I found out some exciting news last week–my Avon book, The Rules of Gentility, is being released a month early, in August.
(Another excuse to post my gorgeous cover!) So I’ll be a beach read! (OK, that’s my quota of exclamation points used up.)
But there’s a reason, and lest you think I’m going to talk entirely about myself, here’s why: Becoming Jane opens in the US August 3, and the publishers want to take advantage of the Jane-mania that will accompany the movie.
Becoming Jane has just opened in England and in case you haven’t heard about it, it’s a very fictional account of Jane’s formative years and her short-lived engagement to Tom Lefroy. Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy star in a cast that includes Julie Walters, Maggie Smith, and Ian Richardson. The reviews I’ve read indicate that it’s a gorgeous movie–shot on location in Ireland–but with a rather weak story line.
Find out more at Becoming Jane’s official website and there’s also some interesting info at the filmfactory.co.uk (with less fancy downloads and some reviews).
Of course we’ll all rush to see this movie, but tell me what you think of the casting (here’s James McAvoy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!). And do you think the storyline is too inevitable to justify two hours worth of film, however gorgeous? Who would you have chosen to play Jane Austen?
Regardless of the fact that I fully expect the movie to verge on the insipid, I’m sure I’ll see it. *must dissect costumes!*
But I sure do hope it works for your book the way Avon is hoping!!! I’m just happy to get my hands on the book a month early (maybe I can read it on the plane to New Zealand!).
I guess an obvious choice for Jane Austen would have been Amanda Root, who played Anne Eliot in the wonderful movie of Persuasion.
No. Too obvious. Charlotte Gainsbourgh would be wonderful looks-wise, but do French actresses know how to do ze English accent? (Still, her mother’s British.)
Acting-wise, I think the other, feckless girl in The Devil Wears Prada might have been quite a nice Jane Austen… wait a minute… looking her on excellent time-waster web site International Movie Data Base… Emily Blunt.
Ooh, interesting suggestion, Pam — Emily Blunt! She was marvelous in Prada. Haven’t seen her in anything else, though, so not sure what her range is.
For a teenage Jane, of course, Amanda Root is sadly not the right age. Not sure who I’d suggest, but not Anne Hathaway — who is charming in some things, but IMHO has limitations.
I *adore* James McAvoy, though. Liked him in Narnia, and then saw him in The Last King of Scotland — he’s got oodles of liveliness and charisma in him, and is also a darn good actor.
Cara
Janet, I adore that cover and can’t wait for it’s release. Will you have some ARCs or other things for RWA signing?
OK, you just gave permission for us to rant in our comments.
I can’t stand the casting, particularly Anne Hathaway. That last princess role she paid—yuck! If that’s the level of depth she’s going to bring to this movie, it won’t matter whether the director took artistic license with Jane’s life or not. The movie’s going to be a waste of time and money.
I would have cast Emily Woof–she was Dorothy Wordsworth in the movie Pandaemonium (about Wordsworth and Coleridge) that I really wanted to like but I was too tired to stay up and watch. She’s lanky and intense and quite beautiful in an unusual way.
I really like Anne Hathaway–I thought she was superb in Brokeback Mountain–but she just looks too, well, lush.
We English roses don’t do lush.
Keira and Cara, you’ve got to see her in Brokeback Mountain. She is fabulous–starts off as a wild young rodeo star and ends up an embittered, big-haired, chainsmoking witch.
And yes, Keira, I hope I’ll have something to give away at National–bookmarks, definitely. And there will be contests…
You’re going to NZ, Kalen! Wow. Take another book too–it’s quite short and that’s a long plane ride…
Keira and Cara, you’ve got to see her in Brokeback Mountain.
I did, actually, but she didn’t wow me for some reason. I thought she was okay, but I suspect I didn’t totally believe her.
The thing I’ve actually liked her best in was Ella Enchanted. She gets to be likable and goofy in it, which I think suits her talents.
Cara
I just have to grumble a moment that Kalen gets to travel to New Zealand and I don’t—
There…
How exciting, Kalen!!!! NZ is one of the places I dream of visiting someday.
I like Ann Hathaway. She’s not Jane Austen, but then, this movie isn’t about Jane Austen, not really. It has to be too fictional. Still, I can’t wait to see it. Whoo hoo! Another Regency love story on the big screen and, Janet, I hope it sells TONS of books for you!
I did like Anne Hathaway in Brokeback Mountain now that I think about it. However, I don’t see her as Jane. She’s too, well, too American.
However, I am looking forward to Becoming Jane, and I will see it probably more than once.
I do-do-do wish Amazing Grace would come out on DVD soon.
I thought Anne Hathaway was one of the best things about Brokeback Mountain. Oh, yeah, and I loved Emily Woof in Pandaemonium, a totally ridiculous movie in just about every way, though I have to admit the old hippie in me liked some of the druggie scenes. Emily Woof was charming, tho.
I haven’t a clue as to any actors I could see as Jane, but I know I’m not sure I want to see the movie. LOL I don’t always go for fictional stuff. . . but maybe once it comes on DVD or on tv or something. 🙂
Lois
That’s so cool! And I hadn’t heard of the movie, no, so thanks for that, too!
I think Anne Hathaway is very pretty and talented, and a good actress, but I don’t really see her in the part of Jane Austen. (And are there no English actresses to draw on?) I liked her all right in Brokeback Mountain, but truthfully I think she’s better at comedy. However, I will maintain an open mind until I see it.
As for James MacAvoy–won’t the hooves be a bit of a problem??
Todd-who-thinks-the-horns-may-also-be-noticeable