Privilege, ambition, desire. At Brideshead everything comes at a price.
Brideshead revisited, the epic novel of life, death and spiritual renewal among the English Catholic gentry, is widely described as Evelyn Waugh's greatest work.
Whilst at Oxford University a chance encounter with the charming and decadent Sebastian Flyte (Ben Whishaw), son of Lord Marchmain, draws Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) into the exclusive world of British high society. For the impressionable Charles, Sebastian's world of money, glamour and outrageous behaviour makes for a seductive cocktail. Sebastian takes Charles under his wing and when he's invited to Brideshead, the Flyte family's magnificent ancestral home, Charles becomes infatuated with Julia (Hayley Atwell), Sebastian's beautiful sister.
Special Agent Matti
Now, I remember the Granada TV version of Brideshead revisited from back in the 80s, the Golden Age of the Mini-series. It's somewhat unfair to compare a movie to a mini-series if only because the former runs only 133 minutes as compared to 659 spread over 11 weeks for the TV show but I'll do it anyway and say that my fond (if not entirely reliable) adolescent memory has a much rosier view of this classic of English literature. It was my introduction to the English aristocracy. I didn't know that people could be so rich, powerful, privileged and pathetic. I was hooked. Now I watch Miss Marple, Inspector Poirot and any character named Sebastian or Rupert.
This big-screen version of Brideshead revisited is a fun story of wealth, decadence and obligation but there's no way that two-and-a-quarter hours can do justice to the story. Not that the actors don't try but there's the inevitable sense of skimming over the peaks of the plot without being able to get down into the shadowed valleys where all the good stuff is. If you want to get your money's worth, treat it as your introduction to the English aristocracy then get the mini-series out on DVD.
The drama, UK movie Brideshead revisited is directed by Julian Jarrold and stars Emma Thompson, Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw.
PG (Mild sexual references, themes and nudity)
133 minutes (2:13 hours)
Film: 23 October 2008
