After Howard’s End, a year later Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins returned for The Remains of the Day. This happens a lot in the world of Merchant Ivory films. Here Lord Darlington (James Fox) dies leaving a big country house, another Merchant Ivory mainstay. Hopkins is Stevens, the butler at said house, that’s bought by a rich American named Lewis (Christopher Reeve). Thompson is Miss Kenton, the old housekeeper. Stevens clearly misses her and sets about on a task to return her to Darlington Hall. Through letters and narration to start, we reminisce of days gone by, days that preceded Lord Darlington being disgraced. We’re taken back to that timeline and Miss Kenton’s first days on the job. Youthful and capable, she’s a tricky proposition for the somewhat stuffy Stevens. He questions her professionalism but discovers she does know best. There’s a lot going on at Darlington Hall in the pre-war era, not least meetings regarding what’s happening in Germany and France. It’s felt that the house needs to be running as smoothly as possible, giving Stevens a difficult call to make. He has a lot on his plate does Stevens, from dealing with the failing health of his aging father, to giving awkward advice to the young soon to marry Mr Cardinal (Hugh Grant). Cardinal is hanging around the hall to help out with the meeting about Germany, which is not going as you might expect. It’s certainly not what attendee and future hall owner, Mr Lewis was expecting and he’s not afraid to call it out. Stevens is pulled in more directions than he can handle and finds its Miss Kenton that’s there when he needs help most. There are things beyond their control as it becomes apparent as to why Lord Darlington is to be soon disgraced. He’s a antisemitic Nazi sympathiser, but Stevens has his blinkers on. He’s there to serve, nothing more. Miss Stevens though, she’s different, uncomfortable about her bosses politics. She falls for Mr Benn (Tim Pigott-Smith) who’s on the same page and whisks her away. Stevens although likeable is often infuriating, but it’s impossible not to see this as one of Hopkins most brilliant performances. He pulls everyone up with him. Not Thompson, she’s magnificent on her own, but Hugh Grant in particular shines in the small part he’s given. It’s a slow burning gripping foiled love story with some real substance, fantastic characters and dual timelines that pace perfectly. For something that’s so dark and soulful, it really is wonderful.
8/10
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