10 Reasons The 2005 "Pride & Prejudice" Movie Is A Low-Key Cult Classic
Can a movie released in 2005 be considered timeless yet? I'm going to say yes — because in a modern 2022 world, the obsession with the masterful Joe Wright adaptation of Pride & Prejudice remains strong.
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It's arguably the best cinematic adaptation of Jane Austen's classic work (a controversial statement for those who prefer the 1995 BBC version with Colin Firth) and still remains beloved 17 years later.
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Director Joe Wright made his directorial debut with this movie and then went on to make films such as Atonement, Anna Karenina, Darkest Hour, and 2022 Oscar Nominee (Best Costume Design) Cyrano.
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That's a lot of Keira Knightley.
This movie has bewitched me body and soul...and I love it. It's timeless. Here are the reasons why:
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1.The scenery is gorgeous and will make you want to book a trip to England ASAP.
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I have never before experienced the urge to wander across the English countryside, but this movie accomplishes just that. When Elizabeth Bennet isn't undermining the patriarchy, she can be found meandering through a picturesque setting with a book in her hand or pondering her feelings for Mr. Darcy.
It's hard to beat this film's breathtaking aesthetic. There's something so calming and lovely about every single scene in the film, from Elizabeth overlooking cliffs in Derbyshire to the elegant Pemberley estate. To quote Jane Austen's original work, "What are men to rocks and mountains?"
2.It has one of the best movie soundtracks ever.
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From that sunrise opening paired with a few relaxing piano notes to the movie's end credits, the 2005 Pride & Prejudice soundtrack just hits differently. The film's tunes are created by Italian composer Dario Marianelli (who also penned music for other Joe Wright films such as Anna Karenina and Darkest Hour) and performed by French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the English Chamber Orchestra.
A score of relaxing classical music is woven throughout the film, lending to those pretty backdrops of rolling hills and riversides. The soundtrack really heightens the calming ambiance of this movie and — pro tip — is also really great focus music!
3.The casting is impeccable.
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All hail the casting directors of this masterpiece. You have Keira Knightley being quintessential historical-drama-angst-ridden Keira Knightley, Succession's Matthew Macfadyen as the stoic and melancholy Mr. Darcy, and a whole slew of other notable Hollywood actors including Rosamund Pike (who abandons her Gone Girl/I Care a Lot persona to play sweet and sensitive Jane Bennet), Donald Sutherland, and Carey Mulligan.
Whether or not you've read the book, you enter this version of Pride & Prejudice able to understand the distinct personalities of the Bennet sisters and, of course, that prideful and prejudiced nature of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, respectively.
4.It preserves Austen's original text while being easy to understand.
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While adaptations of classic literature can come with the stigma of being a little bit slow and confusing, this movie keeps a great pace. It has a running time of two hours and seven minutes — unlike the BBC miniseries, which is comprised of six episodes — but we don't lose the heart of Austen's tale.
The movie is also chock-full of direct quotes from the novel, keeping it appropriate to its time period and a true tribute to the original work. Even if your high school lit class didn't make you annotate Pride & Prejudice, you can still easily understand the society that these characters are living in and the tumultuous journey of Darcy and Elizabeth.
5.It's totally quoteable.
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If you didn't reach your 27th birthday thinking about that iconic Charlotte Lucas quote ("I'm twenty-seven years old, I've no money and no prospects. I'm already a burden to my parents and I'm frightened."), then more power to you.
True fans will agree that nearly every Mrs. Bennet line is quotable ("Have you no compassion for my poor nerves?") and that this movie holds some of the most romantic dialogue in cinematic history ("You have bewitched me body and soul.")
6.It has that iconic scene where Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth dance together.
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More than just memorable lines, this movie is full of truly iconic scenes. To do them justice, I must break them down for you, starting with that ballroom scene where the tension is palpable. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth don't really care for each other at this point, and Darcy, being the introvert that he is, has made it a point to say that he usually avoids dancing.
Still, they wind up dance partners and engage in some witty, passive-aggressive banter before having a moment. Everyone else in the room disappears, they stare deeply into the other's eyes, and it's *chef's kiss* perfection! (You can watch this scene on YouTube here. You're welcome.)
7.And that scene where Mr. Darcy confesses his love in the rain.
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Confessing your love in the rain to your greatest rival? How angsty! At this point in the plot, a lot has gone down, and both Darcy and Elizabeth have spent the majority of the story fixated on the other's flaws.
When they finally set aside their pride and prejudices, Darcy confesses his feelings, and the two have this pivotal conversation. We bow to director Joe Wright for his creative decision to make this happen during a downpour.
8.And also that scene where Mr. Darcy walks through a field.
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To acquire this scene from YouTube, I straight-up searched "Mr. Darcy field," and the YouTube gods knew. Try to explain the magic of this scene to someone who hasn't seen this film, and you sound unhinged, but it's one of the best.
Paired with the gorgeous music and the foggy backdrop, Mr. Darcy walking through a field to return to Elizabeth has become a notable part of what makes 2005 Pride & Prejudice a timeless piece of art.
9.But most importantly that iconic hand-flex scene.
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Back in January, BuzzFeed published an entire piece on Mr. Darcy's hand flex. This scene has grown to internet infamy. Again, it's pretty much inexplicable to those who haven't seen this movie, but Wright's choice to have Darcy enact that hand flex after letting go of Elizabeth's hand...
We may never see such artistry grace our screens again in this lifetime.
10.It has some pretty good life lessons too.
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Though Pride & Prejudice is a story about love, Jane Austen's famous work is much more than that. It depicts the hardships of being middle class and a woman during Austen's times and has a great cast of characters that fit into the modern world despite being introduced in 1813.
As both Darcy and Elizabeth initially judge the other due to gender/class, the theme soon becomes not to judge a book by its cover. Had they remained prejudiced and set in their ways, we would not have one of the greatest love stories of all time! Plus, it's worth noting that Austen wrote Elizabeth Bennet as a strong, independent feminist character who defies almost every societal expectation thrust upon her during the 1800s.