Review of The Remains of the Day (1993) by Rainer K — 27 Dec 2011

Sometimes you just shouldn't listen to the various voices and "critics" on the internet who almost prevented me from watching Remains of the Day. I thought that the film would be boring although it had some interesting premises.

Boy, was I wrong. Hopkins would give a career performance if he wouldn't be so awesome as Hannibal Lecter. For almost every actor this would be one though. He almost overshadows the rest of the sublime cast, featuring a strong Emma Thompson, a great James Fox and very young Hugh Grant and Ben Chaplin. All with nice British accents, which rule, as always in a film that is as British as anyone.

The terrific acting even distracts from the perfect costumes and the state-of-the-art sets.

A film can merely live from performances and costumes alone but Remains of the Day can depend on its plot as well. Such a sad story... Maybe sad is the wrong word, call it depressing instead - but in a subtle way you won't notice in the first moment.

Hopkins plays Mr Stevens, a butler who showes absolutely no emotions as he faces rather unhappy occurences in his life. This non-depiction of emotion only makes it so emotional and powerful and sometimes you can even see a glimpse of sadness in Hopkins - not in his motions but in his eyes.

Mr Stevens, himself is a broken man after his longtime master died as a broken man. Mr Stevens' never relinquished in his loyalty to a man who ruined his legacy by some unfortunate choices he made in the wake of WWII.

Such a mindblowing performance by Hopkins who depicts a pitiful character with such a hard shell and a vulnerable core. It's neither revolutionary nor bold but a highly conservative take on British past with a Gosford Park-servants-behind-the-scenes feeling that I love so much.

It's odd that these attribute make it refreshing in a world of CGI toys and steampunk detectives blowing up the scene.