‘Emma’ is Anya Taylor-Joy’s Best Performance to Date

by Conan Simmons – October 25, 2020 – 5:18 am

One of the few films to have a major release this year and among the fewer to have some real measure of box office success the latest adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic romance novel is an amusingly pleasant film featuring Anya Taylor-Joy’s best performance to date.

The story takes place in Georgian-Regency era England. Emma Woodhouse, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, is a young woman who occupies herself acting as matchmaker for those around her, especially her young friend Harriet, played by Mia Goth. Ultimately, Emma’s vanity and selfishness gets the best of her and she must rectify her actions to make her world right again.

The romance is filmed as a period screwball comedy. Anya Taylor-Joy deftly carries the film easily defining herself as a leading actress. The expressiveness Taylor-Joy brings to the character is displayed from the most brash gestures down to the subtlest of emotions. Knowing when to deliver and when to hold back she wrings every moment out of a scene. This is her definitive role in a rapidly rising career.

The director, Autumn de Wilde, ably fashions each scene to showcase the standout performance by Taylor-Joy. A notable music video director since 2005 this is her debut feature. Deliberately placing the camera to get the most visual appeal out of every frame and timing the edits for maximum impact, de Wilde will undoubtedly be on Hollywood’s wish list for future projects.

The art direction is exceptionally well done using every color in fun and witty ways. Each room in the Woodhouse mansion is decked out in a different color with an emphasis on pastels. The days are bright and filled with greenery and the nights make playful use of black and grey. The costume design compliments the art direction providing sharp contrast when needed. All of this overlaid with a soundtrack of classical and traditional music provides ample amusement throughout the film.

The screenplay by Eleanor Catton keeps everything on pace and light-humored only getting as serious as needed to make substantial plot points. The supporting cast features popular character actor Bill Nighy as Emma’s father, though his performance does seem subdued. The real standout is Mia Goth as the optimistic, faithful friend Harriet, a role very different from Goth’s jealous dancer of the 2018 remake ‘Suspiria’. Her screen charisma rivals that of Taylor-Joy as Goth embodies the naïve and yearning Harriet to perfection.

The leading ability Anya Taylor-Joy displays in this film surely helped her in recently being cast in George Miller’s upcoming Mad Max prequel ‘Furiosa’. Known mostly for thrillers and horror films from ‘Thoroughbreds’ to ‘The Witch’, this movie is a nice addition to her filmography.

Fans of Jane Austen adaptations, historical costume pictures, and romantic comedies will definitely want to see this. For everyone else, ‘Emma’ is a solid adaptation, amusingly pleasant, and in a year scarce of films well worth the watch. A notable picture, look for it to get some nominations at the Oscars.