28 July 2008

Privilege. Ambition. Desire.




At Brideshead everything comes at a price.

N
ot since seeing the Academy Award nominated film, "Atonement", have I been so visually impressed with the overall production design of a film as I am with the new adaptation of the film "Brideshead Revisited", which opened in select theatres this past weekend.

A provocative and suspenseful drama, "Brideshead Revisited" tells an evocative story of forbidden love and the loss of innocence set in the pre WWII era. In the film, Charles Ryder, (Matthew Goode), becomes entranced with the noble Marchmain family, first through the charming and provacative Sebastian Flyte, (Ben Whishaw), and then his sophisticated sister Julia, (Hayley Atwell). The rise and fall of Charles' infatuations reflect the decline of a decadent era in England between the wars. Academy Award-winner Emma Thompson co-stars as Lady Marchmain.

The film, based on Evelyn Waugh's acclaimed novel, is pitch perfect in terms of set decoration, the locations in England and Italy chosen for filming as well as the impeccable costumes. Beautiful and definitely entertaining "Brideshead Revisted" is Most Excellent and worth a look.















Emma Thompson


From left. Hayley Atwell, Ben Whishaw and Matthew Goode


Matthew Goode