First promulgated just as World War II was ending, Evelyn Waugh�s weighty literary masterpiece was turned into a wildly successful British mini-series in 1981. For some strange reason, however, Brideshead Revisited has never been given a motion picture adaptation--until today. Although the story essentially remains the same, much of plot threads have been dropped or truncate and some liberty has been taken with at least unitary major character. Set in the pre-World War II era, this romantic story spans a couple of decades notification the saga of atheist Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) and his fascination, even obsession, with the very regal and very catholic Marchmain family--now led by ultra-stiff matriarch Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson), whose husband (Michael Gambon) is AWOL with his Italian schoolma'am (Greta Scacchi). Centering about his �friendship� with the charming and adventurous son, Sebastian (Ben Whishaw), Charles� affections and apparent sexual confusion discover new cannon fodder with Sebastian�s beautiful baby Julia (Hayley Atwell). When the terzetto take off for Venice to call patriarch Lord Marchmain, the romance 'tween Charles and Julia takes off causation numerous complications for everyone involved.Rising star Goode, so fine in Woody Allen�s Match Point, meets his promise hither making the ideal Charles, a brigham Young man dalliance with his own sexual and religious identity in the fallow period 'tween World Wars. His good luck charm quotient is so hard, it�s easy to see how he could appeal both Sebastian and Julia, equally well-played by Whishaw and Atwell. Whishaw (I'm Not There) nails the unwarranted side of his character, taking Sebastian much further into merry territory than suggested in either the book or the mini-series. Atwell�s Julia also takes a going from previous versions, specially when she joins the guys in Venice--a plot turn entirely invented for this film adaptation. It has the effect of increasing the tension, sexual and otherwise, between the three primary characters and allows the film to fully focus on this aspect of Waugh�s original story. Atwell is a real find wHO fully explores the disordered but charmed journey Julia must necessitate. Sprightly two-time Oscar winner Thompson is at first glance an odd choice to play the rigid Lady Marchmain but she proves her worth, giving the woman an duplicate dimension of humanity she doesn�t appear to have when we first forgather her. Gambon is superb as the family�s anxious patriarch with fine support from the still-beautiful Scacchi as his mistress.Young British director Julian Jarrold followed his feature of speech debut, the refreshing upbeat comedy Kinky Boots with last summer�s vapid and drilling Jane Austen period composition Becoming Jane. With the hot-blooded Brideshead adjustment, he is on his game over again, clearly demonstrating complete control over the sprawling account and intertwined relationships that are key to Waugh�s novel. Choosing to focus on the central triangle of Sebastian, Charles and Julia more fully than ever earlier is a wise decision and brings the interview right in to the thick of things, instead than taking the many side trips of the mini-series. Of course, with only deuce hours alternatively of 12, painful decisions had to be made, and Jarrold, with screenwriters Andrew Davies and Jeremy Brock, have delivered a version that meets our expectations, without dashing them. Unless, of course, you are a Waugh purist in which case it�s probably best to revisit the mini-series. There crapper be no argument about the ocular splendors provided here though, particularly the location filming at Castle Howard, 1 of England�s oldest and most hitting estates. Waugh�s extensive descriptions of the splendors of Brideshead Manor are perfectly realized through the spot-on choice of locales and the film�s superb motion-picture photography and product design.
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