Their characters are the entry point into the entire picture and if we don't care about them, then all of Fukunaga's hard work is meaningless. While Fukunaga has crafted a stunning picture, a great deal of credit is due to Wasikowska and Fassbender.

The cinematography is gorgeous, the score is haunting, and the costumes look traditional yet inspired. The viewer no longer gets hung up on silly lines like Rochester's declaration that he has 'all of his limbs and features' because the world is so rapturous and vibrant. The mysterious horror surrounding Thornfield feels more thematically relevant, and all of the technical elements blossom. But once the romance story comes into play, everything else in the film comes alive. Pre-Rochester, Jane's story is too Dickensian and watching her face the unwarranted cruelty of authority figures feels drab. Once Fassbender enters the picture, the film clicks together beautifully. Impressed by Jane's confidence, wit, and self-reliance, Rocheter begins a flirtation with the 'poor and obscure' young woman that crosses social class and their emotional defenses. An orphan who is hated by her aunt (Sally Hawkins), Jane is sent off to boarding school where she is treated cruelly by the staff and forced to stand upon 'the pedestal of infamy.' She eventually graduates and becomes a governess at Thornfield, a castle belonging to the mysterious Mr. The story has a bit of a tough time finding its footing as we're taken through an awkward framing device and then a flashback into the childhood of Jane Eyre (Wasikowska).

Anchored by tremendous performances from lead actors Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender, Jane Eyre plays on its own terms and audiences who understand the game will be richly rewarded. Fukunaga embraces the gothic atmosphere to create a haunting portrayal of a romance between a young woman who never loses her sense of self-worth despite the constant cruelty she receives and a man who has attempted to become aloof in order to hide a bizarre and horrifying secret. Director Cary Fukunaga doesn't give a damn about that gulf and his adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is a lush, confident, and powerful film as a result. There's a vast gulf between adapting a gothic period romance and connecting with a modern audience.

Jane eyre movie