Downton Abbey (A or 3.5/4 stars)
Conceived by Julian Fellowes, who won an Academy Award for 2001's brilliant upstairs/downstairs whodunit, Gosford Park, & who wrote the fantastic TV drama from which this movie is based on ... I am thrilled that 'Downton Abbey' (well-directed by Michael Engler) has come back to life in cinematic form. The show ended its run a few yrs. ago and, it's just a pleasure to be back in the company of these indelible characters at that sprawling estate. 'DA' takes us back to that grand edifice some 3 yrs. after the end of its TV run {10 yrs. after the Great War ended & a generation before WWII begins}.
Lord Robert Grantham Crawley (stately Hugh Bonneville) & Cora (regal Elizabeth McGovern) receive stunning news by telegram that they are to host their Majesties King George V (Simon Jones) & Queen Mary (Geraldine James) for one day & a half, which includes a lavish dinner & a massive parade in town. Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) springs into action, heading into town to ask/beg/plead their beloved retired butler, Carson (fan-favorite Jim Carter), to return for the Royals' trip, as she thinks current butler, Thomas Barrows (Robert James-Collier), isn't quite up to the task. To further complicate matters, the Royal household travels with their own staff, including snobby Butler Wilson (David Haig) & snooty chef, Monsieur Courbet (Philippe Spall), which upsets perpetually frazzled Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol), lovingly scatterbrained Daisy (Sophie McShera) & Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle).
Proud Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) is not thrilled herself when the Queen's head-of-household tries to take charge over her staff. But Anna (lovely Joanne Froggatt) & Bates (Brendan Coyle) comes up with an underhanded scheme to thwart the Royals' subordinates. Robert's widower son-in-law, Tom Branson (dapper Allen Leech), is drawn to one of the Queen's maids (Tuppence Middleton), but is also drawn into a nefarious plot by a visiting Irishman. Put-off butler Thomas Barrows lets off some steam at a certain club, but runs into conflict with the law. And when she's not trading barbs with her best friend/sometimes adversary, Isobel (Penelope Wilton) ... our lovingly cantankerous Dowager Countess Violet Crawley (indomitable Maggie Smith) is concerned about her estranged cousin Maud Bagshaw's (Imelda Staunton) choice of an heir. Much drama & merriment ensues.
Sumptuous, exquisite & wonderfully nostalgic, 'Downton Abbey' is a fitting capper to the worldwide popular series - that is, unless this box office hit spawns sequels. Coming in at 122 fleet minutes, watching this is like experiencing a grand two hour episode of the TV show; just with more sweeping camerawork & heightened character moments. Simply put, everything about this film reminds us why it has huge fans in the 1st place. As a devoted fan, I may be biased, but so be it - I absolutely loved it. From the opening strains of familiar music & train-barreling-through-the-countryside shots, I was hooked. And Julian Fellowes has maintained his resplendent writing of dialogue & plot. I don't know HOW he was able to juggle 20+ characters & all the subplots {the royal visit, family drama, palace intrigue, forbidden romances, downstairs hijinks, assassination plot} ... but he does it beautifully.
Every character is given something to do & has moments to shine. Featured most prominently are Michelle Dockery's Mary, Allen Leech's Tom, Jim Carter's Carson & Maggie Smith's Violet -- but everyone contributes muchly. I loved the sweet subplot concerning Edith (lovely Laura Carmichael) & her adoring husband (Harry Hadden-Paton). Kevin Doyle's Mr. Molseley provides the film's single most hysterical moment in the main dining room {I was bent over laughing}. I enjoyed an entanglement btwn. Sophie McShera's Daisy, her betrothed, Andy (Michael Fox), a plumber (James Cartwright), & one risky act of sabotage. And I teared-up when shop owner Mr. Bakewell (Mark Addy) expressed what an honor it would be to serve the royals; what Daisy steps in to say is wholly endearing. Listen, I could on & on with every character ... but this review would last forever. Warm performances abound.
As one would expect, the visuals here are astounding. Anna Robbins' costumes are sublime, along with great hair & make-up work by Anne Nosh Oldham. The sets are period-perfect gorgeous. There is a ball at the palatial home, Harewood House, of the King & Queen's daughter, Princess Mary (Kate Phillips), which is worth the price of admission alone. The parade sequence features The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Watching the pomp & circumstance of the 70+ troops on horseback was incredible. And as mentioned earlier, the orchestral music is just wonderful.
Thematically - and just like the TV series - this film highlights the class clash, decline of the aristocracy & the 'way of life' that these homes held during the early 20th century -- war can do that. The 'old guard' is still represented mightily by Maggie Smith's Violet. For this plot, Violet's resistance comes from estranged cousin Maud, whose more contemporary views about property succession concerns her. Speaking of Maggie Smith; gosh, she's just a treasure of wit, timing ... and her closing scenes couldn't be more poignant. For unknowing audiences looking for an Upstairs, Downstairs costume drama that rewards dialogue & characterization over action ... here's your movie. But for uber-fans, just sit back & enjoy this marvelous trip back to Downton.
Lord Robert Grantham Crawley (stately Hugh Bonneville) & Cora (regal Elizabeth McGovern) receive stunning news by telegram that they are to host their Majesties King George V (Simon Jones) & Queen Mary (Geraldine James) for one day & a half, which includes a lavish dinner & a massive parade in town. Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) springs into action, heading into town to ask/beg/plead their beloved retired butler, Carson (fan-favorite Jim Carter), to return for the Royals' trip, as she thinks current butler, Thomas Barrows (Robert James-Collier), isn't quite up to the task. To further complicate matters, the Royal household travels with their own staff, including snobby Butler Wilson (David Haig) & snooty chef, Monsieur Courbet (Philippe Spall), which upsets perpetually frazzled Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol), lovingly scatterbrained Daisy (Sophie McShera) & Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle).
Proud Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) is not thrilled herself when the Queen's head-of-household tries to take charge over her staff. But Anna (lovely Joanne Froggatt) & Bates (Brendan Coyle) comes up with an underhanded scheme to thwart the Royals' subordinates. Robert's widower son-in-law, Tom Branson (dapper Allen Leech), is drawn to one of the Queen's maids (Tuppence Middleton), but is also drawn into a nefarious plot by a visiting Irishman. Put-off butler Thomas Barrows lets off some steam at a certain club, but runs into conflict with the law. And when she's not trading barbs with her best friend/sometimes adversary, Isobel (Penelope Wilton) ... our lovingly cantankerous Dowager Countess Violet Crawley (indomitable Maggie Smith) is concerned about her estranged cousin Maud Bagshaw's (Imelda Staunton) choice of an heir. Much drama & merriment ensues.
Sumptuous, exquisite & wonderfully nostalgic, 'Downton Abbey' is a fitting capper to the worldwide popular series - that is, unless this box office hit spawns sequels. Coming in at 122 fleet minutes, watching this is like experiencing a grand two hour episode of the TV show; just with more sweeping camerawork & heightened character moments. Simply put, everything about this film reminds us why it has huge fans in the 1st place. As a devoted fan, I may be biased, but so be it - I absolutely loved it. From the opening strains of familiar music & train-barreling-through-the-countryside shots, I was hooked. And Julian Fellowes has maintained his resplendent writing of dialogue & plot. I don't know HOW he was able to juggle 20+ characters & all the subplots {the royal visit, family drama, palace intrigue, forbidden romances, downstairs hijinks, assassination plot} ... but he does it beautifully.
Every character is given something to do & has moments to shine. Featured most prominently are Michelle Dockery's Mary, Allen Leech's Tom, Jim Carter's Carson & Maggie Smith's Violet -- but everyone contributes muchly. I loved the sweet subplot concerning Edith (lovely Laura Carmichael) & her adoring husband (Harry Hadden-Paton). Kevin Doyle's Mr. Molseley provides the film's single most hysterical moment in the main dining room {I was bent over laughing}. I enjoyed an entanglement btwn. Sophie McShera's Daisy, her betrothed, Andy (Michael Fox), a plumber (James Cartwright), & one risky act of sabotage. And I teared-up when shop owner Mr. Bakewell (Mark Addy) expressed what an honor it would be to serve the royals; what Daisy steps in to say is wholly endearing. Listen, I could on & on with every character ... but this review would last forever. Warm performances abound.
As one would expect, the visuals here are astounding. Anna Robbins' costumes are sublime, along with great hair & make-up work by Anne Nosh Oldham. The sets are period-perfect gorgeous. There is a ball at the palatial home, Harewood House, of the King & Queen's daughter, Princess Mary (Kate Phillips), which is worth the price of admission alone. The parade sequence features The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Watching the pomp & circumstance of the 70+ troops on horseback was incredible. And as mentioned earlier, the orchestral music is just wonderful.
Thematically - and just like the TV series - this film highlights the class clash, decline of the aristocracy & the 'way of life' that these homes held during the early 20th century -- war can do that. The 'old guard' is still represented mightily by Maggie Smith's Violet. For this plot, Violet's resistance comes from estranged cousin Maud, whose more contemporary views about property succession concerns her. Speaking of Maggie Smith; gosh, she's just a treasure of wit, timing ... and her closing scenes couldn't be more poignant. For unknowing audiences looking for an Upstairs, Downstairs costume drama that rewards dialogue & characterization over action ... here's your movie. But for uber-fans, just sit back & enjoy this marvelous trip back to Downton.