romance be in the air and love be in bloom in victorian era england and in this light hearted story set against a society in a time in which manner be still in vogue and the lady be charm and elegant and and the gentleman dash . ` emma and base on the novel by jane austen and write for the screen and direct by douglas mcgrath and star the lovely gwyneth paltrow in the title role . a self appoint matchmaker and emma take great delight in the romantic notion of play cupid and attempt to pair up those she feel be suit to one another . come off a successful matching that end in marriage and she next set her sight on find a mate for her friend and harriet ( toni collette ) and but the outcome of her initial attempt prove to be less than satisfy . meanwhile and her endeavor be temper by by the handsome mr. knightley ( jeremy northam ) and whose insight into matter of the heart often seem to be a bit more astute than emma and and lend some needed balance to the proceeding . and emma and so concerned with what be right for others and neglect the heart that be actually the most important of all represent her own . the world go round and love abounds and but emma be about to miss the boat . luckily for her and however and the be someone just right for her waiting in the wing . now and if she can but stop long enough to realize it . but a everyone who have know true love know and matter of the heart can go right or wrong in an instant and depend upon the slight thing while and while romance be at hand for emma and she must first recognize it and and seize the moment . mcgrath have craft and deliver a delightful and feel good film that be like a breath of fresh air in our often turbulent world . there may be an air of frivolity about it and but in retrospect and this story deal with something that be perhaps the most important thing there be in all honesty to just about anyone represent love . and with mcgrath impeccable sense of pace and timing and it all play out here in a way that be entirely entertaining and enjoyable . it a pleasant and affecting film and with a wonderful cast and that successfully transport the viewer to another time and another place . it light fare and but absorb while and the picturesque setting and proceeding offer a sense of well be and calm that allow you to immerse yourself in it and simply go with the flow . the winsome paltrow and who win the oscar for best actress for ` shakespeare in love two year after make this one and seem comfortable and right at home in this genre . she personify all thing british and and do it with such naturalness and facility that it the kind of performance that be easily take for grant or overlook altogether . she simply so good at what she do and make it look so easy . she have a charismatic screen presence and an endearing manner and very reminiscent of audrey hepburn . yet paltrow be unique . a an actor and she have a wide range and style and have demonstrate with such film a ` hard eight and ` hush and ` a perfect murder that she can play just about any part effectively and and with that personal touch that make any role she play her own . but it with character like emma that she really shine . she be so expressive and open and and her personality be so engaging and that she be someone to whom it be easy to relate and just a joy to watch and regardless of the part she be play . and for emma and she be absolutely perfect . jeremy northam also acquit himself extremely well in the role of knightley and and like paltrow and seem suit to the genre in the right role and that be while his performance in the more recent ` the golden bowl and in which he play an italian prince and be less than satisfying . here and however and he be perfect while he be handsome and and carry himself in such a way that make knightley believable and very real . like colin firth mr. darcy in the miniseries ` pride and prejudice and northam have create a memorable character with his own mr. knightley . also excellent in support role and worthy of mention be toni collette and a emma friend harriet smith while and alan cumming and a the reverend elton . respectively and collette and cumming create character who be very real people and and a such become a vital asset to the overall success of this film . and it demonstrate just how invaluable the supporting player be in the world of the cinema and and to film of any genre . the support cast include greta scacchi ( mrs. weston ) and denys hawthorne ( mr. woodhouse ) and sophie thompson ( miss bates ) and kathleen byron ( mrs. goddard ) and phyllida law ( mrs. bates ) and polly walker ( jane fairfax ) and ewan mcgregor ( frank churchill ) . an uplifting and elegant film and ` emma be a reminder of civilized behavior and the value of gentleness and grace in a world too often beset with unpleasantness . and even if it only through the magic of the silver screen and it nice to be able to escape to such a world a this and if only for a couple of hour and a it fulfill the need for that renewal of faith in the human spirit . and that the magic of the movie . i rate this one positive . .