Brideshead Revisited
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Movie Reviews of Brideshead Revisited
Movie Review: Clueless
Summary: 3 Stars
If you have some vague memories of reading Brideshead Revisited (or seeing the TV series) and the impression you were left with was that of a lovely, charming, but somewhat clueless period piece, this is your movie. The screenplay lost several essential parts of the novel and what we are offered is yet again charming, lovely etc but noticeably clueless. It is fairly obvious that a novel of such complexity (in case you missed it - yes, it is a novel of great complexity!) cannot be faithfully presented during two hours, still it is not an excuse for going against its spirit. Somehow the limited time did not stop the authors from introducing most of the original characters even if most them do not get a chance to utter two full sentences in the movie.
Brideshead Revisited is a story of spiritual maturation of an artist set against the decline of the English aristocracy. Charles Ryder of the movie is an artist basically because we are told so quite repeatedly. Yes, he draws once, hangs a painting on the wall, and makes an appearance at an art show. Most of us have done as much in life and we don't think of ourselves as artists.
Part of the maturation is fascination with the beautiful Lord Sebastian Flyte (I find Ben Whishaw somewhat lacking in masculine beauty and a bathing scene stolen from Talented Mr Ripley did not help a bit) which Waugh sees as juvenile and aesthetic (and vaguely homoerotic although not necessarily homosexual). However, it is only a stage of emotional development which after some years leads Charles towards a heterosexual relation with Sebastian's sister Julia.
This vision of development of a young man of British upper classes is apparently beyond the grasp of modern screenplay writers (the times are different, it is true) even if they actually included Cara (Sebastian's father Italian lover) expressing it most clearly. Consequently, the two siblings fight for the attention and affection of Mr Ryder in the lovely setting of Venice. When Julia wins the contest, Sebastian succumbs to alcoholism. This in turn elegantly spares the authors from any attempts of explaining his lot in any other way - he drinks himself to death because he was rejected by his lover. Neat, simple, and completely against the spirit of the novel. Not very convincing, however, as when Julia makes it clear in the movie that her conquest was meant mostly to spite her brother (why, one might ask?) Sebastian fails to notice the fact completely, further succumbing to alcoholism.
Probably, the spirit of the novel was too closely related to the Holy Spirit that the authors needed to exorcise at least some of it. They failed to note, however, that it was precisely the spiritual backbone that kept this (I agree) somewhat clueless though doubtlessly charming novel together. The result makes a nice viewing but if it leaves you asking endless questions "Why? Why? Why?" you have to resort to the original. There are no answers in the movie.
Movie Review: Just visiting
Summary: 3 Stars
Londoner Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) arrives at Oxford College and meets a fellow student, Lord Sebastian Flyte, when the good man sticks his head through Ryder's dorm window and vomits. To make up for this horrible faux pas, Sebastian invites Ryder to lunch with his friends. The plebian Ryder is awed by the aristocratic Sebastian and is amazed when the Lord seeks out his friendship. He even takes Ryder to see his family's sprawling country house, Brideshead, although he refuses to allow Ryder to meet his family. Things change in several during the summer at Brideshead. First, Sebastian's heretofore somewhat veiled romantic feelings toward Ryder come front and center with a kiss. Second, Ryder gains a glimpse into the family's inner workings - Flyte's mother, Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson) maintains an iron fisted rule over her children through staunch Catholicism. When Ryder develops feelings for Flyte's sister, Julie (Hayley Atwell), Sebastian is devastated and terminates his relationship with Ryder. However, Ryder is far from done with this family or Brideshead.
"Brideshead Revisited" is one of Evelyn Waugh's undisputed masterpieces. I've read seven of Waugh's novels, and this film adaptation nearly captures his satirical wit. Some of the dialogue is very witty, and Emma Thompson is superb in her supporting role. Even bedecked in a silver wig, she brings sexiness and humor to her icy role. The film also makes an interesting choice by depicting the relationship between Sebastian and Ryder as more overtly romantic than it is in the novel or miniseries. In addition, the scenes at Brideshead were filmed beautifully by director Julian Jarrold (Kinky Boots & Becoming Jane), with on location shots at Castle Howard. Unfortunately, the rest of "Brideshead Revisited" is rather bland, aside from the spectacular scenery and costumes.
The book is a long, detailed one; indeed, the successful British miniseries from 1981 was 11 hours long. The film would have benefitted from focusing more on certain aspects of the book instead of trying to cram in so much. Instead, we get a mishmash of themes and plots, with none given full justice. In addition, the strong characterizations from Emma Thompson and Ben Whishaw in the early part of the film help carry it through some rough patches. When these characters disappear in the later part of "Brideshead Revisited" and the film focuses on the rather vapid Julia and Ryder, it falls flat. Ryder is meant to be somewhat of a cipher; he serves as a microscope through which we see the family, as we gradually come to realize that he may be an opportunist. However, Julia should have been made far more interesting; instead, she just seems randomly erratic. I wanted to love "Brideshead Revisited" and hoped that it would spark a renewed interest in Waugh's works. This movie, though, seems unlikely to do so.
Movie Review: Revisiting a Classic, with mixed results
Summary: 3 Stars
It's been nearly 30 years since I watched the miniseries with Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews, falling immediately and irrevocably in love with both. I knew going in that a 2-hour movie treatment could only scratch the surface of a 12-hour series, but I was curious, especially given the raves for Emma Thompson. I confess that's it's been far too long since I saw the series, but some elements seemed completely foreign to me, including the blatant homosexuality on display as well as the horrific coldness of Lady Marchmain. Emma Thompson bravely plays against her usual warm persona and braver still, makes herself 20 years older as the chilly matriarch of a screwed-up aristocratic family. The screwed-upness is due entirely to her and to her obsession with the Church, this version says. I think given another decade and a few more plummy parts like this and Ms. Thompson will be known as Dame Emma Thompson, and rightly so. Hayley Atwell (recently seen as Kiera Knightley's romantic rival in "The Duchess" wears bobbed hair and red lips fetchingly, but doesn't really project the emotional heft to make herself worth a man selling his soul for.
The central friendship between Charles Ryder and Sebastian is what drives this story, despite all the pretty set dressing surrounding it. In contrast to Irons' and Andrews' dark/light dynamic, both actors here are brunet and their chemistry together feels discordant. Ben Whishaw is so physically slight and vaguely creepy-looking, it's hard to accept him as the bon vivant of Oxford that Sebastian supposedly is. His physicality is all the more fragile when set beside strapping Matthew Goode. Mr. Goode is the real jewel in this cast . . . in some angles he startlingly resembles Jeremy Irons, and his voice is so like Irons', one wonders if he watched the miniseries and practiced his line readings. Mr. Goode is better-looking than his predecessor and captures Charles' outsider status wonderfully. And if I didn't know better, I'd think he was Irons' son.
The production design and costumes are beautiful, but as rendered here, Waugh's tale becames a superficial and silly proceeding, populated by only self-serving, stupid individuals. Much like the similar period piece "Atonement", one is left wondering quite what all the fuss was about.
Movie Review: Unlucky the Movie...
Summary: 3 Stars
... to have the luminous memories of the earlier mini-series to compare to it, especially when the series - lavish and leisurely - set the dramatic standard for a large or small-screen rendering of a literary classic. Just as the 2008 move version of "Pride and Prejudice" had the misfortune to be compared to the Jennifer Ehle-Colin Firth retelling (which many Jane Austin fans regard as the definitive `Pride and Prejudice') so must this version stand up against the previous `Brideshead'. Which it does manage, after a fashion and to be to be strictly fair; the pace of a two-movie must be pretty brisk, after a leisurely, ten-hour plus exploration of several different love affairs - the first of those affairs being the attraction of a young Charles Ryder (Mathew Goode) for the Marchmain family and their splendid house, Brideshead. Then there is the hopeless affection of the youngest son of the house, Sebastian Flyte (Ben Wishaw) for Charles, Charles' love for Sebastian's sister Julia (Hayley Atwell), and the fierce devotion of their mother, Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson) for the Catholic faith. Finally, there might also be the cool-eyed pursuit of power and position by Julia's husband, Rex Mottram (Jonathan Cake). Greta Sacci, Michael Gambon, Patrick Malahide and Anna Madeley round out the cast, with Castle Howard in Yorkshire again playing the part of Brideshead, the stately home. All of these various meditations on love and the varieties thereof, wealth, power and religion are melded fairly efficiently into a narrative which hits all the high-points, more or less in order. With the cast featuring the hi-end acting talent that it does, this version can't possibly be considered a waste of watching time - not least of it being that Goode and Wishaw appear much more age-appropriate in the earlier scenes, when they are supposed to be college student.
Of the extras on this DVD, the most memorable is "The World of Brideshead", a look at the filming in various locations, and a collection of omitted scenes, most of which I wish had been added to the DVD release.
Movie Review: Brideshead Eviscerated
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm giving this three stars only because the film makers had the good sense to use Castle Howard once again as the Brideshead house and because the film is quite beautiful to look at. Acting performances are decent. The music is gorgeous. But why on earth would anyone bother to remake this when a perfect eleven hour film version already existed? No matter how good this film might have turned out, it would always be second best. It really isn't even a close second. Outlandish changes to the novel occur throughout the film and so many key scenes are left out altogether, only to be replaced by scenes that never occured in the novel. The story becomes so changed that there isn't much of Evelyn Waugh left in it. This is a dumbed down version that offers no new insights to the material. Perhaps worst of all is the miscasting of Ben Whishaw as Sebastian Flyte. The character of Sebastian is supposed to be the most beautiful man at Oxford, yet Whishaw appears gaunt, frightening and just plain unattractive. Matthew Goode as Charles Ryder is far better looking than this Sebastian and it seems unlikely that he could ever be attracted by Sebastian's beauty. The eccentricities of Sebastian's character (including his beloved Teddy Bear) are downplayed far too much. I suppose this is to bring Julia, played by Hayley Atwell to the center of the story more quickly. In fact, the character of Sebastian is more of a minor character in this version, with Julia always at center stage (even accompanying Charles and Sebastian on their trip to Venice). While it was wonderful to dive back into the world of Brideshead and see it from a different perspective, this film version is far inferior to the original film or the novel that it is based upon. Far too many liberties have been taken with the original material and this can't simply be passed off as condensing the story for the sake of time. This is a deliberate attempt to change the very nature and meaning of the Waugh novel. It does not work, but it looks great.