Adapted from the novel Lady Susan by Jane Austen, Love and Friendship stars Kate Beckinsale as Lady Susan, an attractive widow who attempts to find a husband for both her daughter (Morfydd Clark) and herself, but only after the colourful rumours about her flirtations die down.
Whit Stillman’s beautiful looking film certainly has an air of Barry Lyndon about it (one of Stillman’s favourite films) with it’s terrific cinematography, sumptuous set design and wonderful soundtrack of mainly classical music composed by Mark Suozzo (and performed by the Irish Film orchestra) but it really struggles to be dramatically interesting despite the many positives about the film.
Kate Beckinsale (who probably has the best lines from Whit Stillman’s screenplay) is impressive in the lead role, and she is well supported by a talented cast, particularly by Tom Bennett as the grinning, awkward buffoon, Sir James Martin. However, despite the gorgeous cinematography and great soundtrack, I found myself apathetic to the frivolous banalities of the extravagantly dressed and hideously wealthy.
2/5
