I have never seen any other adaptation for 'Brideshed Revisted', let alone read the book, but if this film is a sign of what to expect from the other versions then I most certainly will not be revisiting Brideshead.
The only reason I did give it 4 stars actually was because for the first third or so I was actually really enjoying myself. The tale of Charles Ryder, caught between the brother and sister of the incredibly powerful, rich and catholic Flyte family ticked all the boxes I had for an enjoyable period drama - yet all of a sudden, something happen to the film, and it turned into one of the most painful experiences of my life (THE most painful will always go to 'Bablyon AD' however). The moment Charles and Julia finally get together, almost 10 years after first meeting, the film lost all it's magic. The main character all of a sudden became a personality-less, uncaring, unpleasant man who cared so little for his wife he was willing to drop her at the drop of a hat to carry out his desires for Julia from years back, not even a second thought to the woman he married. Then, when he finally does have Julia all to himself, he doesn't want her either, because she is still tied too strongly to her Catholic faith. Talk about having your cake and eating it. In fact, the only character I actually cared about AT ALL in this snooze-fest was Sebastian Flyte, who transformed himself from a character that seemed ludicrously ridiculous to begin with (Quail eggs?) to someone who the viewer really cared about. I wanted to see Sebastain happy, I wanted him to sort out his life, and make himself into someone, to break free from all the chains his 'mummy' enforced on him many, many years ago. But no, instead, you never even find out what happens to the poor guy, and for the last 3rd of the film he doesn't even feature at all - instead you're forced to sit and watch the completely insufferable Charles and Julia, and their incredibly awkward relationship (were they meant to be that awkward, or did the actors honestly have no chemistry at all!?).
I guess I've got to give this film some credit though. Visually it was stunning, the house of Brideshead was beautiful, the scenes at oxford wonderfully shot, and the atmosphere of Venice captured perfectly. Even some of the acting was rather good - I am a HUGE fan of Ben Wishaw and thought his transformation into Sebastain Flyte incredible - Wishaw has the skill to really draw the viewer onto his side, make us understand what his character is going through, invoking in us all the emotions Sebastian must be feeling. Similarly, I was very impressed by Michael Gambon's portrayal of Lord Marchmain, and of course, Emma Thompson is always spectacular in her roles, yet this definitely isn't the best I've seen her in. The one bad performance I'd like to pick out is that of Matthew Good as Charles Ryder. The guy cannot convey any emotion at all - I don't know whether Ryder is supposed to be portrayed as some emotion-less, completely unsympathetic, unpleasant man but that's all I was getting from Mr Good, which was only ever saved by the brilliant script that once in a while forced some form of emotion into his completely wooden acting. Very very bast casting, which is a shame, because it might have just ruined the film completely.
Brideshead Revisited isn't one of those films that I would want to see again, but I was glad I saw it once, purely because of the character of Sebesatian. That is one person in this mess at least that was written and acted very well, and I hope at least Wishaw gets the recognition he deserves from this performance, and doesn't instead get sunk with this ship.
The only reason I did give it 4 stars actually was because for the first third or so I was actually really enjoying myself. The tale of Charles Ryder, caught between the brother and sister of the incredibly powerful, rich and catholic Flyte family ticked all the boxes I had for an enjoyable period drama - yet all of a sudden, something happen to the film, and it turned into one of the most painful experiences of my life (THE most painful will always go to 'Bablyon AD' however). The moment Charles and Julia finally get together, almost 10 years after first meeting, the film lost all it's magic. The main character all of a sudden became a personality-less, uncaring, unpleasant man who cared so little for his wife he was willing to drop her at the drop of a hat to carry out his desires for Julia from years back, not even a second thought to the woman he married. Then, when he finally does have Julia all to himself, he doesn't want her either, because she is still tied too strongly to her Catholic faith. Talk about having your cake and eating it. In fact, the only character I actually cared about AT ALL in this snooze-fest was Sebastian Flyte, who transformed himself from a character that seemed ludicrously ridiculous to begin with (Quail eggs?) to someone who the viewer really cared about. I wanted to see Sebastain happy, I wanted him to sort out his life, and make himself into someone, to break free from all the chains his 'mummy' enforced on him many, many years ago. But no, instead, you never even find out what happens to the poor guy, and for the last 3rd of the film he doesn't even feature at all - instead you're forced to sit and watch the completely insufferable Charles and Julia, and their incredibly awkward relationship (were they meant to be that awkward, or did the actors honestly have no chemistry at all!?).
I guess I've got to give this film some credit though. Visually it was stunning, the house of Brideshead was beautiful, the scenes at oxford wonderfully shot, and the atmosphere of Venice captured perfectly. Even some of the acting was rather good - I am a HUGE fan of Ben Wishaw and thought his transformation into Sebastain Flyte incredible - Wishaw has the skill to really draw the viewer onto his side, make us understand what his character is going through, invoking in us all the emotions Sebastian must be feeling. Similarly, I was very impressed by Michael Gambon's portrayal of Lord Marchmain, and of course, Emma Thompson is always spectacular in her roles, yet this definitely isn't the best I've seen her in. The one bad performance I'd like to pick out is that of Matthew Good as Charles Ryder. The guy cannot convey any emotion at all - I don't know whether Ryder is supposed to be portrayed as some emotion-less, completely unsympathetic, unpleasant man but that's all I was getting from Mr Good, which was only ever saved by the brilliant script that once in a while forced some form of emotion into his completely wooden acting. Very very bast casting, which is a shame, because it might have just ruined the film completely.
Brideshead Revisited isn't one of those films that I would want to see again, but I was glad I saw it once, purely because of the character of Sebesatian. That is one person in this mess at least that was written and acted very well, and I hope at least Wishaw gets the recognition he deserves from this performance, and doesn't instead get sunk with this ship.