‘Emily’ Review: Emma Mackey Stuns in Unconventional Biopic
Emma Mackey galvanizes the screen in Frances O’Connor’s wildly unique biopic on the life of Emily Brontë.
There is a longing for the days of biopics that aren’t Wikipedia-esque summaries of the subjects they focus on. Frances O’Connor’s Emily thankfully is not such a a case, and instead, asks audiences to go on an emotionally challenging journey that chronicles the imperfect life of Emily Brontë (Emma Mackey), author of Wuthering Heights. The film follows how Emily went on to write the novel based on her personal experiences involving her brother (Fionn Whitehead) and a curate (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). A lot happens in 130 minutes. Some of it is brilliant, and some is a bit tedious, but one thing’s for sure - Emma Mackey magnifies the screen from the moment it begins to its devastating end.
Mackey's acting skills didn’t necessarily give audiences a great first impression when she was in Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile. The film was enjoyable, but Gal Gadot and Emma Mackey were two of the weakest cogs in the great mystery-machine. However, there was significant buzz regarding her performance in Emily when the film was released in the United Kingdom last year. Now that it’s finally out in North America, she does not disappoint. O’Connor’s script is part touching and heartfelt but also surprisingly very funny at times, with stunning deadpan deliveries from Mackey that resulted in huge laughs from the audience.
One conversation scene involving Emily and the curate William Weightman is the best dialogue you’ll see this year. Weightman initially asks Emily to speak French to understand her fluency, but the scene quickly turns sharp as they talk about blindly following God’s will. It’s funny in its scathing depiction of catholicism, but it also doesn’t hold back at calling out the system for what it truly is. Mackey’s commitment is extraordinary from beginning to end. Still, she has primarily electric chemistry with Jackson-Cohen, who begins to be tormented by Emily’s love for him, even when he believes he is committing a cardinal sin.
Mackey also shares excellent chemistry with Whitehead, who gives his best career performance as Branwell Brontë. There’s one specific moment in which their relationship will be the closest they’ll ever be as siblings. However, that moment also signals a downfall in how they perceive themselves. When Branwell ultimately redeems himself near the end, it’s more heartbreaking than emotionally satisfying. Nevertheless, there’s a lot of immense emotional power brought upon by the acting, and it wouldn’t have worked if the performances weren’t more than solid. Thankfully, everyone does exceptional work here.
But the technical craft is far more engaging than its performances. Nanu Segal’s cinematography and Sam Sneade’s editing give the biopic its unconventional nature. They’re coupled with the best score of 2023 so far by Abel Korzeniowski, whose Philip Glass-lite music is a thrill to listen to on the big screen. When “Captain Sneaky” and “No Coward Soul Is Mine” play on screen, a great sense of scope and emotional depth immediately fills the movie with enough pull to draw the audience into its structure and world.
It’s a shame the movie is too long and drags near its ending. There’s a lot Emily does in 130 minutes, but it could’ve slightly benefited from a tighter runtime. Near its latter half, many scenes (and situations) repeat themselves to the point where they become tedious. And since the film opens with its final scene, repeating situations that have already occurred feels almost pointless.
But that’s a minor nitpick. Emily is a spectacular work, anchored by an incredible Emma Mackey, who commands the screen as soon as the film opens. Of course, depending on how audiences assimilate O’Connor’s approach, it may not be for everyone. But I can’t help but laud O’Connor for crafting something audacious in its structure, aesthetic, and acting prowess that immediately won over this writer, even amidst its pacing issues. If you’re looking for unconventionality, Emily is it, and it should not be missed.