Honestly, Mansfield Park is probably Jane Austen's dreariest novel. Neither the weak heroine nor the clueless hero are worthy of being praised. However, if you want to watch a film adaptation of the novel then this is by far the better choice. While this movie seems to movie quickly and shallowly over major plot points, it does manage to include almost the whole book. Some characters are dropped and one major change is made (my guess is for budgetary reasons). Overall, I got the same feeling from watching this film as I got from reading the novel. I felt like I had accomplished something without really enjoying it. I think Billie Piper does an excellent job of bringing Fanny Price to life by remaining true to her character but making her likable. Most of the other actors are well cast and preform their jobs admirably too. I think this movie is far better than it is given credit for being. The main issue with this movie is it is too close to a book that people generally just don't like.
Review of Mansfield Park
