SummaryA 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 becomes entranced with the noble Marchmain family, first through the charming and provocative Sebastian Flyte, and then his sophisticated sister, Julia. The rise and fal... Read More
Directed By:Julian Jarrold
Written By:Andrew Davies, Jeremy Brock, Evelyn Waugh
Brideshead Revisited
Metascore
Generally Favorable
64
User score
Generally Favorable
6.3
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
64
69% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
31% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
91
It's rare to find a work that explores issues of faith without veering into religious fundamentalism or militant atheism, which is reason enough to revisit Brideshead one more time.
78
The film, a distinctly secular take on Waugh's religiosity, is far more interested in the battle of blind faith vs. rigid unbelief and its devastating effects. Herein, everyone is complicated – by their station, their philosophy, their God – and everyone is complicit.
75
The film is plush and passionate and graced with elegant performances. Best is that of Emma Thompson as Brideshead's matriarch, Lady Marchmain, who resembles a cross between Helen Mirren's Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Benedict.
70
Though I can imagine Waugh rolling his eyes at the very idea of Brideshead Revisited as "a heartbreaking romantic epic," this remake is, often inadvertently, closer to the novel's spirit than the sepulchral television series, albeit still not half as waggishly Waugh-ish as "Bright Young Things," Stephen Fry's delightfully naughty interpretation of "Vile Bodies."
63
The new film seems a little nervous about the religious content; it's more interested in the swoony bits between Charles and Julia.
50
The film plays fast and loose with the book, until its emotional depths, spiritual conflicts, and Waugh's discreet humor have been wrung out.
40
The world didn't need a superficial big-screen adaptation of a rich, dense book that's about, among many other things, the passage of time. The perplexity is why the film is so lifeless and remote.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.3
75% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
17% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
8% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Nov 25, 2021
7
As gentle period dramas focussing on social/class issues go, this one is perfectly ok, with some good performances and settings. Its not a film I found especially remarkable or memorable but its not utterly uninteresting and I quite liked some of the classical music played and so on. I thought Ben Whishaw gave a particularly good performance and I'd say this is a decent enough Sunday evening type period/costume drama film, set in the 1940s. Its somewhat immersive, if not overly memorable as such but I didn't feel I was entirely bored, which is probably the main thing. I couldn't help but think what 'first world problems' were mentioned during the film - that's a given, of course. It does, however, become somewhat poignant after a while. I should point out that at times characters speak quite quietly (softly spoken) - whispering, just about, so if you have issues hearing then you may find it hard to follow in full, which could be frustrating. Religion is also mentioned, which may or may not bother people. There is some dialogue that I thought was quite good, so overall I would recommend this pleasant enough watch, yes.
Sep 19, 2024
4
Recommend avoiding this movie and rather, finding the original 1981 TV series, which is timeless, has not dated at all,. Among the best TV ever made perhaps.
Production Company:
- Ecosse Films
- Miramax
- UK Film Council
- BBC Film
- 2 Entertain
- Screen Yorkshire
- Brideshead Films
- HanWay Films
- Mestiere Cinema
- Zak Productions
Release Date:Jul 25, 2008
Duration:2 h 13 m
Rating:PG-13
Tagline:Love is not ours to control
Awards
Satellite Awards
• 4 Nominations
Irish Film and Television Awards
• 2 Nominations
London Critics Circle Film Awards
• 1 Nomination




























