Slice: Ode to Ms. Portman, and her New "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" Film

My fondness for Natalie Portman has grown readily, if unsteadily, over the years; the early infatuation began with her role as Mathilda, opposite Jean Reno, in “The Professional” (a film I was much, much too young to have seen in 1994, but that was also the year that “Pulp Fiction” became a favorite—thank you, unaware parents). That fondness subsided when Portman began accepting roles in “Anywhere But Here” and “Where the Heart Is”—and I really thought I'd never regain my affection when she took part in ruining “Star Wars”—not once, but thrice.

But, somewhere around “Garden State” and “Closer,” she became a mainstay in my favorites list of young leading—or, supporting—actresses. She's always been so beautiful, can be so endearing, yet now she seems to make all the right movie choices.

And, no Great Choice tops the fact that she's signed on to star in and produce “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” a film that's based on the book by the same name, by Seth Grahame-Smith “and Austen.” [quotes mine.] This is too great.

From Variety:

“Described as an expanded version of the Austen classic, the book
tells the timeless story of a woman’s quest for love and independence
amid the outbreak of a deadly virus that turns the undead into vicious
killers.

Portman will play feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet, who is distracted
from her quest to eradicate the zombie menace by the arrival of the
arrogant Mr. Darcy.” [Sweet. Darcy was always such a needling foil.]

Given my infatuation for Portman, and my tried-and-true love of good zombie films—I'm keeping my toes crossed that this was yet another right choice. If not, it's at least bold; and, that's great, too.