The new Sense and Sensibility adaptation directed by Georgia Oakley has gotten two proper trailers:
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY – Official Trailer [HD] – Only In Theaters October 16 by Focus Features on YouTube
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY – Official Trailer 2 [HD] – Only In Theaters October 16 by Focus Features on YouTube
Oof. I had such high hopes, but: OOF.
My problem in one word: hairpins.
(Hair. Pins. Argh!!! I don’t think of myself as a Regency purist, but OMG, the hair!)
This doesn’t look like Jane Austen at all. It looks sloppy. Slovenly. Slatternly, especially Marianne! The Dashwoods are gentry, but they’ve been made so dishevelled (especially Marianne!!!) one wonders whether they own combs or are reduced to wearing other people’s castoffs. (The 2008 miniseries was bad enough, disregarding the story and, instead of a house in cottage style, stuffing the Dashwood ladies into a ridiculously humble cabin in Devonshire.)
Other than that: on one hand, the colors and sets are so very drab; some scenes are so dark it’s impossible to see what’s going on. Almost everything is incredibly beige, be it clothing or building. Even the supposedly fashionable and dashing Willoughby looks like an unkempt, uncouth farmer. Yuck. Fortunately I have seen some other pics that aren’t quite so dismal or devoid of color; we’ll have to see what the whole is like, though.
On the other, the character work might be better than the visuals. This Marianne seems true to form, i.e., intent on abandoning Elinor to follow the social norms and polite manners (and herself making an escape every single time to do very little except amuse herself). Also John and Fanny Dashwood seem bang on, repulsive and odious in their avarice. We saw Miss Steele(s) not at all, and barely a glimpse of Colonel Brandon (played by Herbert Nordrum, who interests me by virtue of being a Norwegian); sadly, he basically looks like a highwayman. Perhaps the full story will be better; after all, trailers always lie.
Clearly, though, there’s a trend in recent years to make period pics look more lived-in and less polished. Why does that mean using mud for dye and things of feeble quality is beyond me, though. (Actually I do know: it’s what most modern audiences feel is historically accurate. I do not agree or approve.) The only exception I’ll make is seeing more scenes in (supposed) candlelight; that’s nice. (But it’s exactly because candlelight is so weak that period textile colors were much brighter than we’re used to thinking on the basis of museum artifacts. There should be more color, not less! Gah! Anyway.)
The second trailer seems to focus more on Elinor and Marianne. But it’s actually Mrs Jennings (played by the awesome Fiona Shaw) who steals the show: she looks like an absolute hoot! I’m so looking forward to seeing her! The very end of trailer two also has a great, tiny character moment where two dogs are enjoying the breeze at a carriage window.
Oakley’s S&S opened in the UK on September 25, 2026. According to IMDB, the US release will be on October 16, but here in Finland we’ll have to wait till October 30.
Hey, look! We found a thing on the internet! We thought it was cool, and wanted to share it with you.
