Jane Eyre (2011) **

As soon as Jane Eyre had begun, I knew that this movie would be a different format from the previous Jane Eyre movies and Mini-series.  However, I decided to remain unbiased until the very end.  I did not get very far.  Different format, it maybe, but lack of chemistry is no excuse.  

Mia Wasikowska seemed extremely dull throughout the movie.  Sad does not equate to showing no emotion.  Michael Fassbender was less than mesmerising, which I found particularly perplexing as I know he is capable of delivering a flawless performance as a darkly tortured yet vulnerable soul.  (Azazeal in Hex).  Had he starred along side his Hex co-star Christina Cole (Blanche Ingram in Jane Eyre – 2006) whom he had an explosive amount of chemistry with, I’m sure the movie would have been a little more watchable. 

In fact, Mia Wasikowska’s Jane seemed to have been more enthralled by the man she is supposedly not in love with (Jamie Bell’s St John Rivers.)

I also found the script a little rambling at times, and the direction not as clear as it could have been.  Eager, I suppose to be differentiated from the previous Jane Eyre productions.  Which would be its ultimate undoing.  One does not mess with a tried and successful formula. 

Jane Eyre (2011) was not all bad though.  Dame Judi Dench was at her usual best as Mrs. Fairfax, and I have never seen a better Adele (played by Romy Settbon Moore). 

In hindsight, it is quite possible Holliday Grainger (Jane’s cousin, Diana Rivers) would have made for a better Jane.

In conclusion, it appears that it would have been best not to have made this version of Jane Eyre and left it at the 2006 production, which in my opinion is the best in terms of acting, chemistry, script and direction of all the Jane Eyre productions.