Moves rather slowly, but the actors and their understated chemistry keep the film riveting, building to a climax that is absolutely heartrending.
Remains of the Day (1993)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 39
Fresh: 38
Rotten:1
Average Rating: 8.4/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 14 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: James Ivory directed this quietly moving film set just prior to World War II. On the large English estate of Lord Darlington (James Fox), a disciplined English butler, Stevens (Anthony Hopkins),... James Ivory directed this quietly moving film set just prior to World War II. On the large English estate of Lord Darlington (James Fox), a disciplined English butler, Stevens (Anthony Hopkins), devotes himself to his duties with rigorous dedication. Like his father (Peter Vaughan) before him, Stevens lives to serve--to bring order and certainty to the estate's minutiae. Though Stevens has the opportunity to break free of this mold in the form of a romance with the spirited housekeeper, Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson), he chooses to remain within the safe structure of the household, even one that has misguided loyalties to Nazi Germany. Christopher Reeve and Hugh Grant costar as men hoping to show Lord Darlington the danger of his allegiances. THE REMAINS OF THE DAY was Merchant-Ivory's follow-up to HOWARDS END, which also starred Hopkins and Thompson; both actors were nominated for Academy Awards for their roles as dutiful servants in the later film. [More]
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Christopher Reeve, Tim Pigott-Smith
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Christopher Reeve, Tim Pigott-Smith, James Fox, Peter Vaughan, Hugh Grant
Director: James Ivory
Director: James Ivory
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Reviews for Remains of the Day
The actors keep this interesting, but as a story it drifts and rambles.
Though it offers a host of fine performances in a smoothly crafted, adult drama of unfulfilled love, it lacks the cumulative dramatic impact of the team's best work.
All the meticulousness, intelligence, taste and superior acting that one expects from Merchant Ivory productions have been brought to bear.
The narrative structure (long flashbacks, narration of letters) is at times awkward but the filmmkaers and actors (Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson at their best) attention to detail is meticulous and piercing considering how muted the emotions are.
Who else but Merchant Ivory to give the big-screen treatment to Ishiguro's Booker Prize-winning novel about class, fascism and the stiff upper lip?
First time I saw it, it destroyed me. Subsequent viewings have not improved my condition.
My choice for the best film of 1993. Impeccably acted and very moving. Anthony Hopkins is phenomenal as Stevens the repressed butler.
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