This should have been the first movie I ever wrote about. It’s that important to me that you watch it IMMEDIATELY. By that I mean, watch it the next time you have four free hours and a hankering for Jane Austen.
I am referring specifically to the BBC version of   “Pride and Prejudice,” starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Accept no substitutes. This version is much longer than most, as it was first presented as miniseries. I promise you, every minute is worth it.
The plot of Austen’s most beloved novel follows the Bennett family, consisting of four daughters, a quiet father and a ridiculous mother prone to fainting spells and giggling. In typical Jane Austen fashion, all the girls are on the lookout for husbands in an era where love matches are just becoming acceptable. All, that is, except Lizzie.
Lizzie (Jennifer Ehle) is the Carrie Bradshaw of “Pride and Prejudice.” Everyone likes her the most, and she’s the character we want most to find true love and happiness. The problem, of course, is that she possesses a fair amount of the titular character traits, which get in the way of her potential interest for the seemingly unobtainable Mr. Darcy. No, I don’t remember his first name, and no, neither will you.
Jane Austen was the master of several things. Love stories, strong lady characters and fantastic dialogue that stays sharp more than a century later were her particular forte. She was at her best with “Pride and Prejudice.” There’s a reason this show is BBC’s best selling program of all time, and more people have probably seen it than have sung the British national anthem. It’s because “Pride and Prejudice” is almost flawless. Would be totally flawless, if Mr. Darcy as played by Mr. Firth, had had a penchant for nudism. But you can’t win ’em all.