BRIDESHEAD REVISITED
RYAN: I was highly anticipating the new movie version of “Brideshead Revisited” because it had such homoerotic buzz; but it’s not really a gay movie.
CAROLINE: True, but it definitely has a love triangle with gay overtones. I really knew nothing about this movie other than that you wanted to see it and Emma Thompson was in it. I never even read the book.
RYAN: I think I most enjoyed the gay moments because I could relate to them, and there were very beautifully done. And it was such a thrill to see Emma Thompson in the role of Lady Marchmain! She’s a little bit of a villainess. I loved seeing her as the estranged wife of Michael Gambon, who we know as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies, especially since Emma plays Professor Trelawney in said movies.
CAROLINE: It was a veritable Harry Potter reunion. And even though everyone in the movie was quite good, all I could think was “Where’s Kate Winslet and what has she done lately?”
RYAN: I agree, but I can’t imagine why that popped into your head during this movie.
CAROLINE: Because she does a lot of British period films, and she’s got that lovely accent and this seems like the kind of movie she might have been in back in the day. Come back to the silver screen, Kate!
RYAN: Don’t worry; she’ll be reunited with Leo DiCaprio this winter in “Revolutionary Road.” The lead guy in “Brideshead Revisited,” Matthew Goode, who was also in Woody Allen’s “Match Point,” has really nice eyes. This was a good role for him though he doesn’t really show much range. He’s kind of one note throughout the film; he’s got a bit of a smirk and a lot of stoicism.
CAROLINE: I thought he was going to have more of a Talented Mr. Ripley edge to him, based on what I’d read about the book and the movie. I thought he was supposed to be more of a social climber who’s desperate for the Flyte family’s love and affection, but I didn’t get that vibe from him. He might have given a little more.
RYAN: I found him very sincere in his friendship with Julia and Sebastian Flyte, and it wasn’t until someone accused him of social climbing that I realized that’s what was going on. It would be interesting to see the original mini-series to see how they covered it.
CAROLINE: And again, I haven’t read the book so maybe it’s clearer there. I liked all the acting and the costumes in this movie. It’s very much a period piece.
RYAN: This is once of the best-costumed films I’ve ever seen. The outfits were so well tailored and different from what we often see in movies of this period, especially with the gay guys’ outfits. I loved Sebastian’s sports coat and all the stuff his friends at Oxford wore.
CAROLINE: I most loved Hayley Atwell, who plays Julia. We loved her in “Cassandra’s Dream.” She’s gorge. But this movie did bore me a little. It’s a full two hours long and gets a little slow. It’s a good story, but I just kept thinking something incredibly dramatic was about to happen and it never did.
RYAN: There are a couple cool scenes on a ship that I really enjoyed. And I loved all the venues they shot in like Venice and Morocco. It was pretty gorgeous. Bottom line?
CAROLINE: I’d say it was good but not great. I enjoyed it, but I’m not over the moon about it the way I was with “Atonement” last year, which takes place in roughly the same pre-WWII era. It’s got great acting and costumes, and it’s certainly well done; but it’s not so riveting that I’d say everyone has to run out and see it.
RYAN: It’s so beautifully shot and edited and directed, but when it ended, I thought, “Well, I guess every movie can’t be brilliant.” It’s not as good as some films we’ve seen recently. It needn’t be seen on the big screen, but it’s also not a waste of time. If there was a “Brideshead Revisited” clothing store, I would shop there. And Emma Thompson is fab.
CAROLINE: That goes without saying.