Downton Abbey: A New Era (PG)
Judgment: the gift that keeps on giving
Back to the Future, Eyes Wide Shut, and True Lies are great examples of cinematic oxymorons: conflicting movie titles. And last night they joined Downton Abbey: A New Age that predictably takes us back to ancient times, Downton Abbey.
Downton creator Julian Fellowes didn’t get to where he is today (initially the House of Lords), denying fans that they were waiting. The new movie, the second big-screen adaptation after Downton Abbey in 2019, is packed with all our favorite ingredients, not least because the widowed Countess of Grantham (Dame Maggie Smith) shoots acid injections from her puckered lips. a little easier. finished.
Downton Abbey: The second big-screen spinoff after Downton Abbey in 2019, Downton Abbey: A New Era is packed with all our favorite stuff
The “new era” part is about the coming of cinema. It’s 1928 and a sloppy director Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy) wants to hire the majestic stack to make a silent movie. Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) more or less declares that such commercial vulgarity will only happen to his own corpse. For the ruthless among us at her flamboyant world premiere in London last night, this sparked fleeting hopes that her reign would be glorious, perhaps due to an overdose of kedgeree. Downton has always done death well enough.
But no. A heavy check helps Lord Grantham change his mind, along with domineering Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), who still drags the estate into the 20th century and realizes that the movie’s money can “take a closer look at home.” Coincidentally, in front of me in the Leicester Square cinema were Highclere Castle, the owners of the real Downton, Lord and Lady Carnarvon. This plot should have struck a chord.
Beneath the stairs, the gorgeous Anna (Joanne Frogatt) and silly Daisy (Sophie McShera) tremble at the prospect of matinee idol Guy Dexter (Dominic West) and the fencing siren Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock), who amuses more than anyone. ) To see. up close and personal.
The Widowed Countess of Grantham (Dame Maggie Smith) shoots acid injections from her pursed lips, that’s easier said than done
Below the stairs, Dopey Daisy (Sophie McShera) is trembling with excitement at the prospect of seeing matinee idol Guy Dexter (Dominic West) and fencing siren Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock).
It never took long to make Daisy shiver. A new saleswoman in tight pants, Miss Patmore (Lesley Nicol) who lets her go to the shops by herself… these are the things that mark Daisy’s day. But now that she’s married to big-eared butler Andy (Michael Fox), she’s less of an idiot. Will Daisy have a future in cinema, too? Probably not. However, despite everything, it could be the lovely Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle).
As always with Downton, doubts arise that Fellowes learned what was going on at the time through Wikipedia and adapted his story accordingly. So, as the south of France in the late 1920s became increasingly popular with the English aristocracy, we head to the Riviera, where old lady G was abandoned in an arguably beautiful mansion by a Frenchman, where she spent an idyllic week. . in 1864.
Staying in France allows Mr Carson (Jim Carter), who has been dragged out of retirement, to frown more than ever during an epidemic of Francophobia, but indeed, the funniest things happen in Downton. Silent film is in trouble, you see, the conversations have just arrived. Will the sloppy director save the project himself? Obviously not. Lady Mary and the maids need your help. Meanwhile, Mr. Barrow the Butler (Robert James-Collier), a recently transplanted and no longer scumbag, still struggles with his sexuality. But unexpectedly there is a recovery.
With southern France becoming increasingly popular with the British aristocracy in the late 1920s, let’s go to the Riviera.
All this takes place in an intimate Downton style, expertly directed by Simon Curtis, but sadly he can’t stop tormenting Lady Cora (despite being married to Elizabeth McGovern, who plays her). There’s a birth, a death, a marriage proposal, and a controversial paternity point, all pending matters neatly tied up as if Mr. Carson was taking care of himself. There are also some heartfelt laughs and blatantly derived stories that give particularly warm clues to My Fair Lady and Singin’ in the Rain.
And now for the Downton saga? My own hope is that the next time the Fellows will truly embrace a new era, they will be brave enough to let the Crawleys destroy their ancestral home for the nation – and there will definitely be one after that. After all, Downton is the gift that keeps on giving; How fitting would it be to give him a National Trust gift shop.
Downton Abbey: A new era opens on Friday
Meanwhile, Mr. Butler Barrow (Robert James-Collier), a recent personality transplant and no longer a jerk, still struggles with his sexuality.
Downton Abbey: a new era: what critics say…
PROTECTOR
Peter Bradshaw writes, “The second, and hopefully final, movie to come out of Julian Fellowes’ hit TV series, it’s still as silly, silly, and undeniably funny as ever… It’s all gleefully ridiculous, even if it’s moving towards a serious tone. Where Wagner aimed with Siegfried’s funeral march ».
The second spin-off of the luxury soap opera lives up to all expectations
PHONE
Evaluation: 
Robbie Collin writes, “The second adaptation of the luxury soap opera fulfills all the requirements… Like the first Downton Abbey movie, A New Age is built like a cohesive television: the French scenes radiate a light while Downton itself mutters absent-mindedly. nourishing escape cream and a sky blue shimmer.
DAILY MAIL
Brian Viner writes: “There’s a birth, a death, a marriage proposal and a controversial paternity point, all of which are perfectly connected, as if Mr. Carson was taking care of himself. There’s also some real laughter and some shamelessly distracting stories… Downton is the gift that keeps on giving.
VARIATION
“Friends give us a loving group hug, and that’s the epitome of these encore visits,” writes Peter Debruge.
DEADLINE
Anna Smith writes: “With more than half a dozen episodes of twists and turns, A New Era fills up a lot of runtime, and its manipulations can be pretty transparent. But when it’s fulfilling its mission so clearly, it’s hard to blame them. After all, as Molesley says, we all need dreams.
HOLLYWOOD JOURNALIST
David Rooney writes, “Despite the promise of a major title change, A New Era is more or less the same, which will be good for fans of PBS’ long-running hit.”
Source: Daily Mail
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
