Humbersi
The first must-see film of the year.
pointyfilippa
The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.
Clarissa Mora
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Calum Hutton
It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...
nandi2002
Watch itIgnore this part im just writing down something so i can submit my review
grantss
It is the late-1950s and, due to the death of Lord Darlington, Darlington Hall has just been bought by Jack Lewis, an American. On the staff of the hall is the head butler, James Stevens. Through his eyes we see the what took place in the hall over the last 25 or so years, including the lead-up to World War 2, Stevens' undying devotion to his job and master and his relationship with the housekeeper, Miss Kenton.Wonderfully engaging, interesting and moving movie. The main plot is essentially the story of one man, Stevens, and his devotion to his job. Anthony Hopkins is superb as Stevens, capturing well the robot-like blinkeredness of a butler who believes duty, dedication and dignity are everything, at the expense of feelings and expression.Around Stevens are spun a few other stories, making the movie quite multi-faceted. Among these, there's the history of the household, and Lord Darlington especially. We have the build-up to WW2, showing just how it developed, and how many were sucked into appeasing Germany in the lead-up to it.Then there's the relationship between Stevens and Miss Kenton, which provides some of the most emotional parts of the movie. It also provides some great "what if?" moments.Nominated for eight Oscars in 1994, including Best Film, Best Director for James Ivory, Best Leading Actor for Anthony Hopkins and Best Leading Actress for Emma Thompson, unfortunately The Remains Of The Day did not win in any category.
comps-784-38265
Stevens is butler to Lord Darlington (as was his father before him) managing Lord Darlingtons stately home and large number of servants.He has been trained and brought up to 'serve' unquestioningly as a gentleman's gentleman. To be the perfect butler in service to his 'betters'. Miss Kenton is the new house keeper and tries to get him to at least question aspects of his work. Particularly when Lord Darlington decides to repatriate some young Jewish refugees (who had escaped Nazi Germany) back to Germany. It is Stevens struggle to sacrifice any love for Miss Kenton. To never question his 'betters' judgement on any matter. But to blindly serve his master and sacrifice any life he may have of his own. However, set shortly before World War II the world is changing and a life time 'of service' is becoming a thing of the past. A riveting and beautiful film, superbly acted by Thompson and Hopkins 8/10 Far better that Downton Abbey, and even (dare I say) Upstairs Downstairs (the latter was often let down by wobbly scenery)
giannisentjan
This movie is centered around an English butler, Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins), a man with very respectful manners working in Darlington Hall during the times of World War II. In this movie, the viewer will notice two main things.Firstly, how deeply devoted Mr. Stevens is to his work serving Lord Darlington. However, Lord Darlington, being honorable and gullible, is deceived by the Nazis as he develops relationships with them under secret occasions. Mr. Stevens having total faith to his Lord, as a butler owes to, keeps serving him without any suspicion.Secondly, the sentimental relationship between Mr. Stevens and the house-keeper Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson). A relationship that is difficult to be fulfilled as he is incapable of revealing his true feelings as a result of being a respectable footman all his life.James Ivory has managed to depict these two attributes impeccably on the central protagonist.