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Really Surprised!

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Crappy film

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

What I get as the main theme from this remake of "Brideshead Revisited" (2008) is not the issue of the relationship between the two young college men. I believe the theme is the universal struggle between the material and the spiritual, the practical and the impractical, and the rich and the poor, all elements which were and are part of the situation created by the British class system. Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) has risen from the merchant class of England to attend Oxford, where his roommate is the son of an English lord. Inevitably, Charles is invited to spend a holiday at the roommate's ancestral home, where Charles falls in love with the roommate's twin sister (Hayley Atwell). When Charles makes known his feelings for the young lady, he is more or less led to believe the family considers himself unsuitable because he lacks the wealth and family background the Fylte family wants.I agree with another poster who noticed the Fylte family members seem cheap and decadent rather than wholesome and polished as they were in a previous film version that starred Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons. I too was disappointed in the Fylte family of the 2008 film being overly casual, flippant, and somewhat cheap and shallow in their remarks and behavior, but perhaps the director planned all this to show that the family was going downhill. It is Charles Ryder who minds his manners, shows respect and politeness, and conducts himself as a young gentleman should. Since the 1880s, many titled British and European families wanted their young people to marry American millionaires for their money, obviously, to maintain their estates. The American millionaires wanted to buy European titles to impress people. Acquiring more wealth does seem to be the aim of Lady Marchmain, the mistress of the Brideshead estate. As British society is coming near to the beginning of World War II, the class system is breaking down, and middle-class young people like Charles Ryder are improving themselves through education and work and are surviving because they know how to adapt and how to be resourceful.As the plot progresses, it is obvious the Marchmain family members do not suffer so much from a lack of money as from a lack of sound judgment, the right values, and common sense. It is painful to see how blind they are to the consequences of their choices, the changing society all around them, and the inevitable effect World War II will have on them.

I enjoyed the film which is a pale imitation of a great novel. The film was shot mostly at Castle Howard in Yorkshire - as was the TV series. The main theme of the narrative is the loss of youth and innocence but this film makes homosexuality and the conflict of ancient and modern values its theme. In Waugh's novel there is one homosexual character whose lifestyle is referred to in disparaging terms. The book's narrator, Charles Ryder, is eventually reconciled to God's love in spite of his lover, the beautiful and aristocratic Julia, ending their relationship after the deathbed re-conversion of her father to the Catholic faith. The novel is a monumental work that it would be impossible to reflect honestly in a couple of hours and, unsurprisingly,the film fails. Most annoying is the frequent focus upon subjects that were of little significance in the novel and consequent omission of very significant scenes - such as the privileged Oxford undergraduates' support for the establishment during the 1926 General Strike and the hilarious drink- driving incident ('Viscount's Son Unused to Wine' - Evening Standard). This makes a political point as in the film Charles Ryder is wracked with guilt (the implication being that this is a result of his contact with Catholicism). It would not have been possible to pervert the book's message like this if Waugh, who was a Catholic convert, had been around to prevent it. Competent performances by the cast. Especially the girl who played the young Cordellia, Julia's sister. If you want to truly enjoy Brideshead Revisited, read the novel.

The themes of 'Brideshead Revisted' are not dissimilar to those of 'The Great Gatsby'; and there are later echoes in Alan Holingshurst's 'The Line of Beauty' as well. In all three stories, an outside becomes infatuated with the sublime life of the aristocracy; but eventually learns the painful lesson that he does not belong. I haven't read 'Brideshead', but on the basis of this film version, it's the inferior of the tales. Partly this is because the character of the outsider is never wholly established as such, and seems far too naturally at home in the privileged environment for the sense of not belonging to truly take hold. And partially, it's because what excludes him is not so much the wealth and power of his patrons, but their fanatical Catholicism, a theme that lacks contemporary traction and seems in any case incidental (if only the family had been less religious, everyone could have had a happy ending); whereas in 'Gatsby' and 'The Line of Beauty', the story essentially denies the fantasy of an open elite. I never felt there was much as stake here, save for the happiness of a central character who is in any case blessed with looks, talent and (a certain amount of) money of his own. But I'm still tempted to read the novel and see if there are depths to the story undug here.

Okay I admit that it took me awhile to see the film after it was released - three years that is. And I loved the very very beginning of the film, and thought this would be really good, that British touch of taking a sensuous, romantic period piece and making it work on film. But this doesn't cut it. Unfortunate - because M. Goode is really great in the lead role. He steals it for me, as does the young man who plays Sebastian. Emma T is wasted in the film - not her fault. The script isn't' as good as it could be, and there are moments where one could perhaps fault the editing, direction, adaptation? not sure. But it doesn't flow as well as it could flow.With all that said, may I suggest everyone enjoy the wonderful British TV series of the story. It really is great - not just great film, but great TV and great story telling.This doesn't work. Too bad - I'm sorry for all involved, it had potential.