Brideshead Revisited

Bright Young Things (2003) didn't quite do it for me, but Brideshead Revisited made me recall yet again another fictional world, this time Evelyn Waugh's, that I could embrace as my own. This version of Brideshead is not only a feast for the eyes, but it is also very attractive in many of its positions. We have all the essentials, bon vivants, homosexuality, buck-passing, hypocrisy, Catholicism, and the beautiful backdrops of England, Italy, and Morocco... Most importantly, we have the exquisite gowns that define the beauty of the distinctively earthy yet gentle Hayley Atwell. This is the ideal material for those who want to enjoy and think at the same time. (08.10.2016)

A slightly shorter running time would have suited Brideshead Revisited, as I found the film felt longer than it actually was because it was trying to accommodate a relatively large space-time. There are two storylines, the relational and the religious, that intersect and affect each other throughout the film. As far as the cast is concerned, I was most impressed by the characters played by Emma Thompson and Ben Whishaw, whose portrayals could perhaps not have been more different. A visually appealing but narratively overstretched romantic drama from history. (28.03.2020)