you think of Andrea, Caroline and Sharon… not so much Jim! Similarly, when you think of the Brontë’s, it’s Emily, Charlotte and Anne that come to mind. But the film nicely turns a spotlight on the “Jim” of the Brontë family – the drug and alcohol-fuelled wastrel* Branwell, played (very well) by Fionn Whitehead. Not a character in history I was aware of at all. (* NOT, I should add, that Jim Corr is a drug and alcohol-fuelled wastrel!)
Trailer for “Emily”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaL90sMAzbY .
I must say that I’ve never been a period drama person, especially the classic Brontë or Jane Austen variety. I think they have been done to death. However, just the trailer alone (as well as your great review) compels me to watch this one. Thanks for the critique Bob – your regular emails are introducing me to new and forgotten paths across the movie landscape.
Why thanks Manoj. Appreciate the comment. Hope you like it. By way of balance, one of my friends on Facebook said he found it dull and his wife fell asleep! So hope you are in my camp rather than their’s!
Close to perfection my ass. Why on earth did Frances O’Connor believe she had to create this fictional biopic of Emily Brontë? I mean . . . it could have easily been some flawed, yet decent Victorian melodrama, while not trying to pass off as some kind of biopic. And the fact that O’Connor had to nearly demonize Charlotte Brontë and dismiss Anne Brontë in the process, is nearly repellent to me. What a waste of time!
Well, that’s cinema for you… divides opinion! One person’s “Citizen Kane” is another person’s “Dirty Grandpa”! Sorry you didn’t like it Dee, but I obviously did!
But thanks for taking the time to express your views. Appreciate it.