First, I have to confess that although I love Jane Eyre, I’m not really a fan of gothic. I tried to read this book a number of times when I was young, and I never really got past the second page. That being said, I was surprised that I quite liked this film (although I definitely don’t want to read the book, now that I know the plot). Ralph Fiennes works well as the tormented Heathcliff, and Juliette Binoche is quite good as Cathy-with-a-slight-French-accent. Most important, the costumes were really good (designed by James Acheson, who did Dangerous Liaisons) — the first half of the movie is set in the 1780s, the second half in the 1800s. Lots of good stripey robes à l’anglaise. The only off bit was that Cathy the First’s hairstyles were a bit off — too hairspray-y and weird bangs. I think if they’d bothered to curl her hair before styling, they would have worked out better.
