Review of The Remains of the Day (1993) by Brett B — 09 Feb 2014

THE REMAINS OF THE DAY is one of those acclaimed films that, for whatever reasons, I hadn't found a compelling reason to catch-up with. Now that the opportunity has presented itself, I can honestly say I've very glad to have finally seen it.

It's a remarkably restrained portrait of an unconventional and greatly affecting relationship/friendship, in addition to being a snapshot of English manor life. As the two leads, Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson are flat-out phenomenal.

Particularly, I think this could arguably be Hopkins' finest performance; so nuanced, so subtle, and yet so clearly emotionally-delineated. It's marvelous work from him and, in the final analysis, quite moving as he and Thompson get to play their deep affection that remains entirely unspoken.

The movie's depiction of the relationship between Hopkins and Thompson was an aspect I was well aware of, but what I was not expecting was the rather sophisticated look at pre-World War II attitudes in England; there's an entire (and important) subplot involving the various behind-closed-doors politicking that assorted pro and anti-Nazi elements (embodied by the James Fox, Christopher Reeve, and Hugh Grant characters) engage in at the manor in which the central characters are employed.

It's an interesting component, and it really elevates the story above being just some kind of stuffy period drama.