‘Sense and Sensibility’ Review: Breathing New Life Into a Classic 

Everytime a new Jane Austen adaptation is announced, most people are left wondering what more can be mined from a piece of work so heavily adapted and revered, but sometimes a film comes and reminds us why giving it another go is warranted. Sense and Sensibility was the first published novel by Austen and is among her most popular works. The story follows the Dashwood sisters as their lives are forever altered by the passing of their father. The central heroines are Elinor Dashwood, who leads with her head, and Marianne Dashwood, who leads with her heart. As the girls maneuver their new lives they find love, heartbreak, and an understanding of who each other is. Above all Sense and Sensibility is about sisterhood and this adaptation by Georgia Oakley handles that central theme beautifully, making this film the greatest of all the adaptations. Read our full review for Sense and Sensibility below. 

As a huge admirer of regency romances, specifically inspired by Austen’s work, I have always felt that Sense and Sensibility deserved a staple adaptation. No offense to the 1995 film by Ang Lee, but there had yet to be a single adaptation that captured my heart. Until now. We have Pride and Prejudice from 2005, the recent Emma from 2020, and now Sense and Sensibility from 2026. There are two key aspects that all these films have that make them stand out above the rest, those being a distinct visual style and a sense of humor. If you have not read a book by Jane Austen, you might be surprised to learn that her books are extremely funny and meant to be read as satires. Her work is so compelling because it blends a sharp social critique with the traditional romance of the period. So to me no true Austen adaptation is successful without comedy. Sense and Sensibility has some great comedy throughout the film. I found myself consistently laughing throughout the runtime and it was truly a joy to watch. 

Then there is the distinct visual style, which Sense and Sensibility has in spades. On the surface the film has a lot of muted tones and natural light, but for some reason it feels illuminated and lively. This comparison sounds insane but I was mostly reminded of the interior shots of Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon. It is a stunning piece of mise-en-scene that elevates the movie to not just a timeless story but a visual feast. Yet the thing that really stuck out to me is how different it is from the rest of Austen adaptations. Pride and Prejudice uses golden yellows and deep blues, while Emma. uses bright pastels, and Sense and Sensibility, as I said, has rich muted browns and natural lighting. All of these choices reminded me of the image I had in my mind when reading the actual novels. Sense and Sensibility is one of Austen’s earlier works and was written a little earlier than the start of the regency era, so it has some of the pre-regency sensibilities. 

Everything that needed to be captured was. Especially the relationship between Elinor and Marianne, who were brought to life seamlessly by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles respectively. Elinore Dashwood has for a long time been one of my favorites of Jane Austen’s heroines. She is the more sensible sister, but also incredibly introverted and scared to confess her true feelings. She is by far more relatable than the outspoken Elizabeth Bennet or charming Emma Woodhouse. Daisy Edgar-Jones does convey Elinor’s more homely qualities, but that doesn’t stop her from conveying the many other facets of the character. You understand why Edward Ferrars falls for her and her deep love for her family. It is a great performance that brought one of my favorites to life in the way I’ve always wanted. Then there is the surprising standout that is Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne. It is by design a showier role, because Marianne is a girl who follows her whims and wears her heart on her sleeve. Though in past adaptations I have found her incredibly annoying, but not in this one. She put the tragedy of her circumstance forward in just the right amount that made the theatrics feel warranted. With the added element of Creed-Miles pure charm. 

Charming is really the main word I would use to describe this adaptation. At every moment it wins you over with its visual elements, respectable screenplay, great performances, and general delightful aura. This is also the first time a Jane Austen adaptation has made me cry multiple times. The power of her stories is that they are timeless. Even when it is a traditional adaptation, these stories translate to any time. In today’s slang Sense and Sensibility is about one girl in a situationship and another who got ghosted. So happy to see new life breathed into this great story and if you love a powerful romantic drama you are sure to love this one. 

Sense and Sensibility was directed by Georgia Oakley and stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, George MacKay, Herbert Nordrum, Frank Dillane, Caitriona Balfe, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, and Fiona Shaw. 

Thanks for reading this review of Sense and Sensibility. If you liked this article, make sure to check out more reviews here at Feature First.