Southeast Messenger - March 22nd, 2020

PAGE 12 - SOUTHEAST MESSENGER - March 22, 2020
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“Emma” is one of the best Jane Austen adaptations
It is a truth universally acknowledged
that the entertainment industry will adapt
a Jane Austen novel every few years. A
majority of these adaptations will be of her
most famous work, “Pride and Prejudice,”
but occasionally the industry will throw
ardent fans of her other classics a bone.
In the 1990s, there were two successive
adaptations of “Emma,” which took off in
their own way. In 1995, a modern take on
the adventures of this matchmaker became
an iconic film with “Clueless” and the following
year saw a more traditional take
with a Gwyneth Paltrow vehicle. Fierce
battles were wage over which is better, but
I will always choose the former.
After this stretch, a cooling off period of
Austen’s second most famous work took
place, but it was once again revived in 2009
with a television series and then updated
with the Emmy-award winning YouTube
series four years later. After this, another
cycle of “Emma” dormancy took place.
When news broke that Greta Gerwig
would adapt the Louisa May Alcott classic
“Little Women,” the industry decided it
was time to bring “Emma” back to life too.
This time, it would be more traditional but
also a little bit sexier and a little bit meaner
than other adaptations.
In the 2020 version, indie star Anya
Taylor-Joy plays the titular character, who
is described as “handsome, clever and rich”
in the title card. They
also left off a bored
busy-body who wants
the lives of others to fit
into her mold, but they
have to keep it shorter
for attention spans.
It opens on the day
of a wedding whose
match she had a hand
in. It is that of her
beloved governess
and a wealthy family
friend who has a son she has always had
her sights set on. While it may seem like
she had an ulterior motive in this match, it
turns out did she not. She, however, would
not turn down a meeting with the elusive
and wayward Frank Churchill (Callum
Turner).
After the nuptials and with nothing to
do (Frank was a no-show at the wedding),
Emma meets the kindly and bubble-headed
Harriet Smith (Mia Goth) and immediately
tries to find her a suitable match. Taking
no regard to Harriet’s feelings of affections
for one Mr. Martin (Connor Swindells), she
tries to set her up with the flashy and flirty
pastor Mr. Elton (a delightful Josh
O’Connor) and draws the ire of a childhood
acquaintance.
Enter the beloved character of George
Knightley (Johnny Flynn), who has always
viewed Emma as something of a beautiful
and vain brat. He scolds Emma for not
knowing the true character of Mr. Elton
and basically tells her to mind her own
business. She, of course, cannot and
romantic chaos ensues for herself and that
of her loved ones.
“Emma,” which was directed by Autumn
de Wilde and whose screenplay was written
by novelist Eleanor Catton, is a true
delight of a film which does not shield the
viewer from the ugliness of some of its
characters. In a vast majority of adaptations,
“Emma” is viewed as a misguided
matchmaker with a heart of gold but this
adaptation gives her a little more bite. At
one point, you literally want to get out of
your seat and slap her when she makes a
comment to the lonely Ms. Bates (played
perfectly by Miranda Hart).
But this Emma is not so far gone with
her meanness that you don’t want to root
for her as she matures. This is both an
attribute to the writing and direction, as
well as the acting by Taylor-Joy. She is not
afraid to make her character unlikeable
but she also sells her efforts at redemption
well.
ink before inviting a pet bunny into your home
Buying live bunnies as an Easter present
for a child is not a good idea unless you
are willing to commit to 10 years of providing
food, exercise, socialization and overlooking
gnaw marks on most everything.
That little ball of fur with the tiny ears
and a cotton puff tail can melt your heart.
A baby bunny in a basket on Easter morning
could be the pinnacle of a holiday celebration.
But it is not a good idea.
At this time of the year, rabbits are
everywhere. They appear in television commercials
and on packages of candy. Stores
are filled with stuffed rabbits, candy rabbits
and ceramic rabbits. It is no surprise
children beg their parents for a real bunny
of their own, but ill-prepared to care for
these bunnies, owners often quickly tire of
them.
While baby bunnies grow up into still
adorable adult rabbits, they have their own
set of needs. Because they are prey animals,
they generally don’t like to be handled,
but, at the same time, crave interaction
and can be quite playful.
Bunnies are cute–I’ve had more than
three dozen (including a couple of “surprise”
litters) rabbits over the last 25
years–but they are also a lot of work.
They need exercise space and, like cats
and dogs, need to be neutered or spayed.
The Reel Deal
Places
Unlike dogs, which
are happy with the
same chow day in and
out, rabbits need a
balanced diet of hay,
greens and fresh veggies–not
just a bag of
compressed pellets
from the local big box
store.
What happens
after a bunny grows
into adulthood or
loses its allure after a
couple of months?
They go the way of
Dedra
Cordle
Linda
Dillman
unwanted pets–
taken to a neighborhood
shelter or set loose in the back yard.
In the months following the holiday,
humane societies and rabbit rescues are
flooded with rabbits. These are the “lucky”
ones.
The unlucky ones are dumped outside
where predators, cars, illness and injury
virtually guarantee an early death for a
creature that could have life expectancy as
long as a large dog. Domestic rabbits are
not wild rabbits and do not the skills to
survive in the wild.
Frank, my little four-pound ball of fluff
and fur, turns 10 this year. And while he is
an “old” bunny, he still keeps up with his
best friend an 80 pound German shepherd,
Hudson. I look for chew marks on table
legs, but this is part of a rabbit’s nature.
If they don’t chew, their teeth grow dangerously
long, which could impact their
health. Despite the destruction, and a rabbit
can be very destructive, I still would not
trade Frank or those who came before him
for anything.
That is why I want to warn people
against making a quick decision about
bringing a live bunny home for Easter.
Please think twice, three times, even 10
times before you invite a rabbit into your
home for what could be a relationship lasting
a decade. Don’t act in the moment.
After that moment is over, the bunny is
still depending on you to do the right thing
and that is not something to be taken lightly.
My best advice? Still buy a bunny, but
make it chocolate.
Linda Dillman is a Messenger staff writer.
While Austen’s “Emma” has been adapted
numerous times and in different mediums,
I have to say that this is the best traditional
retelling of her work to date. It’s a
visual feast for the eyes with its set and
production design and detailed costuming
and also a feast for the mind. You cannot
help but get swept up in its sharp wit, in
the faces full of expression and the pitch
perfect acting by the lead and secondary
cast. If you don’t love British actor Bill
Nighy already, prepare to become enamored
with his draft-feeling character Mr.
Woodhouse.
This “Emma” may not be for some
Austen purists (it features a brief scene of
male nudity and Mr. Knightley is more
demonstrative than he is in the novel) but
I think the general audience will be able to
enjoy this latest adaptation as it has a
sense of bite and fun not previously seen in
this work. While it would be better to experience
this film on the big screen, that may
not be possible at this time. But when you
come across it on a streaming service, try
not to watch it on your phone or any other
small device. It’s an eye-popping visual
feast and deserves to be treated as such.
Grade: A-
Dedra Cordle is a Messenger staff writer
and columnist.
around the Southeast
Paying municipal taxes
According to the city of Groveport,
the Regional Income Tax Agency
(RITA) will no longer mail a postcard to
remind you to file and pay your municipal
income taxes.
Instead you’ll see digital notification
ads to remind you your municipal taxes
are due April 15.
Check out RITAOhio.com for information
about how to file your taxes
online through MyAccount or FastFile.
Community Garden
Interested in gardening, but don’t
have the space at your residence?
If so, you may want to consider gardening
at the Groveport Community
Garden. The garden is located in
Heritage Park, 551 Wirt Road. 10 feet x
10 feet plots are only $10 each for the
season.
Planting begins in early April. The
garden closes on Nov. 1.
Garden plots can be purchased at
the Groveport Recreation Center, 7370
Groveport Road, Groveport, OH 43125.