Sense and Sensibility (film) acute social observation and tangy satire," and viewed Thompson and Winslet's age discrepancy as a positive element that helped feed the dichotomy of sense and sensibility. The "Radio Times" David Parkinson was equally appreciative of Lee's direction, writing that he "avoid[s] the chocolate-box visuals that cheapen so many British costume dramas" and "brings a refreshing period realism to the tale of two sisters that allows Emma Thompson's respectful Oscar-winning script to flourish." Out of the 1990s Austen adaptations, "Sense and Sensibility" received the most recognition from Hollywood. It garnered seven nominations at the 68th Academy Awards ceremony, where Thompson received
Sense and Sensibility (soundtrack) National Public Radio's Liane Hansen and Andy Trudeau felt the score's portrayal of restricted emotion was an accurate reflection of the novel's gradual storytelling style. They compared the music in "Sense and Sensibility" to Doyle's score for "Henry V", and described the former as possessing less instrumentation and sounding more wistful and sentimental. The score has also been reviewed by film and Austen scholars. Sue Parrill described the soundtrack as "stunning", though Kathryn L. Shanks Libin felt that aspects of the film's musical authenticity were "sacrificed to the general richness of the soundtrack". Thomas S. Hischak referred to it as