EMILY – A Review by Jenn Rohm
Emily Bronte was a very private person who kept much to herself and not so much in her diary. Without documentation, it does prevent the ability to produce a true slice-of-life tale. The cast and crew have done a good job of respecting the time period and giving a sense of what life may have been like in the late 1840s. This is done with costuming, music, and weather. (Rain in particular.) Painfully shy Emily is trying to find her place in the world and is finding “Freedom in thought” along the way.
There are some obvious issues with the story such as Wuthering Heights being published under her own name as opposed to Ellis Bell. (For shame Women can’t write, only Men can be published.) Her Father publicly praising her, again at this time and with his dedication to the church, this was not realistic. Then we have a supposed romance between Emily and William Weightman, curate to Patrick Bronte. A part of me wishes this was “loosely based on the life of” rather than being advised as “the story of”.
If you are a fan of gothic romance Emily will be up your alley. For others, the pacing can come across as a bit slow and the emotions are not fully on display.
Director: Frances O’Connor
Cast: Emma Mackey, Fionn Whitehead, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Alexandra Dowling, Adrian Dunbar, Amelia Gething, and Gemma Jones
MPAA Rating: R (for some sexuality/nudity and drug use)
Selig Rating: 2.5 Stars
Runtime: 130 Min.
Release Date: Nationwide 02/24/2023
Local Release Locations: Angelika Film Center & Café – Dallas, Angelika Film Center & Café – Plano, AMC Northpark 15, Ridgmar Mall 13 and XD, AMC The Parks At Arlington 18, AMC DINE-IN Mesquite 30, Cinemark Legacy and XD (Plano), AMC DINE-IN Stonebriar 24, AMC Grapevine Mills 24, AMC Firewheel 18 (Garland)
Movie Site: EMILY Official Site
Trailer: EMILY Trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
