Sense and Sensibility (1995): The Beloved Austen Adaptation Celebrates 30 Years with Its 4K Debut (4K)

The Film:

Jane Austen's timeless 1811 novel "Sense and Sensibility" has been adapted numerous times for screens both big and small, including several for the BBC alone, but it was in 1995, when director Ang Lee got together with screenwriter Emma Thompson (who also starred) and a tremendous cast, that the most well-known version came to theaters. The film was a major success at the box office and with critics, subsequently going on to a spectacular awards run that had it winning Best Picture from the Critics Choice, Golden Globes, and BAFTA, ultimately culminating with seven Oscar nominations that resulted in just one win for Adapted Screenplay.

This year, the film reaches its remarkable 30th anniversary, so Sony Pictures is celebrating by giving the film an incredible 4K upgrade, loaded with plenty of marvelous extras, making it the perfect time to go back and revisit this classic to see if it still retains its delightful charm and discover why this adaptation of the beloved novel became such a sensation in the first place.

The film opens with the death of Henry Dashwood, whose estate passes to his son John (James Fleet). Initially, John wants to be generous to Henry's wife (Gemma Jones) and three daughters, Elinor (Emma Thompson), Marianne (Kate Winslet), and Margaret (Emilie François), but his greedy wife Fanny (Harriet Walter) eventually talks him down to giving them just 500 Pounds a year. They immediately set themselves up in the ladies' former house, forcing them to accept the kind offer from Mrs. Dashwood's cousin Sir John Middleton (Robert Hardy) of a small cottage. However, before they move, they are visited by Fanny's brother Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant), who seems to form a special relationship with Elinor before departing for London.

Established at their new residence, they spend much time at Barton Park with Sir John and his mother-in-law Mrs. Jennings (Elizabeth Spriggs), and it is here that they make the acquaintance of Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman), who quickly becomes smitten with Marianne. However, she soon meets and falls in love with John Willoughby (Greg Wise), who seems very close to proposing to her, only to suddenly rush off to London. Meanwhile, Elinor is devastated to learn from a young woman named Lucy Steele (Imogen Stubbs) that she and Edward have been secretly engaged for five years. This is quickly followed by Mrs. Jennings taking Elinor, Marianne, and Lucy to London, where the situation only becomes more complicated.

Ang Lee's "Sense and Sensibility" is another one of those films that I've come back to a few times over the years, primarily because, as mentioned earlier, it is indeed a rather charming & delightful tale that has quite a few things to like about it. Sure, it would be fair to call the story just a little simplistic, what with it being a somewhat standard matchmaking narrative that doesn't really offer much in the way of surprises (except perhaps in the way in gets to its conclusion, which is done via a rather random change of affection), but it's presented in such an elegant fashion, and with such an extraordinary cast, that the somewhat limited nature of the story is easily forgiven.

The film is certainly quite the visual feast, featuring gorgeous production design, as well as incredible, Oscar-nominated costumes & cinematography. The exquisite period details truly help immerse you in this amusing tale of romantic pursuits, looking absolutely stunning while these ladies & gentlemen attempt to make their various matches. Bringing these eager lovers to life is quite the impressive ensemble, featuring a multitude of acting royalty such as Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Harriet Walter, Tom Wilkinson, Imelda Staunton, and Hugh Laurie. With this much talent involved, it's hardly a surprise that both Emma Thompson & Kate Winslet were nominated for Oscars (both won BAFTAs), while the main members of the ensemble earned a SAG nomination for Best Cast.

Again, the premise of the novel may be a little simple, but it's told remarkably well, which is precisely why Emma Thompson received the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, making her the only person ever to win Oscars for both acting (Best Actress for "Howard's End") and screenwriting. She deftly handles the various twists & turns of the story, making it flow rather nicely right up to the happy endings that we know are waiting at its conclusion. When you pair that with all of its other positive elements, it's not that hard to see why it captured so much attention 30 years ago, and continues to do so today. The nature of the narrative may not be the most memorable (i.e. you may not remember too many specific plot details afterward), but it becomes all the more reason to revisit it in order to reacquaint yourself with this handsomely-mounted production, and to become immersed in its delightful charm all over again.

Video/Audio:

"Sense and Sensibility" comes to 4K in a 1.85:1, 2160p UHD transfer of marvelous quality. The picture has been upgraded beautifully, presenting a sharp & crisp image that perfectly highlights the film's stunning production design, costumes, and cinematography. Likewise, the Dolby Atmos audio track is outstanding, giving you all of the dialogue and Patrick Doyle's Oscar-nominated score in excellent quality. Overall, Sony Pictures has done a phenomenal job in both areas for the film's 4K debut.

Special Features:

Commentary with Emma Thompson & Producer Lindsay Doran

Commentary with Director Ang Lee & Co-Producer James Schamus

25th Anniversary Reunion: Back to Barton Cottage (28 Minutes)

Adapting Austen (11 Minutes)

A Sense of Character (8 Minutes)

A Very Quiet Man (12 Minutes)

Locating the World of Sense and Sensibility (6 Minutes)

Elegance & Simplicity: The Wardrobe of Sense and Sensibility (4 Minutes)

Deleted Scenes (2 Sequences, 3 Minutes)

This new 4K edition comes packed with extras, including two commentaries, a reunion of some of the cast & crew, and about 40 minutes of vintage featurettes that focus on areas such as the characters, the director, the costumes, and adapting the book. Definitely plenty of great behind-the-scenes material here for anyone wanting to learn more about the film.

Conclusion:

The 1995 Ang Lee-directed & Emma Thompson-scripted adaptation of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" may be a little simplistic when it comes to its matchmaking narrative of lovers eager to find their companions, but it more than makes up for it with its tremendous cast, which contains a multitude of remarkable talent, and its gorgeous visuals, including its stunning production design, costumes, and cinematography, ultimately making for a delightfully charming romantic outing that's very much worth revisiting as it makes its 4K debut.

Score: 3.5/5

Available on 4K starting tomorrow.

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