10 reasons why 'Sense and Sensibility' remains a classic after 20 years

'Sense and Sensibility' turned 20 years old last December and was casually marked by the death of one of its main protagonists, Alan Rickman, one month after its anniversary. But that's a reason to celebrate even more this gorgeous adaptation of the Jane Austen novel, so here are 10 reasons why thie Ange Lee movie remains a classic among Austen adaptations.

1. Emma Thompson delightfully adapted the Jane Austen novel, she did so well, that she won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, the Golden Globe, the Critics' Choice Award, the ACCA, the BSFC Award, the ALSF Award, , the LAFCA Award, the NYFCC Award, thr STFC Award and th WGA Award no less.

2. It's directed by Ang Lee who has made other stunningly beautiful films like 'Eat, Pray, Love', 'The Wedding Banquet', 'Life of Pi' or 'Brokeback Mountain' among others. So you have an idea of how delicate and emotionally powerful this movie can be.

3. It contains Alan Rickman's best performance, or at least my favorite one from all of his career. Who didn't fall in love with Colonel Brandon? I already drooled about him here, so there's no need to say more.

4. It's Kate Winslet second film after 'Heavenly Creatures'. She was 19 when she filmed it.                    

5. After divorcing Kenneth Brannagh, Emma Thompson met her now husband Greg Wise (Willoughby) during filming, even though he played Kate Winslet's love interest.

6. Hugh Laurie also appears in the movie playing an ironic, bad tempered man, very similar to his famous character in 'House'.

7. Hugh Grant also appears making his signature character of an awkward man, and he's great at it.

8. At first Emma Thompson didn't want to play Elinor Dashwood because at the age of thirty five she was too old for the 19 year old part but Ang Lee convinced her.

9. Hugh Laurie and Imelda Staunton also played a couple in 'Peter's Friends' (1992) and they've done a total of five movies together.

10. The character of Marianne was hated by the readers because it was a satire made by Austen of young girls who fantasied about love too much but Emma Thompson made the character much more lovable so she wouldn't be hated in the film.

sources: jacquelinefontenay & flurryheaven

Farewell Alan Rickman

This year has just started and it's taking all the talent with it. If at the beginning of the week the world was shocked with the news of David Bowie passing away, yesterday we learned that Alan Rickman has died at 69 because of cancer, just like Bowie, same age, same illness. And while many remember him from the 'Harry Potter' movies (i've never seen any of them, not that i think they're bad or anything), he was so much more than that role.

Not many know that Mr. Rickman made his film debut at the age of 42 in 'Die Hard' but where he totally fascinated me and fell in love with him was for his role as Colonel Brandon in 'Sense and Sensibility'. First of all, that movie. One of my favorites, definitely. And well, aside from the marvelous Emma Thompson (who also adapted the screenplay in such a delightful way), Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant, this brilliant Ang Lee adaptation of the Jane Austen novel also had Rickman stealing scenes even when his role was so quiet (but loud), so cold (but so heartfelt)  and so sensible (intentional pun) that conquered Marianne and us all. His passion for the young Miss Dashwood (Kate Winslet) and how he suffered in silence, with his heart burning with love even when he saw her falling for another man, is not a performance you could ignore. That scene where he takes her into his arms with the rain falling and after he suffered a fall, that moment.

Anyway, while he was excellent in any role he portrayed, even as the cheating husband of Emma Thompson in 'Love Actually', it's a terrible loss. It's always a loss when an artist dies, of course there's people dying everyday in the world but when it's someone you've been following, listening to their music (in Bowie's case), or seeing them acting in movies or tv roles, you grow fond of them, inevitably. You feel them close so that makes you sad, even more when you know what a generous and kind person Alan Rickman was, as told by his peers. So, as a treat, let's remember Texas' glorious video 'In Demand' where we could see Rickman in his most sensual self, so attractive and powerful, panties were dropping everywhere.

Also, this scene of 'Sense and Sensibility' ♡

"You will not stay away long?"

sources: bloodybaronn, youtube & vimeo