Jane Eyre (2011)

JANE EYRE (2011) - May 11, 2011
A slow-paced but exceptionally well made film about a young woman who goes to be a governess in a large, isolated mansion and finds herself falling in love with the owner of the house.  Though Cary Fukunaga's Sin Nombre was the superior film, this movie definitely establishes him as a director to watch.  Fukunaga's direction and Adriano Goldman's cinematography are absolutely impeccable; the film, much of which is lit by amazingly moody candlelight, is a treat to behold.  The brighter, outdoor scenes fare just as well.  There's also an almost horror-movie-like sense of dread and unease for much of the film; all in all, this is a movie whose overall atmosphere is second-to-none.  It's also eceptionally well acted, particularly Mia Wasikowska as the eponymous Eyre, and Michael Fassbender as Rochester.  The movie does drag in parts, but it's just so well acted and well made that it's easy to overlook that.  ***