|
Re: Sight and Sound (2002) Greatest Films Club
#261 - Remains of the Day
I've avoided Merchant/Ivory for no good reason (in my defense, I had only seen Slaves of New York, which wasn't that appealing). In fact, I would have skipped this one if not for its appearance on the Sight & Sound list. Which would have been a shame, because it's quite superb. The story explores the disastrous effects of always acting in the name of dignified honor and appeasement, both in the geopolitical and emotional realms. If the parallels are a bit obvious, they're still handled thoughtfully and are quite engaging. The contrast between the "old" way of buttoned-down, mannered restraint (in the form of Stevens, his father and his employer) and the "new" style of more direct expression (i.e., Miss Kenton, Cardinal and Congressman Lewis) is intriguing and provides for situations both comic and tragic. The whole cast is superior, although naturally Hopkins and Thompson deserve special kudos. If there's one drawback, it's that the aura of restraint does make the film a bit of a challenge in the early stages; I was convinced at first that I'd be bored to tears. After a while, however, particular following the introduction of Miss Kenton, some air gradually seeps in and the movie opens itself up to the viewer. Rating: 8
|