The Last September

A gorgeous autumnal period piece that catches a vanishing proprietary class on the eve of its extinction in Ireland in 1920.

Impeccably acted by a fine ensemble cast, it's a sheer pleasure to behold.

There's something Slavic about Warner's storytelling.

The movie doesn't have much more get-up-and-go than the characters, but solid performances and richly textured camera work keep it involving most of the way through.

There's enough caustic wit, romance and dizzy whimsy to make The Last September, if not deep, at least diverting.

Overall, The Last September is a real snooze.

Not even the rich and nuanced performances of stage veterans Smith, Gambon, and Birkin can save this British period drama from languishing amid the story's unfocused longings and unrealistic musings.