Review of Brideshead Revisited (2008) by Amy S — 07 Feb 2009

For a film about the wealthy and privileged in England, Brideshead Revisited lacks the lushness and extravagance that pops in Evelyn Waughâ??s literature exploring class differences in Britain. There are too few lavish displays such as a 21st birthday gala celebration and trips to Venice.

As Lady Marchmain, Emma Thompson is quite stuffy and divine as one who devotes her life to divinity. She anchors and controls the family by her unwavering choices based on Catholicism and stifles her poor little rich children.

Her son and daughter have anything money can buy but lack experience and the ability for self-expression and most importantly, choice. Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) is too closeted and attached to his teddy bear and becomes an alcoholic.

His sister Julia (Hayley Atwell) marries a man her mom chose. In the mix is handsome, charming Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) who becomes torn between his loyalty and friendship with Sebastian and his love for Julia.

As with any English piece about the wealthy mixing with the working class (even if Charles is Oxford-educated), nothing ends well. The film contains too many missing elements and would have done better and just felt much more complete with greater character development.