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Set during the 1930s, the film follows James Stevens (Anthony Hopkins), a proper English butler to the doltish Lord Darlington, who sacrificed body and soul to service in the years leading up to World War II and later realizes too late how misguided his loyalty was to his lordly employer.
Though it offers a host of fine performances in a smoothly crafted, adult drama of unfulfilled love, it lacks the cumulative dramatic impact of the team's best work.
First time I saw it, it destroyed me. Subsequent viewings have not improved my condition.
September 24, 2005
EmanuelLevy.Com
The narrative structure (long flashbacks, letters) is awkward but the actors (Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson in top form) attention to detail is meticulous and piercing considering how muted the emotions are.
Here's a film for adults. It's also about time to recognize that Mr. Ivory is one of our finest directors, something that critics tend to overlook because most of his films have been literary adaptations.