Movie Review: "Downton Abbey"
Oct. 20th, 2019 11:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kelly_chamblissI've gotten out of the habit of movies lately, but I just had to see Downton Abbey and Judy. I mean, come on: Maggie Smith and Judy Garland. And clothes. And songs. And Penelope Wilton. And Carson/Hughes.
So here's the Downton review.
Only minor spoilers follow, I think.
Downton Abbey
Of course I knew that it was going to an a-historical apology for the class system, for a nostalgic ideal of noblesse oblige that never existed. And it was. In this film, the realities of that damaging system are coated in Mrs. Patmore's best sugar-frosting. We see a world in which Irish revolutionaries, hard on the heels of 1916, decide to throw in their lot with the British aristocracy and, while they're in the process of selling out, take a moment to convince a princess that the crown is more important than her personal happiness. We see a world in which the servants are the ones urging the lords and ladies to keep Downton and the system alive. But the servants do at least finally rebel and stage a revolution: so that they can serve dinner to the King and Queen instead of getting a night off. Total nonsense, of course, and rather insulting to our intelligence, if you think about it.
I loved it.
Yes, I know the world wasn't really like this. But I needed the escape and fantasy of it -- the amazingly gorgeous clothing, the reunion with all these people that I've come to know, the Dowager's inimitable repartee, delivered always with Smith's impeccable timing ("I never argue. I explain.")
I needed to see Kevin Doyle's Mr. Molesley carry off the comic honors of the night. I needed to see the fabulous drone shots of the castle and the steaming mail train and the grounds (ah, the things a big movie-level budget will afford you!) I needed Mrs. Patmore and Daisy sniping at each other with love (no word about why Mrs. P has apparently given up the retirement B&B, but anyone who is still expecting continuity should have gone to some other film). I needed Carson and Hughes to get the last word.
I needed that final ball scene! (I had a moment's panic when I thought we were going to be cheated out of the ball scene, and I was ready to stage a revolution of my own, right there in the theater.) I needed to see Isobel and Dickie all happy together. I needed Imelda Staunton as Violet's most worthy antagonist.
Sure, the plot was cheesy and predictable, and you saw every twist coming a mile away, but in today's wildly unpredictable, dangerous world, the threadbare plot was a comfort. There's a pretty big twist at the end that gives the whole frothy spectacle a bit of needed gravitas, but even that move was telegraphed early. Still, I didn't go to this movie for the story. I went for the fantasy and the people. (And the clothes. And some fine moments of Maggie Smith acting.)
I liked the lovely autumnal golden cinematography (even Mr. Fellowes knows that in 1927, the sun was rapidly setting on this country-house world). I thought the actors playing the King and Queen (Simon Jones and Geraldine James) really looked their parts. And I'm happy to report that for the entire fucking film -- Bates and Anna stay out of jail!!!
If you liked the TV show at all, go see the movie. It won't solve any of your or the world's problems, and it probably sends dangerous messages. But you'll feel really good for a while when you come out, and you'll no doubt treat yourself to tea and scones somewhere (I went to Starbucks).
So here's the Downton review.
Only minor spoilers follow, I think.
Downton Abbey
Of course I knew that it was going to an a-historical apology for the class system, for a nostalgic ideal of noblesse oblige that never existed. And it was. In this film, the realities of that damaging system are coated in Mrs. Patmore's best sugar-frosting. We see a world in which Irish revolutionaries, hard on the heels of 1916, decide to throw in their lot with the British aristocracy and, while they're in the process of selling out, take a moment to convince a princess that the crown is more important than her personal happiness. We see a world in which the servants are the ones urging the lords and ladies to keep Downton and the system alive. But the servants do at least finally rebel and stage a revolution: so that they can serve dinner to the King and Queen instead of getting a night off. Total nonsense, of course, and rather insulting to our intelligence, if you think about it.
I loved it.
Yes, I know the world wasn't really like this. But I needed the escape and fantasy of it -- the amazingly gorgeous clothing, the reunion with all these people that I've come to know, the Dowager's inimitable repartee, delivered always with Smith's impeccable timing ("I never argue. I explain.")
I needed to see Kevin Doyle's Mr. Molesley carry off the comic honors of the night. I needed to see the fabulous drone shots of the castle and the steaming mail train and the grounds (ah, the things a big movie-level budget will afford you!) I needed Mrs. Patmore and Daisy sniping at each other with love (no word about why Mrs. P has apparently given up the retirement B&B, but anyone who is still expecting continuity should have gone to some other film). I needed Carson and Hughes to get the last word.
I needed that final ball scene! (I had a moment's panic when I thought we were going to be cheated out of the ball scene, and I was ready to stage a revolution of my own, right there in the theater.) I needed to see Isobel and Dickie all happy together. I needed Imelda Staunton as Violet's most worthy antagonist.
Sure, the plot was cheesy and predictable, and you saw every twist coming a mile away, but in today's wildly unpredictable, dangerous world, the threadbare plot was a comfort. There's a pretty big twist at the end that gives the whole frothy spectacle a bit of needed gravitas, but even that move was telegraphed early. Still, I didn't go to this movie for the story. I went for the fantasy and the people. (And the clothes. And some fine moments of Maggie Smith acting.)
I liked the lovely autumnal golden cinematography (even Mr. Fellowes knows that in 1927, the sun was rapidly setting on this country-house world). I thought the actors playing the King and Queen (Simon Jones and Geraldine James) really looked their parts. And I'm happy to report that for the entire fucking film -- Bates and Anna stay out of jail!!!
If you liked the TV show at all, go see the movie. It won't solve any of your or the world's problems, and it probably sends dangerous messages. But you'll feel really good for a while when you come out, and you'll no doubt treat yourself to tea and scones somewhere (I went to Starbucks).