I read that the movie is based on a 1945 novel and 11 hours 1981 UK television serial.
Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) goes to Oxford to study painting, and befriends a rich lad Sebastian Flyte (Ben Whishaw), who takes Charles to his palatial mansion Brideshead. There Charles meets orthodox religious family of Sebastian his sister Julia (Hayley Atwell) and his mother Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson). Events unfold where Charles and Julia start loving each other but face the passionate jealousy of Sebastian. Julia marries another man, Charles marries Celia (Anna Madeley) and Sebastian runs away to Morocco in depression. Lady Marchmain requests Charles to bring back Sebastian, but without success. Ten years pass and Charles and Julia meet again just to be together. Do they succeed in being together? Go and see the movie for yourself.
I have not read the book, nor have I seen the television serial, so I was not exposed to any comparison of sorts. From what I saw on screen except a few drastic editing cuts and jumping of events, I could not find anything out of place.
The production values of the movie are outstanding; the cinematography amazing; the eye to details perfect; the acting from the star cast top notch (especially the display of eye movements of each characters, that say much more than words).
Director Julian Jarrold (his third directorial venture) has done a commendable job in bringing to life an epic saga of sorts in nearly 120 minutes 2 hours of length. A magnamus task to achieve. I am sure he himself would be dis-satisfied with many of those important events to be left out while editing. Julian has develop this nack of handling British family sagas with wealthy opulence around.
The palatial location of Brideshead is depicted with so much panache, that it is nearly like a dream land. The location a real Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.
Regarding the cast Emma Thompson stands tall above all with her short but pivotal role. Next comes Ben Whishaw with near the edge feminine guesture. He sets the screen ablaze with his intensity. The main protagonist Matthew Goode, plays an under-written and subdued character of sorts that is an atheist, and an observer. He is the common string across the movie and floats easily with all events and character ranges with equal grace.
For those who have not read the novel or seen the TV series, this shorter version is a good curtain raiser. So go and see and enjoy the magna opus. I liked it.
(Stars 7.25 out of 10)
Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) goes to Oxford to study painting, and befriends a rich lad Sebastian Flyte (Ben Whishaw), who takes Charles to his palatial mansion Brideshead. There Charles meets orthodox religious family of Sebastian his sister Julia (Hayley Atwell) and his mother Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson). Events unfold where Charles and Julia start loving each other but face the passionate jealousy of Sebastian. Julia marries another man, Charles marries Celia (Anna Madeley) and Sebastian runs away to Morocco in depression. Lady Marchmain requests Charles to bring back Sebastian, but without success. Ten years pass and Charles and Julia meet again just to be together. Do they succeed in being together? Go and see the movie for yourself.
I have not read the book, nor have I seen the television serial, so I was not exposed to any comparison of sorts. From what I saw on screen except a few drastic editing cuts and jumping of events, I could not find anything out of place.
The production values of the movie are outstanding; the cinematography amazing; the eye to details perfect; the acting from the star cast top notch (especially the display of eye movements of each characters, that say much more than words).
Director Julian Jarrold (his third directorial venture) has done a commendable job in bringing to life an epic saga of sorts in nearly 120 minutes 2 hours of length. A magnamus task to achieve. I am sure he himself would be dis-satisfied with many of those important events to be left out while editing. Julian has develop this nack of handling British family sagas with wealthy opulence around.
The palatial location of Brideshead is depicted with so much panache, that it is nearly like a dream land. The location a real Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.
Regarding the cast Emma Thompson stands tall above all with her short but pivotal role. Next comes Ben Whishaw with near the edge feminine guesture. He sets the screen ablaze with his intensity. The main protagonist Matthew Goode, plays an under-written and subdued character of sorts that is an atheist, and an observer. He is the common string across the movie and floats easily with all events and character ranges with equal grace.
For those who have not read the novel or seen the TV series, this shorter version is a good curtain raiser. So go and see and enjoy the magna opus. I liked it.
(Stars 7.25 out of 10)