She seemed to always justify her behavior so casually and turn her own wrongdoings into someone else's. She seemed never to take responsibility for her own actions. She states things that are so clearly biased and one-sided as if they are fact and seems to go through life as if she is never in the wrong. She appears to merely tolerate the perceived injustices against her, seeing herself as a martyr of sorts.
shareReally disliked her and was hoping she'd fail the whole time
shareShe's SUPPOSED to be selfish and unlikable. Have you ever read Austen's novella, Lady Susan (the book on which this film is based)? Have you ever read Vanity Fair? The main character in that book (Becky Sharp) is also selfish and unlikable. But that doesn't mean that the stories aren't highly entertaining. Which they are. IMO, of course.
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oh ok didn't know thanks for letting me know!
shareI haven't watched the movie yet and I've heard people say it's not great, but as far as her likeability is concerned, she is supposed to be unlikable, that's the whole point.
To me the problem nowadays is it seems you've got to turn enveryone in someone likeable and relatable because otherwise people won't watch or like the movie / tv series (unless it's a series about some badass drug dealer or criminal member of the Mafia, usually men).
For example, I watched the series 'Victoria'(which I loved under other aspects, especially some of the performances) and it's undeniable they made Queen Victoria 10.000.000 times more likeable, sympathetic and relatable than she actually was, with no real mention so far of her huge major shortcomings and faults(the same happened with other characters too, but she is the main one and they did it rather shamelessly).
Yes, she was. This was a real surprise to me and possibly to others because Jane Austen's main female characters are usually very sympathetic, even when making mistakes like Emma. I really didn't want to see Lady Susan succeed in any way.
shareDoesn't sound like you've read much Jane Austen, fugazzi49. Like Jane, her female characters lived in tough times for women; when all their worth depended on a man, they dropped like flies in childbirth, couldn't vote and more inequities. (You think THIS era is bad!). Her female characters had to be charming and live by their wits to survive, i.e., capture a rich husband. I'm sure you would have loved to see Lady Susan thrown in the workhouse to wither and die. She did what she had to do in order for her daughter and herself to survive and live well. You think she should fail because she wasn't 'nice'? Seems like everybody was pretty happy in the end.
share"Somewhat" is an understatement.
But I was really surprised how effortlessly charming Beckinsale made the character.
Lady Susan was horrible person but also seriously impressive.
Loved her and hated her at the same time.
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down and a Wagging Finger of Shame
I was really surprised how effortlessly charming Beckinsale made the character. Lady Susan was horrible person but also seriously impressive. Loved her and hated her at the same time.
She was like the manipulative, two-faced Marquise de Merteuil, but never really gets her just come-uppance. Perhaps more realistic, but less edifying to the audience. A despicable "baddy" can be really likeable. Personally, the Kate Beckinsale character did not quite make it.
Also, interesting point that such behaviour was necessitated/justified by restrictive gender roles of the time. It seemed to me a subtle tone of misandry was more prevalent (i.e. weak, foolish, servile, clueless, easily manipulated male characters).
Haha - that was the entire point of the movie....
shareIn all of her unlikability, there was also an undercurrent of realism and pragmatism which was bracing and somewhat understandable if not admirable.
shareThat's the point. She's a selfish, narcissistic, manipulative coquette.
share