December 1: Brideshead Re-Revisted

Last month there was some sort of move afoot for people to blog on a daily basis. I never did find out why November was chosen, but true to form, I couldn't muster more than a few tweets on Twitter. And churning out those 140 characters took a lot of effort. I can't promise I'll fulfill a daily blog in December, but I will try to put up some posts. The project I undertook just over 2 years ago is in the end stage. Things are winding down so I now find myself with some time to play catch up and can watch DVDs, movies and shows on the DVR, etc.

Today at work I overheard a couple of people discussing a film from the early 1970's and one person made the observation that the story line reminded him of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited. I'll have to check out said movie and see if that's true. What caught my attention was that I recently re-watched the 2008 film version.

First off, let me say that I was a young lad when the television miniseries aired over several weeks in early 1982, but on the heels of Chariots of Fire, it appealed to the nascent Anglophile in me. I dutifully read the Waugh novel and watched each episode, savoring the production design, the costumes and, with a couple of exceptions, the superlative acting. To be honest, I could not warm up to Jeremy Irons' performance as Charles Ryder, nor did Diana Quick do much for me as Julia. But there was so much more to embrace: Anthony Andrews as the tragic Sebastian; Phoebe Nicholls as the stalwart Cordelia; Simon Jones as the snobbish Bridey; Charles Keating as the slightly roguish Rex Mottram; John Grillo as the unctuous Mr. Samgrass; Laurence Olivier as the dying patriarch; John Gielgud as the eccentric Mr. Ryder; and the superb Claire Bloom as the domineering Lady Marchmain.

When the show was finally released on DVD, I asked for it as a Christmas present and my sibling complied. And I was disappointed that those who released the discs did nothing to spruce it up. The visuals are muddy in places; the pictures faded. The quality of the transfer to disc was disappointing -- but I still could (and can) savor those wonderful performances. The direction, shared by Charles Sturridge and Michael Lindsay-Hogg was seamless and while there is some debate over the credit for the teleplay -- with John Mortimer receiving due -- it remains a fairly faithful adaptation.

When I first heard of a planned movie version, I was taken aback. I realize that it had been more than a generation since the TV series, but why tamper with something that was pretty close to perfection. The project germinated over a few years with various names thrown into the mix: at one time Jude Law was to play Sebastian with Paul Bettany and his wife Jennifer Connelly as Charles and Julia. That casting fell apart due to scheduling conflicts (and truthfully I heaved a sigh of relief -- to me, Jude Law is the kiss of death for any movie. He's a good enough actor, don't misunderstand, but almost none of the movies in which he appears have made a lot of money -- and the exceptions are when he was playing a supporting role.)

Eventually, the film was made with Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw and Hayley Atwell in the key roles. Adding a touch of class and star power, Emma Thompson was cast as Lady Marchmain.
Dear God! I suddenly felt old. Emma Thompson as the mother? But then I remembered she was in her late 40's. Where did the time go?

Anyway, I saw the movie in the theaters and was decidedly unimpressed. One of my friends challenged me saying that perhaps I went in to the showing with my impressions already formed, but I countered that I am open to new takes on material. I'll see various productions of stage shows -- why wouldn't I be open to different filmic interpretations? Andrew Davies who did the adaptation has made a career of crafting terrific adaptations of literary fare -- everything from To Serve Them All My Days, Pride and Prejudice and The Line of Beauty for the small screen to Circle of Friends, Bridget Jones' Diary and The Tailor of Panama for the cinema.

One of the biggest problems I had watching the film on both occasions was that it felt rushed. Knowing the book, there were certain scenes and characters who came alive on the page and whose presence I missed in the film. And I do feel that director Julian Jarrold made one fatal error: using the same home to stand in for Brideshead that appeared in the television version. I mean, in all of the United Kingdom, he couldn't find another stately house that could pass for the home of the Marchmains? Every time I saw a shot of Castle Howard, I was immediately reminded of the miniseries, which called up memories of that leisurely adaptation.

This version is adequate and provides a sort of Cliff Notes version of the tale for a new generation. Whishaw put a slightly different spin on Sebastian, downplaying some of the character's tragic impulses. Goode was slightly better than Irons in the difficult role of Charles Ryder, who is the narrator and through whose eyes the audience views the other characters. Hayley Atwell is also an improvement over Diana Quick; her sensuality doesn't seem as forced as Quick's. But as in the original story, when the colorful Sebastian leaves the scene, the plot begins to falter somewhat.

I did enjoy the peerless Emma Thompson as Lady Marchmain. She was at least the equal of Claire Bloom's interpretation and Thompson leant the film a much-needed boost of star quality. To my mind, Thompson's take was akin to what Maggie Smith might have done with the part if she were somewhat younger -- and that's meant as a compliment. Michael Gambon, however, was somewhat disappointing as the estranged patriarch.

Overall, the movie is lovely to look at, with stylish costumes, handsome interiors and an attractive cast. Purists may prefer the flawed miniseries while those unfamiliar with the TV version will undoubtedly find the movie acceptable.

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED (1981 miniseries) B+

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED (2008 film) B-



On a totally unrelated note -- December 1 marks the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day. Take a minute to contemplate what that means, please.