Movie of the Day: January 12, 2001

IMDb Movie of the Day
Having created blockbusters on two continents, Ang Lee is emerging as one of the world's most talented directors, proficient with a broad range of epochs and subjects. His martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, already a phenomenon in Asia and a likely Oscar contender, is sure to increase the buzz. Perhaps his most elegant film to date is 1995's Sense and Sensibility. In tone and presentation, Lee perfectly captures 19th Century England--the beauty of its countryside and the sublimated tension of its mores. The title's contrasting poles are captured by Emma Thompson as Elinor (sense) and Kate Winslett as Marianne (sensibility). The former is a model of restraint and propriety; the latter of wild abandon. The characters' respective fates are revealing of the worldview of their author, Jane Austen, and a refreshing departure from today's course cinematic trysts. Winslett, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman turn in performances of uncharacteristic depth, but the lion's share of the credit goes to Thompson. She won an much-deserved Oscar for her adaptation of Austen's classic novel; her quietly intense performance is the core of this subtle and powerful love story. (View a trailer for Sense and Sensibility) (more)

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