The Remains of the Day
"... A Magnificent Movie." -Michael Medved, New York Post
Oscar®-winners Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) and Emma Thompson (Howards End) reunite with the acclaimed Merchant Ivory filmmaking team for this extraordinary and moving story of blind devotion and repressed love.
Hopkins stars as Stevens, the perfect English butler, an ideal carried by him to fanatical lengths, as he serves his master Lord Darlington, beautifully played by James Fox (The Servant). Darlington, like many other members of the British establishment in the 1930s, is duped by the Nazis into trying to establish a rapport between themselves and the British government. Thompson stars as the estate's housekeeper, a high-spirited, strong-minded young woman who watches the goings-on upstairs with horror.
Despite her apprehensions, she and Stevens gradually fall in love, though neither will admit it, and only give vent to their charged feelings via fierce arguments. The film is marvelously acted by a supporting cast that includes Christopher Reeve and Hugh Grant.
Member Reviews
Rather good - fannoir
It is a subtle film that should be seen in right circumstances. I found myself caring more for the side story of the changing world around the two protagonists than for the central relationship between them. Overall, this movie will stay with you for a long time after you see it.The Remains of the Day - Dina
If they had chosen any actor less marvelously skilled in the lead role than Anthony Hopkins, this film could not have been pulled off. It takes the incredible skill of this master of the art to convey such depth of emotion in such a reserved character, and yet make it as plain to us as if he were spelling it out. Emma Thompson, as expected, also does a splendid job. In fact, the casting was very well done all around. There are a few scenes of special poignancy that add such incredible feeling and meaning to this film. If it were not so well conceived, I have no doubt that this had the potential to be extremely dull, but happily it missed that mark by a landslide. It also lightly touches on some aspects of the war that can be cause for deep thought and/or stirring conversation. Excellent on all fronts and highly recommended.Outstanding - MikeB
This is about as perfect as a movie gets. The story, the settings, the cinematography, the acting, the music; its all there. It is also successful in carrying on two widely different stories. One is on a personal level and it is the unfulfilled romantic passions lurking beneath the surface between Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. The other is the sympathy that the English aristocrat (James Fox) carries on with the German Nazis. He becomes more and more of an accomplice with the appeasement faction in England and never comes to realize what the Nazi party really is.
The stories are sad. The repressed emotion of the two servants in the English manor is the underlying theme of the movie. The English aristocrat is also part of this repression because he too is trying to serve his country but is unable to ascertain the situation. None of these characters copes successfully with the challenges that life has to offer. They have missed out on life’s opportunities.
So many scenes in this movie are so well done – from the opening to the very end where Anthony Hopkins realizes that he too has missed out.. One outstanding scene is where Emma Thompson succeeds in finding the book that Anthony Hopkins is reading. This was so well done with a minimalist approach – emphasizing that this friendship should have been so much more.
The special features on the DVD were excellent and gave a good historical insight into the story. Of course it should also be remembered that during this era Winston Churchill was constantly warning of accommodation with Germany.
As the title of the movie suggests - ‘what remains at the end of the day?’
Member Reviews
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Rather good - fannoir
It is a subtle film that should be seen in right circumstances. I found myself caring more for the side story of the changing world around the two protagonists than for the central relationship between them. Overall, this movie will stay with you for a long ...The Remains of the Day - Dina
If they had chosen any actor less marvelously skilled in the lead role than Anthony Hopkins, this film could not have been pulled off. It takes the incredible skill of this master of the art to convey such depth of emotion in such a reserved character, and ...Outstanding - MikeB
This is about as perfect as a movie gets. The story, the settings, the cinematography, the acting, the music; its all there. It is also successful in carrying on two widely different stories. One is on a personal level and it is the unfulfilled romantic passions ...