Cert U
93 mins
BBFC advice: Contains no material likely to harm or offend
I am not a period drama sort of guy and have never seen a single episode of Downton Abbey but here I am acclaiming Kate Beckinsale in Whit Stillman's Love & Friendship.
Beckinsale is deliciously dastardly as the manipulating widow, Lady Susan Vernon, playing everyone who crosses her path to her best advantage.
Indeed, her Machiavellian plots even include using her daughter (Morfydd Clark).
Stillman's film is based on Jane Austen's novella Lady Susan and its language is very much consistent with the author's time.
And that was particularly refreshing. No profanities and a U certificate. And what is wrong with that?
Lady Susan's raison d'etre is to sponge off family and friends with the end goal of having a rich man look after her.
She cares not who she upsets as she throws herself in the direction of men who are only too willing to respond enthusiastically.
Beckinsale plays Lady Susan with great zest but the comic lines are mainly in the hands of Tom Bennett as an eligible aristocratic buffoon and James Fleet as the father of a much more desirable chap (Xavier Samuel) who is besotted with her.
In a film which flits around the social elite, there are also breezy cameos from the likes of Chloe Sevigny, Jemma Redgrave and Stephen Fry.
This is a picture which feels like a labour of love for cast and crew. It exudes joy with its gentle mockery of the upper classes.
Reasons to watch: Kate Beckinsale's alluring Lady Susan Vernon
Reasons to avoid: takes a while to get into its stride
Laughs: three
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 8/10
Star tweet
Kate Beckinsale: @thr mentions for Oscar for her Lady Susan Vernon role @LandFMovie @KateBeckinsale @MongrelMedia
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