Mr. Dashwood dies and his ample estate passes to the son of his first wife, leaving second wife and daughters to fend for themselves. Oldest daughter Elinor (Thompson) is the practical one, Marianne (Winslet) the passionate and artistic one. Though Elinor is drawn to Edward Ferrars (Grant), the family disapproves and tries to separate them. Social forces press Marianne toward Colonel Brandon (Rickman), not a bad choice, but she is more interested in the lively John Willoughby (Greg Wise). Jane Austen's first novel was solidly brought to the large screen (there have also been at least three TV versions) in 1995 by star and screenwriter Thompson -- she won an Oscar for best screenplay from another medium -- and Chinese director Ang Lee (who would go on to do "The Ice Storm" and "Crouching Tiger"). Perhaps not the very best Austen adaptation, but a fine one.
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The review of this Movie prepared by David Loftus
