Downton Abbey: A New Era
(A- or 3.5/4 stars)
As soon as I hear the familiar tinkling of the piano keys, followed by the more grand music playing, & the swooping of the camera ... I know that a nostalgic, entertaining two hours of Downton Abbey goodness is headed my way. Such is the case with 'Downton Abbey: A New Era', a sequel to the highly successful 2019 film; itself a spin-off of the beloved English TV series that ran for many years -- I am just so happy to witness the goings-on of these wonderful characters once again. Directed by Simon Curtis & written by show creator Julian Fellowes, Fellowes creates magic again and, based on the ending, difficult to say if he'll conclude the series here, or possibly re-join these characters again in future installments. Both scenarios work.
This film begins in 1928 with the wedding of Tom Branson (amiable Allen Leech) & Lucy Smith (lovely Tuppence Middleton), who we learned from the '19 film is the daughter of Lady Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton). It is a joyous occasion with nearly everyone in attendance. Afterward, 2 unexpected events stir up the aristocratic household: Filmmaker Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy) asks permission from the Granthams to use their vast estate to shoot a silent film, The Gambler; and the Dowager Countess Violet (Maggie Smith) learns that she has unexpectedly inherited a villa in the South of France from a former suitor, a French marquis.
Ailing, but headstrong Violet decides to leave the villa to Sybbie {Tom's daughter with the late Sybil Crawley}, since her other great-grandchildren are titled & will inherit elsewhere. Lord Robert Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) is appalled by the film crew coming to Downton, so to escape the turmoil of it, he, his wife Lady Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), Tom, Lucy, Lucy's mother, Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael), her husband Bertie (Harry Haddon-Paton), loyal ex-butler Mr. Carson (Jim Carter), & other downstairs staff members will head-off for warm, sunny France to check out the seaside estate.
Once there, Robert not only faces legal contest from the deceased marquis' heir (Nathalie Baye), but also concerning news that he may not be who he think he is! Left behind to deal with the mayhem of the movie shoot, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) - sad that her husband has been away so long - must help handsome director Jack Barber find a way to save his film after the studio decides it wants a talking picture {or "talkie"} instead. The two lead actors, charmingly debonair Guy Dexter (Dominic West) & beautiful-but-rude starlet Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock) are resignedly unprepared about having to perform 'speaking roles' and, it is up to the habitants of Downton to somehow come to the rescue. Drama, humor, surprises & heartbreak ensue.
Watching these characters is like being with old friends again. And Julian Fellowes has yet again given us fans a sprawling, yet concise script which include all the ongoing upstairs & downstairs sagas. This sequel has it all: the usual laughs, thanks to opinionated, self-assured Violet (wonderful Maggie Smith) & nervy Mr. Molesley (priceless Kevin Doyle), tears {several beloved characters keep worrisome secrets close to their chest}, amorous entanglements, & a satisfying, if also bittersweet conclusion. Michelle Dockery is simply sublime once again as our haughty-yet-winsome Lady Mary. Hugh Dancy makes for a great romantic foil to Dockery. Hugh Bonneville's character puts us through as much of an emotional wringer as he's going through. Jim Carter is as lovingly pompous as ever. Butler Darrow (Robert James-Collier) gets a lovely character arc. I could go on & on. Every actor is important here and, their roles are perfectly performed.
Visually & aurally, 'DA: A New Era' enthralls once again. The period production designs by Donal Woods {Highclere Castle, the luscious Mediterranean villa, the movie set, the automobiles} are breathtaking. Anna Mary Scott Robbins' costumes are expectedly exquisite; like, jaw-drop exquisite. And John Lunn recalls the original theme music, while also adding lovely new compositions. Those viewers who never saw the show or 2019 film would likely feel adrift watching this. But for us fans, though the story beats & stakes seem lower than prior outings, 'Downton Abbey: A New Era' is as delightful & cathartic as ever. I loved revisiting these precious characters, to see what all of them are up to and ... it is as lovely & entertaining as we could hope for.
This film begins in 1928 with the wedding of Tom Branson (amiable Allen Leech) & Lucy Smith (lovely Tuppence Middleton), who we learned from the '19 film is the daughter of Lady Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton). It is a joyous occasion with nearly everyone in attendance. Afterward, 2 unexpected events stir up the aristocratic household: Filmmaker Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy) asks permission from the Granthams to use their vast estate to shoot a silent film, The Gambler; and the Dowager Countess Violet (Maggie Smith) learns that she has unexpectedly inherited a villa in the South of France from a former suitor, a French marquis.
Ailing, but headstrong Violet decides to leave the villa to Sybbie {Tom's daughter with the late Sybil Crawley}, since her other great-grandchildren are titled & will inherit elsewhere. Lord Robert Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) is appalled by the film crew coming to Downton, so to escape the turmoil of it, he, his wife Lady Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), Tom, Lucy, Lucy's mother, Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael), her husband Bertie (Harry Haddon-Paton), loyal ex-butler Mr. Carson (Jim Carter), & other downstairs staff members will head-off for warm, sunny France to check out the seaside estate.
Once there, Robert not only faces legal contest from the deceased marquis' heir (Nathalie Baye), but also concerning news that he may not be who he think he is! Left behind to deal with the mayhem of the movie shoot, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) - sad that her husband has been away so long - must help handsome director Jack Barber find a way to save his film after the studio decides it wants a talking picture {or "talkie"} instead. The two lead actors, charmingly debonair Guy Dexter (Dominic West) & beautiful-but-rude starlet Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock) are resignedly unprepared about having to perform 'speaking roles' and, it is up to the habitants of Downton to somehow come to the rescue. Drama, humor, surprises & heartbreak ensue.
Watching these characters is like being with old friends again. And Julian Fellowes has yet again given us fans a sprawling, yet concise script which include all the ongoing upstairs & downstairs sagas. This sequel has it all: the usual laughs, thanks to opinionated, self-assured Violet (wonderful Maggie Smith) & nervy Mr. Molesley (priceless Kevin Doyle), tears {several beloved characters keep worrisome secrets close to their chest}, amorous entanglements, & a satisfying, if also bittersweet conclusion. Michelle Dockery is simply sublime once again as our haughty-yet-winsome Lady Mary. Hugh Dancy makes for a great romantic foil to Dockery. Hugh Bonneville's character puts us through as much of an emotional wringer as he's going through. Jim Carter is as lovingly pompous as ever. Butler Darrow (Robert James-Collier) gets a lovely character arc. I could go on & on. Every actor is important here and, their roles are perfectly performed.
Visually & aurally, 'DA: A New Era' enthralls once again. The period production designs by Donal Woods {Highclere Castle, the luscious Mediterranean villa, the movie set, the automobiles} are breathtaking. Anna Mary Scott Robbins' costumes are expectedly exquisite; like, jaw-drop exquisite. And John Lunn recalls the original theme music, while also adding lovely new compositions. Those viewers who never saw the show or 2019 film would likely feel adrift watching this. But for us fans, though the story beats & stakes seem lower than prior outings, 'Downton Abbey: A New Era' is as delightful & cathartic as ever. I loved revisiting these precious characters, to see what all of them are up to and ... it is as lovely & entertaining as we could hope for.