Stillman tries Jane Austen in charming 'Love & Friendship'

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Whit Stillman, one of our best chroniclers of the modern leisure class, has gone back to the 18th century in "Love & Friendship," an effervescent comedy about a deviously ambitious social climber.

Overall, the film is a charming lark, and a definite departure for Stillman as he evolves here beyond his famously precise, formal language which is usually applied to a more modern setting, whether it be early '80s discos or present day dorm rooms ("Damsels in Distress").

Unlike many Sundance features, "Love & Friendship" had a deal in place with Amazon prior to its premiere — it'll also get a theatrical run from Roadside Attractions.

[...] it's worth checking out whether you're an Austen devotee, or just a fan of crackling dialogue and diabolical social situations.