‘Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' review: Writing and living her own private rom-com
The story's nice and simple. It takes its aspiring-novelist protagonist outside her comfort zone, from Paris to an Austen writing residency in England. Piani's film is, in itself, a comfort zone for viewers, the latest of many cinematic mash notes to Jane Austen, from 'Clueless' to four 'Bridget Jones' movies.
Pulling from the filmmaker's life, the character of Agathe — played with untheatrical gravity and hints of a blithe spirit in the making by Camille Rutherford — spends her days among the stacks at Shakespeare and Company, sorting, helping customers, dishing with her good friend and fellow employee Felix (Pablo Pauly). He's bachelor No. 1, a bit of a cad but reasonably charming about it. His intentions may be up in the air regarding Agathe, but he looks out for her. He sneaks a look at the chapters she's written and, impressed, submits them behind her back to the Austen residency for consideration.
It works, and reluctantly Agatha accepts the two weeks in the English countryside with other invitees toiling on their own projects. Earlier, in an anxious state over the prospect of finishing her novel, Agathe is pessimistic. Felix mansplains that she suffers from imposter syndrome. Her reply: 'No, I don't, I'm a imposter.'
The scenario's bachelor No. 2 arrives in the brooding personage of Oliver (Charlie Anson), the great-great-great-great-nephew of Austen herself. He's no fan, though ('overrated'), which gives Agathe, the visitor he picks up at the ferry landing, something to argue about straight off.
From there, Piani's film does its self-assigned work in solid if programmatic fashion, establishing a back bench of supporting characters at the residency, as well as at home in Paris where Agathe, who hasn't dated in a couple of years, lives with her sister and nephew. She's a tough nut, emotionally guarded in the wake of the sisters' parents' death in a car crash.
These circumstances are layered enough to make 'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' a little more than rom-com piffle, though there's little romantic tension in Piani's triangle since Oliver is the auxiliary Mr. Darcy here, and therefore a pre-ordained match made in literary heaven. Shot entirely in France, the movie renders its ideas of romantic melancholy and Agathe's default romantic defeatism in ways that reassure the audience every second. Agathe is either inside her beautiful bookshop, her beautiful, sunny Parisian domicile or roaming a beautiful house and grounds for knocking out a novel while your heart figures things out.
Piani did the right thing in casting Rutherford, whose physical embodiment of Agathe suggests a tall, gangly, striking woman trying not to be seen. The actress leans into the character's unsettled, often sullen side, though not at the expense of the comic tropes (at one point, nude, she walks through her bathroom door, which turns out to be Oliver's room). Rutherford provides the internal friction throughout, while the generally frictionless mechanics of the movie itself hum along, with soothing sights and sounds. These include the fine actress Liz Crowther, as the Austen residency's hostess, quoting Wordsworth's notion of the best part of life: the 'little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.'
'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' — 3 stars (out of 4)
MPA rating: R (for language, some sexual content, and nudity)
Running time: 1:34
How to watch: Premieres in select theaters May 23
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Fans pay tribute as emotional Sharon Osbourne lays flowers at Ozzy memorial
Fans pay tribute as emotional Sharon Osbourne lays flowers at Ozzy memorial Thousands of fans paid their respects to Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse made its way through the streets of Birmingham, the English city where he grew up and where the band was formed in 1968. Osbourne died last Tuesday at the age of 76. 00:46 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 17 videos Fans pay tribute as emotional Sharon Osbourne lays flowers at Ozzy memorial Thousands of fans paid their respects to Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse made its way through the streets of Birmingham, the English city where he grew up and where the band was formed in 1968. Osbourne died last Tuesday at the age of 76. 00:46 - Source: CNN Crocodile gets caught underneath moving truck A bystander captured video of a crocodile caught underneath a truck driving through high water in Australia at Kakadu National Park. 00:25 - Source: CNN Beyoncé brings out Destiny's Child during final show Beyoncé reunited Destiny's Child during her concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland joining her on stage to perform a medley of the group's biggest hits, as part of her final Cowboy Carter show. 00:45 - Source: CNN Gwyneth Paltrow joins Astronomer as temporary spokesperson Actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in a new ad for Astronomer, the tech firm whose former CEO and human resources chief were caught in an awkward moment on a Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert last week. Paltrow is the ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. 00:51 - Source: CNN 'South Park' skewers Trump after signing new Paramount deal In their first episode of the season, the creators of "South Park" mocked President Donald Trump and Paramount after they just signed a new $1.5 billion contract. Paramount is looking to merge with Skydance Media and needs the Trump-influenced FCC to approve the deal. 01:24 - Source: CNN Hot Chinese brands are coming to America Chinese brands like Luckin Coffee, Pop Mart, and HEYTEA are expanding in the United States, despite the ongoing trade war. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich and Marc Stewart report from two different continents on why the companies covet American customers. 02:10 - Source: CNN Fans pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne Fans have gathered in Ozzy Osbourne's hometown to pay tribute to the former Black Sabbath singer, who died yesterday at the age of 76. One of them told CNN's Salma Abdelaziz that Osbourne will 'live on forever in his music.' 01:07 - Source: CNN Metal legend Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76-years-old Ozzy Osbourne, the hellraising frontman of Black Sabbath and reality TV star, has died aged 76. CNN's Stephanie Elam looks back at the legendary career as the Godfather of Heavy Metal. 03:05 - Source: CNN Missing child case from 46 years ago reopened A federal appeals court overturned the verdict of Pedro Hernandez, the bodega worker who was found guilty in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Etan Patz in 1979. Patz was 6 years old when he disappeared on the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop in New York City. 01:50 - Source: CNN Tesla Diner opens in Los Angeles The first Tesla Diner opened on Monday in Los Angeles to a crowd of customers. The restaurant has Tesla chargers, a robot that serves popcorn and a drive-in movie theater. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he plans to build more diners in the future if this location succeeds. 00:58 - Source: CNN Is Coca-Cola with cane sugar healthier? Coca-Cola will launch a new soda in the US made with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. CNN's Jacqueline Howard looks at the difference between the two sweeteners. 01:29 - Source: CNN Stephen Colbert addresses 'The Late Show' cancellation 'Cancel culture has gone too far,' Stephen Colbert told the audience as he began his first post-cancellation episode of 'The Late Show.' The host went on to fire back at Trump's Truth Social post celebrating the announcement by CBS. The episode also featured cameos by late night talk show hosts including Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, John Oliver and Seth Meyers. 01:24 - Source: CNN Malcolm-Jamal Warner's impact on Black community Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Cliff Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show,' has died at age 54 in a drowning accident in Costa Rica where he was on vacation with family, according to authorities. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department told CNN that Warner was swimming Sunday at Playa Grande de Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean, where the Red Cross later declared him dead. CNN's Lisa Respers France reports. 00:59 - Source: CNN International visitors to US will pay new fee CNN's Richard Quest explains how the Trump administration enacted a bill that will require international visitors to pay a new 'visa integrity fee' of $250 dollars. The fee will apply to all visitors who are required to obtain nonimmigrant visas to enter the US. 01:36 - Source: CNN Pilot apologizes after making hard turn to avoid B-52 bomber A pilot flying a Delta Air Lines regional jet apologized to his passengers on Friday after making an 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid hitting a US Air Force B-52 bomber, audio shared on TikTok from the incident shows. SkyWest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the close call. 01:08 - Source: CNN Comparing Scottie Scheffler to Tiger Woods Scottie Scheffler's win at the Open has drawn comparisons to the great Tiger Woods. CNN Sports' Patrick Snell has taken a look at some interesting stats that show Scheffler's on course for greatness. 00:38 - Source: CNN Coldplay's Chris Martin warns concertgoers Coldplay's lead singer, Chris Martin, could be heard warning the audience about cameras at a concert in Madison, Wisconsin. 00:50 - Source: CNN
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Paul Mario Day, Iron Maiden's first live lead singer, dies at 69
Paul Mario Day, an English singer and Iron Maiden's first live vocalist, has died at 69. The band announced Day's death on social media July 30. "We are deeply saddened that Paul Mario Day, Iron Maiden's first ever vocalist back in 1975, has passed away. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to Paul's family and friends," the heavy metal band wrote on Instagram and Facebook. "Paul was a lovely person and good mate," the statement continued. "Rest in peace Paul." A representative for the band, William Luff, confirmed Day's death, noting that "he performed live for a short time with the very first line up of Iron Maiden 50 years ago but never recorded any music or released a record with them." Day on lead vocals, Dave Sullivan and Terry Rance on guitar, Steve Harris on bass and backing vocals and Ron Matthews on drums made up the band's first lineup in December 1975. Harris is the only original Iron Maiden member to have remained after the band underwent several lineups throughout the years. Paul Di'Anno, Iron Maiden's first lead singer, dies at 66 Day was replaced in 1976 because, according to Harris, the band was looking to shake up its onstage presence, according to a 2004 Iron Maiden biography. Dennis Wilcock later replaced him. Once their recording career began, lead vocals were performed by Paul Di'Anno and, ultimately, Bruce Dickinson, aside from a brief hiatus with Blaze Bayley while Dickinson pursued a solo career. Di'Anno died in 2024, at 66. Day performed as the lead vocalist of British heavy metal band More from 1980 to 1982.
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
A studio in a Beatles-inspired NYC co-op asks $425K
By the time Dr. Scott Keller walked through the whimsical lobby of 215 E. 24th St. in 2007, he already knew he was home. The longtime chiropractor and part-time musician had spent two years searching for an apartment. But the moment he stepped into the foyer — with its faux street lamps, Tudor timbers and a wrought-iron patio set evoking a Liverpool, England lane — he felt a rush of déjà vu. 9 A quirky studio has listed for $425,000 in one of Manhattan's most unusual co-ops: the Penny Lane, a former ice cream factory turned 1970s co-op known for its Beatles-inspired lobby. Marcio Honorato Photography 9 A photo of Penny Lane in Liverpool, made famous by a Beatles song. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images 'I knew that this place was for me. I knew it was mine, and I knew I'd been there before,' Keller, 59, told The Post. 'There are no mistakes in the universe. Everything has some kind of synchronistic divine plan.' And he was right. After purchasing the more than 450-square-foot studio for $330,000, his mom told him they went to a party there with friends when he was a teenager. Now, nearly two decades later, Keller is parting ways with his beloved home at the Penny Lane co-op in Manhattan's Kips Bay. Listed for $425,000, the third-floor studio offers floor-to-ceiling windows, a Juliet balcony with city views, hardwood and tile floors and a ceiling fan. But it's the building's character that's driving the buzz. 9 The Tudor-style foyer designed to mimic a Liverpool streetscape makes the building a stand out. Marcio Honorato Photography Once home to the J.M. Horton Ice Cream Factory, the red brick building was converted into apartments in the mid-1970s by Beatles-obsessed developers. The Beatles, of course, were famously from Liverpool. The lobby was designed to mimic a quaint English streetscape, inspired by the Liverpool neighborhood referenced in the song 'Penny Lane.' 'It has this curious, cool lobby that recalls the kind of Tudor architecture of Liverpool,' listing representative Giulia Prestia of Century 21 Realty First told The Post. 'It harkens back to a New York City that we don't really see anymore.' 'And it has been maintained that way ever since,' she said. 9 Converted in 1976 by developers who were avid Beatles fans, the building's lobby was designed to evoke the song's lyrics, with red brick walls, Tudor-style timbers, faux slate roofs, porch-lit doorways and a black lamppost bearing a 'Penny Lane' sign in ornate script. Marcio Honorato Photography 9 Building amenities include a 24-hour doorman, laundry on every floor, on-site parking, and a sprawling roof deck with views of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. Marcio Honorato Photography The co-op's interior plays up the theme with decorative facades, mock storefronts and a stylized streetscape that some visitors have compared to a scene from 'Willy Wonka.' 'Some people love it, some people hate it,' Prestia said. 'But it's very cool.' The building's past as a factory lends itself to some unusually lofty layouts. Though Keller's studio is a single-level unit, other apartments in the 179-unit building are duplexes or even triplexes, and some have generous proportions. 'Because it was a former ice cream factory … some of the units have extraordinarily tall ceilings,' Prestia said. 'That's not common, especially in neighborhoods like … Kips Bay.' 9 The Penny Lane, a seven-story co-op named after the iconic Beatles song. Michael Ochs Archives The co-op also features a 24-hour doorman, a live-in superintendent, laundry on every floor, and an expansive landscaped roof deck that once served as tennis courts and now offers views of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. There's also bike storage, a recycling program that caught Keller's attention early on, and one of New York City's first organized composting systems that predated the green boom. 'Back in the day, I mean in 2007, it was a big deal,' he said. The building once had even more overt Beatles references. The neighboring parking garage — once part of the Penny Lane complex — featured murals of 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,' 'Abbey Road,' and 1950s icons like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. 'The developers were such Beatles fanatics that they had this mural commissioned,' Prestia said. 'When they renovated it, they painted right over it, which is such a huge loss.' 9 Dr. Scott Keller purchased the apartment in 2007 specifically for its Beatles lore — and he was drawn in part by a mural of Beatles album covers that once adorned the neighboring garage. Marcio Honorato Photography For Keller, who plays Beatles covers with his band and frequently performed at venues across New York and the Hamptons, the building was more than a home. 'It's sad because I love it. It's my baby,' he said. 'I've accomplished a great deal of success while I was living there, in my career and in my music career.' He added that the staff contributed to the home's magic. 'The people that work there on the staff have an energy and a joy about them,' Keller said. 'That is part of the feeling you get when you walk through the foyer.' Keller had long split his time between New York and Florida, but recently made the move permanent. 9 Now relocating to Florida, Keller is listing the third-floor unit, which features a Juliette balcony, southern exposure, and floor-to-ceiling windows — as well as this kitchen with good storage. Marcio Honorato Photography 9 isting agent Giulia Prestia noted that buildings like this are increasingly rare in a market that prioritizes sleek, modern design — this one offers something different: character, history and a sense of whimsy. Marcio Honorato Photography Renting the unit, he said, never felt like an option. 'The idea of renting it to other people, taking my space is making me crazy,' he said. 'And I don't want to rent it, so I just have to emotionally detach from it.' Still, Prestia thinks the apartment will strike the right chord with someone new. 'To find something at that price point in New York City is really quite rare,' she said. 'It's a great step up for someone who might be living with roommates and wants to make a move to owning.'
