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| Inglourious Basterds | 10/10 |
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Ellen Page Cast as Jane Eyre Next
May 7, 2008
Source: Variety
by Kevin Powers
As many know, I love me some Ellen Page, ever since she surprised audiences as the adorable little psycho in Hard Candy. Her role in Juno was equally impressive, but obviously on the other end of the spectrum. As for Smart People, she seemed to channel her Juno performance a bit, which is to say she delivered the familiar beyond-her-years intelligence and jokes. So I've started to wonder whether she's in fear of typecasting, since she plays the whip-smart young adult with a surprising degree of confidence and sophisticated humor so naturally. Page's recently announced project puts those fears to rest a bit, but now I wonder how well she'll pull this off. Producers of The Other Boleyn Girl are working with the BBC on yet another adaptation of Jane Eyre for which Page will play the lead.
Since Page's hallmark humor and feminist swagger won't exactly work in a 19th Century period piece, how well could she do in this role? I think it's safe to say this could be Page's most challenging performance to date. And if she pulls it off, it might just rocket her up a few notches in the industry, showing she has some real flexibility.
As good 'ol Wikipedia tells us: Jane Eyre is a first-person narrative of the title character, a small, plain-faced, intelligent, and passionate English orphan girl. The plot follows the form of a Bildungsroman, a novel that tells the story of a child's maturation and focuses on the emotions and experiences that lead to her maturity. The novel goes through five distinct stages: (1) Jane's childhood at Gateshead, where she is abused by her aunt and cousin; (2) her education at Lowood School, where she acquires friends and role models but also suffers privations; (3) her time as governess at Thornfield Manor, where she falls in love with her Byronic employer, Edward Rochester; (4) her time with the Rivers family at Marsh's End (or Moor House) and at Morton, where her cold clergyman-cousin St. John Rivers proposes to her; and (5) her reunion with and marriage to her beloved Rochester at his house of Ferndean.
Variety's reporting of the news seems to indicate the film will primarily focus on #3. I suppose it's up to the unknown scribe, Moira Buffini, to work this out and determine how many of the 400-some pages of the original story make it to the screen. No director is currently attached, but the producers are aiming to set the project up to shoot this fall.
Personally, I'm more looking forward to Page starring opposite Cillian Murphy in the upcoming psychological thriller Peacock. Gender-mixed alter egos and these two sparring sounds so much more delicious than a 19th Century yarn. But that's probably just me.
So does Jane Eyre sound like something Page can pull off?
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Reader Feedback - 12 Comments »
1
Jane Eyre having been adapted, what, five or six times… I don't think there's much plot concern, unless Simon West signs on to direct.
As for Ellen Page, she'll be awful.
Andrew Wickliffe on May 7, 2008
2
I agree with you, that this will be her most challenging role to date. I have no idea if she'll be able to do it or not. I also worry if she can even pull off the accent. I think this could go either way she'll be awful or she'll be great and it will help her even more. I wonder if she only took the role because she is being typecast. Interesting choice for the role without a doubt.
Janet on May 7, 2008
3
Juno was filmed after Smart People so if anything Smart People inspired her character in Juno…
Matt Peloquin on May 7, 2008
4
14 minutes and counting
Scorpio on May 7, 2008
5
Watching Ellen in the SNL skit of the OTHER OTHER BOLEYN GIRL it occured to me that Natalie Portman lucked out not having Ellen read for that role. I thought Ellen fit right in as a credible
Anne Boleyn so I look forward to her playing a period role. Remember she says the joy of acting is getting into other people's emotional skins so her take on Jane will worth watching. - Like everything Ellen does.
rwf on May 7, 2008
6
She will be revealed as the one-note fraud she actually is.
Conrad Bucket on May 8, 2008
7
Nope- Ellen is a symphony although I guess she'd rather be known as a punk rock band.
rwf on May 8, 2008
9
tick-tick-tick-tick
Scorpio on May 8, 2008
10
eye don't like this Beeyotch
Dee on May 13, 2008
11
Oh please RWF. Ellen’s skit in The OTHER BOLEYN GIRL was so crassly performed and so horrific that it made me cringe. Natalie Portman has more talent in one finger than Ellen page does in her entire Body. If you though that Ellen was Credible as Anne Boleyn, then you are either new to period pieces or you just have bad taste. Her butchering of Jane Eyre is a disgrace to period pieces. She’s already being deemed a one note actress.
Jonson on Aug 2, 2009
12
"Her butchering of Jane Eyre is a disgrace to period pieces. She’s already being deemed a one note actress." - Jonson
Ellen has not made this movie yet so you may wish to hold your judgement until after you've seen it.
Jim H on Aug 31, 2009