Mr. Malcolm's List

Novelists who adapt their own work to the screen sometimes run the risk of being unable to "kill their babies." Fortunately, Ms. Alain's had no such qualms. Her screenplay is a delight. Director Emma Holly Jones maintains the scope and literary scale of the novel, as well as the wit, charm, and romance expected of Regency-era productions. Taking a cue from the wildly successful Bridgerton series, casting is inclusive and revelatory. Who isn't thrilled to see the lovely Ms Pinto in Austeneseque attire and a plot rife with scheming intrigue? Twenty-first century novelists are enriching a beloved genre with new stories. Here's to the women behind the camera and the women behind the pen.

Surely there are important, authentic, diverse stories that should be told, based on literature and history of the non-Western world.

Shouldn't those films be made?

The new thing of re-doing English period pieces with woke casting is a waste of opportunity and resources. These films and shows are like fake reality shows., though Mr. Malcolm's List is better than Bridgerton aka Gossip Girls in costume.

The set-up of the movie is tiresome. Among other things, Zawe Ashton and Freida Pinto are old for these period piece characters, Ashton's character is mostly unpleasant.

1818 - When Julia (Zawe Ashton) is rejected by London's most eligible bachelor, Mr Malcolm (Sope Dirisu) because she doesn't get a tick next to every item on his potential wife list, Julia seeks revenge for the humiliation. To do this, she, and her reluctant cousin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) persuade friend Selina (Freida Pinto) to trick Malcolm by chatting him up so she can ultimately reject him with her own list. Inevitably, she falls for him.

Whilst the Jane Austen comparisons are inevitable and to a degree justified, this is a sweet, witty story of love, society, manners etc boasting a terrific cast. Pinto is perfect, as is Ashton whilst Jackson-Cohen is hilarious as the man scared of horses and determined not to get dragged into Ashton's scheme and failing. One point, if I'm honest, whilst Dirisu is a fine actor, I'm not sure he was quite right for the 'Darcy' role.

How this movie has an average of 5.3 but the disgracefully botched 2022 version of Persuasion, a 5.6, is beyond me. Yes, Mr. Malcolm's List is Austen-esque and predictable, but at least the script captured the zeitgeist of the early 1800s. Its preview (which is on YouTube) actually came out early 2019, so I'm guessing Bridgerton took a leaf out of their book in regard to a diverse cast.

The two leads don't have much chemistry but the cast in general is excellent. I particularly enjoyed Oliver Jackson-Cohen's Lord Cassidy and although Julia Thistlewaite's character is downright unpleasant, Zawe Ashton embodied her brilliantly. I'm glad she replaced Gemma Chan, whose performance in the preview I thought a bit spiritless.

All in all, not an arthouse film experience but definitely worth the watch if you're into period pieces. I watched it for the second time today and didn't enjoy it any less than I did the first time.

I can't believe how mean some of the reviews are. My husband and I just finished it and had a great laugh, good acting and yes a predictable storyline but it was fun.

With so many other movies leaving you feeling sad, anxious or instilling fear it was a delight to end the night with a laugh.

We find it hard to find movies we can both sit through with our different tastes. We both enjoyed and would recommend for those looking for some light fun.

I don't understand why a review needs to have 600 words. I could say the costumes were cheap and the paper looked too modern, the casting was diverse and ... yeah minimum word count reached! Haha enjoy.