Plot Summary - Lavish period film, based on the classic novel by Evelyn Waugh. The story takes place between the 1920s and into WWII, centering around young Oxford student Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) and the bond and close friendship with homosexual undertones that quickly forms between himself and a handsome, rather unusual fellow student named Lord Sebastian Flyte. One day Sebastian brings Charles home to his luxurious family estate at Brideshead, and Charles soon becomes embroiled in the goings-on of the Marchmain clan, Sebastian's very religious Catholic family. Charles becomes infatuated with Brideshead, and especially with Sebastian's beautiful sister Julia. When the three venture on a trip to Venice, Italy to visit Sebastian's father, Charles and Julia share a passionate kiss witnessed by Sebastian leading him into jealousy and alcoholism. More problems ensue caused by conflict between Charles self-proclaimed atheism and the family's strong religious beliefs, the way lead by Sebastian and Julia's powerful, overbearing mother, Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson).
Review - This is a wonderful film that I thoroughly enjoyed - such an escape into a time and place that I didn't want to leave, helped along with lush on-location scenery filmed in Oxford, Venice, Morocco, and the gorgeous English castle - Castle Howard - used as Brideshead (the same place as used in the early 80s mini-series of this story). I know the story of Brideshead Revisited pretty well from both the novel and the fabulous 1981 mini-series with Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews - which I love, love, love, by the way - miss the wonderful voice-over narration the earlier version features which includes Evelyn Waugh's words straight from the book. But this new version is great in it's own way, I loved every minute of this film - the orchestral score is a terrific accompaniment, by the way, matched well to each scene and setting. Of course, the story as told in the novel and earlier mini-series is much more complete, but I thought a pretty good job was done in condensing this into a feature-length film (okay, I would liked to have seen more of some of the characters like Anthony Blanche and what about Aloysius the teddy bear - barely seen in this). Well done. Rating - 10/10 stars
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment