To all my fellow AARP members and my fellow members of the Cinema Cafe and TCM Facebook Groups: This is a Must See - especially for those of you who proudly say they haven't gone to see a movie since The King's Speech or before because none of them are worth watching: bad writing, too much violence, cursing, sex, montages, pop music, etc. and bad acting.
Not Downton Abbey. This could have easily been made by a host of great British Directos from the 1940;s through the 1960's. it is a delightful whirlwind of a ride but perfectly paced. There are what would normally be considered way too many subplots but they mesh seamlessly and completely understandable hear and with humor and pacing, perfect cinematography and ideal background music.
In fact, the entire movie is entirely more bouncy (never thought I'd be using that word for this kind of movie but it fits), light-hearted and uplifting than things I expected to be reminded of such as Howard's End, Remains of the Day and other class-conscious dramas. Full dsiclosure: I never watched the series. I did watch two dozen or so episodes of Upstairs Downstairs in the day and found it interesting enough to watch but not compelling enough to be addicted to - in general I don't get addicted to soaps.
And that's the most surprising thing about this movie - it does not play like a soap opera. It plays like a stand-alone movie even when you know that most of the other people in the audience are more familiar with the charactrs than you. And I did not get lost or confused or felt left out from something I needed to know but didn't.
It's also a true ensmble piece. His Lord and Her Ladyship are listed first in the cast as they should be but do not have as much screen time and are really not any more and perhaps less intrinsic to what is about to unfold even though they are most certainly inextricable parts of it. And delightfully, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern and Imelda Staunton are as much in the center of things as anyone else and their subplots are marvelous.
Actually, the closest thing the movie has to a star or lead character is Tom played brilliantly and seemingly effortlessly by Allen Leech who impressed me positively in supporting roles in Bohemian Rhapsody and The Imitation Game but exhibits raw star quality here. And oh those eyes and that face, just perfect from every perspective and especially in conveying the heroic yet conflicted essence of his character, bruised by past skirmishes and being widower but not unbowed. He is the only one central to at least 3 subplots, all interesting and freshly exposed and told. But the entire ensemble - all of whom I assume were regulars in the series - with wondeful guest stars. Simon Jones and Geraldine James are brilliant as the visiting King and Queen. Mark Addy is hilarious and heartwarming in his one scene as a prideful local butcher.
As an old-timer, today's movies rarely impress me as candidates for my chronicles of my favorites of all-time. I keep a list of 500 which I update annually and fewer than 10 from this century are currently on it. This tops my list of candidates for next year's review.
If you are over 50 or a fan of the series or love intelligent writing and dialog with terrific characters and acting, SEE DOWNTON ABBEY!!!
Not Downton Abbey. This could have easily been made by a host of great British Directos from the 1940;s through the 1960's. it is a delightful whirlwind of a ride but perfectly paced. There are what would normally be considered way too many subplots but they mesh seamlessly and completely understandable hear and with humor and pacing, perfect cinematography and ideal background music.
In fact, the entire movie is entirely more bouncy (never thought I'd be using that word for this kind of movie but it fits), light-hearted and uplifting than things I expected to be reminded of such as Howard's End, Remains of the Day and other class-conscious dramas. Full dsiclosure: I never watched the series. I did watch two dozen or so episodes of Upstairs Downstairs in the day and found it interesting enough to watch but not compelling enough to be addicted to - in general I don't get addicted to soaps.
And that's the most surprising thing about this movie - it does not play like a soap opera. It plays like a stand-alone movie even when you know that most of the other people in the audience are more familiar with the charactrs than you. And I did not get lost or confused or felt left out from something I needed to know but didn't.
It's also a true ensmble piece. His Lord and Her Ladyship are listed first in the cast as they should be but do not have as much screen time and are really not any more and perhaps less intrinsic to what is about to unfold even though they are most certainly inextricable parts of it. And delightfully, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern and Imelda Staunton are as much in the center of things as anyone else and their subplots are marvelous.
Actually, the closest thing the movie has to a star or lead character is Tom played brilliantly and seemingly effortlessly by Allen Leech who impressed me positively in supporting roles in Bohemian Rhapsody and The Imitation Game but exhibits raw star quality here. And oh those eyes and that face, just perfect from every perspective and especially in conveying the heroic yet conflicted essence of his character, bruised by past skirmishes and being widower but not unbowed. He is the only one central to at least 3 subplots, all interesting and freshly exposed and told. But the entire ensemble - all of whom I assume were regulars in the series - with wondeful guest stars. Simon Jones and Geraldine James are brilliant as the visiting King and Queen. Mark Addy is hilarious and heartwarming in his one scene as a prideful local butcher.
As an old-timer, today's movies rarely impress me as candidates for my chronicles of my favorites of all-time. I keep a list of 500 which I update annually and fewer than 10 from this century are currently on it. This tops my list of candidates for next year's review.
If you are over 50 or a fan of the series or love intelligent writing and dialog with terrific characters and acting, SEE DOWNTON ABBEY!!!