The Tag Line says it all:  Privilege. Ambition. Desire. At Brideshead, Everything Comes at a Price. 

Imagine the story of young man, no Title, no birthright, just well-educated and attending Oxford in the mid 1920’s.  Will he fit in?  On his first day, Charles (Mathew Goode) becomes entranced with the complex Peter Pan-esque antics of classmate Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) who throws up in his dorm window.  Sebastian apologizes quite elaborately and takes a shining to Charles and introduces him to some very powerful circles of people.  After some time, they go to Sebastian’s family estate, Brideshead to visit his Nanny, who still resides there and is his only source of unconditional love.  While leaving, they pass a car with Sebastian’s mother and sister and from that brief trip began a love affair within Charles that will last for the rest of his life. 

This is an epic film about the Haves and the Have Nots, and no mater how much time or self sacrifice you have invested; as sister Julia (Hayley Atwell) says, you will still never be “One of Us.”  Brideshead will give you the sense of what it is like to travel effortlessly and in complete style during the 1920’s through the 40’s in the upper-crust British society while they take you from Britain to Florence, or escaping to Morocco.  With truly amazing authentic vehicles and recreated scenes within these countries, you will forget you are in a movie seat.  While visiting the Lord Marchmain (Michael Gambon) in Florence with his Italian mistress (Cara/Greta Scacchi) you will be surrounded by warmth, laughter, art, and beauty.   

On the contrary, when the scene calls for stoic, The Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson), the pivotal Matriarch and heartbeat of Brideshead, rises to the part. In every scene she enters with power, grace, and an inner strength last seen from Helen Marin in Elizabeth. With a mixture of actions and mannerisms, a proper wardrobe for a Lady of the era, and the most deadly lines ever, this is the perfect platform for another Oscar for Emma Thompson.  As Lady Marchmain she controls everything, be it the estate, her family, or herself—yet on the contrary, when one thing falls out of place her life is over.  Control is everything to her.   

If you are a fan of fashion, there is an in-depth interview by Burberry in Interview Magazine with the costume designer discussing the fabrics used, styles emulated, and managing to keep up with historical accuracies of the times.  Not only is there the “proper” Oxford looks, there’s the Country Gentleman, Dining Wear, Mediterranean travel wear, Formal wear and that’s just the men!  There is a lot of secondary focus on the social aspect of fashion, dressing, and jewelry and how women are to be used as objects and whims of the heart do not matter in comparison to mission and obligation of The Family.   

This is not a light movie; Brideshead Revisited has subtleties, important social graces and obligations, as well important jaw-dropping acting and locations.  Brideshead Revisited is similar to The English Patient in that it is a sweeping story over decades with an unfulfilled love story fueling the flames.  This film is based on the Evelyn Waugh’s celebrated 1945 book that was made into an eleven part mini-series that aired on the BBC back in 1981.  Now, the two groups of fans are not at all thrilled with this movie, claiming they left out a LOT of things, but how much can you really put into an hour and thirty-five minutes?