SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
(director/writer: Georgia Oakley; screenwriters: Diana Reid, novel by Jane Austen; cinematographer: Arnaud Potier; editor: Izabella Curry; music: Roger Goula; cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones (Elinor Dashwood), Esmé Creed-Miles (Marianne Dashwood), George MacKay (Edward Ferrars), Frank Dillane (Willoughby), Herbert Nordrum (Colonel Brandon), Caitríona Balfe (Mrs. Dashwood), Stacy Martin (Fanny Dashwood, John’s wife), Bodhi Rae Breathnach (Margaret Dashwood), Fiona Shaw (Mrs. Jennings), Tom Brooke (John Dashwood), Turlough Convery (Sir John Middleton), Ceara Coveney (Lucy Steele), Chloe Pirrie (Lady Middleton), Eliot Sumner (Mr. Palmer), Bethany Slater (Mrs. Palmer); Runtime: 132; MPAA Rating: PG; producers: Tim Bevan;India Flint, Jo Wallett, Eric Feliner: November Pictures; 2026)
“Can’t generate much of a charge.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Brit filmmaker Georgia Oakley (“We Did Not Fall From The Sky”/”Blue Jean”) directs a modernized and faithful adaptation of the classic debut 1811 novel of Jane Austen, that was called Elinor and Marianne when published. The so-so film follows Ang Lee’s wonderful 1995 version of “Sense and Sensibility.” Oakley writes the romcom with Diana Reid.
The Dashwood sisters, the eldest Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and the middle sister Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles), both in their 20s, and the youngest teenager Margaret (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) reside on an exclusive Sussex estate. Unfortunately after the death of their father they were forced to move to a modest cottage in Devon when their matriarch Mrs. Dashwood’s (Caitríona Balfe) stepson John Dashwood (Tom Brooke) inherits the property and evicts them. The older sisters now share a London flat.
Elinor has fallen in love with the shy Edward Ferrars (George MacKay), a decent young man from a wealthy Sussex family. But he never asks her to marry him. Marianne falls for the dashing cad, the ex-soldier Willoughby (Frank Dillane), who cares for her when she twists her ankle. The family faces money problems, the sisters face romance problems in addition and have different life attitudes (Elinor sense, Marianne sensibility).
There are good star performances and supporting performances from Norwegian actor Herbert Nordrum, who plays Colonel Brandon, Marianne’s boring suitor, an d from Fiona Shaw as a gossipy matchmaking widow, a distant cousin of the Dashwoods. The costumes and visuals are good. It’s a thoughtful but not fresh presentation about what makes things turn out for the best when things go wrong. But the competent film is dry and can’t generate much of a charge though it’s well-executed.
REVIEWED ON 10/27/2026 GRADE: B-
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