Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) Focus/Drama RT: 125 minutes Rated PG (some suggestive references, language, thematic elements) Director: Simon Curtis Screenplay: Julian Fellowes Music: John Lunn Cinematography: Andrew Dunn Release date: May 20, 2022 (US) Cast: Nathalie Baye, Hugh Bonneville, Samantha Bond, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Paul Copley, Jonathan Coy, Brendan Coyle, Hugh Dancy, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Robert James-Collier, Harry Hadden-Paton, Laura Haddock, Fifi Hart, Sue Johnston, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Lesley Nicol, Douglas Reith, David Robb, Eva and Karina Samms, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Penelope Wilton, Jonathan Zaccai, Alex Macqueen, Charlie Watson. Box Office: $44.2M (US)/$48.5M (World)
Rating: *** ½
In my review of the previous Downton Abbey movie, I stated that I wouldn’t mind if they made one every two or three years. I feel the same way after seeing the newest chapter of the Crawley family saga Downton Abbey: A New Era. It’s even better than the first movie which followed up on the popular ITV show that ran for six seasons (or six series if you’re in the UK). I am a BIG fan of Downton Abbey. It’s the perfect blend of class and soap suds. I’m glad to see the latest film adaptation does it justice.
Honest, it’s hard to review a film like Downton Abbey: A New Era. It has a built-in audience. Fans will flock to it no matter what. They’ll love it too. It’s essentially a whole season condensed into a two-hour+ movie. There’s plenty of drama and a fair helping of humor. There is joy and tragedy. SPOILER ALERT! It opens with a wedding and closes with a funeral. It’ll leave you smiling through tears. Of course, this only applies if you’re a fan which makes sense. I doubt non-fans will have any interest. Therefore, who am I trying to sell it to? Writing a review, good or bad, is tantamount to preaching to the choir. Still, I’m bound by my profession to give my two quid.
The events of Downton Abbey: A New Era take place in 1928. It opens with widowed son-in-law Tom (Leech) marrying heiress Lucy (Middleton). Shortly after they exchange their vows, Dowager Violet (the always splendid Maggie Smith) announces she’s inherited a villa in Southern France and plans to leave it to Tom’s daughter from his first marriage to the dearly departed Lady Sybil. It was left to Violet by a man she hasn’t seen since an “idyllic weekend” in the 1860s. The man’s son, the new Marquis de Montmirail (Zaccai, The Beat That My Heart Skipped), invites members of the family to visit the villa much to the disapproval of his mother (Baye, The Return of Martin Guerre). Joining Tom and Lucy are Lord Grantham (Bonneville), his wife Cora (McGovern), daughter Lady Edith (Carmichael), her husband Bertie (Paton) and Violet’s cousin Lady Bagshaw (Staunton). They’re accompanied by valet Bates (Coyle), maid Baxter (Logan) and retired butler Carson (Carter).
Meanwhile, back at Downton Abbey, a film crew has descended on the stately manor. They’re paying Lady Mary (Dockery) a lot of money to make a silent movie there. While the family disapproves, the staff is excited to meet their favorite stars. The director Jack Barber (Dancy, Law & Order) is a nice guy who takes quite a shine to Mary. Handsome leading man Guy Dexter (West, Tomb Raider) takes a liking to head butler Barrow (Collier). NOBODY takes a liking to star actress Myrna Dalgleish (Haddock, Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2), a brash type who treats the household staff terribly. A crisis arises when Butler might have to shut down production due to popularity of talking pictures. Mary solves it by suggesting that they make a talkie too. This causes a big problem for Myrna who can’t rid herself of her Cockney accent. She’s even more upset when Barber asks Mary to dub her voice.
There’s plenty of side drama with one character on the verge of death and another potentially fatally ill. Edith wants to resume her career as a journalist in an underdeveloped plot thread. Barrow wants to be happy in a time when homosexuality was unacceptable (and illegal) in the UK. Local schoolteacher turned screenwriter Molesley (Doyle) still hasn’t proposed to Baxter. Assistant cook Daisy (McShera) and her husband Andy (Fox) try to get her former father-in-law Albert (Copley) together with head cook Miss Patmore (Nicol).
While all the mystery about the nature of Violet’s relationship with the late Marquis is compelling, I found myself more interested in the making of the film, a period piece called The Gambler. It was fascinating to see what went into filmmaking in the early days of cinema, especially around the time sound was introduced. This should come as no surprise. Would you expect anything else from the Movie Guy?
I really don’t think there’s a lot to say about Downton Abbey: A New Era. I loved it! It’s very well made. It’s an artistic triumph. The period décor and costumes are fabulous. The locations, especially southern France, are gorgeous. I like all the characters. It’s so nice to catch up with them. The acting is terrific. McShera has a great scene with Haddock. Smith, as always, is a joy to watch as sharp-tongued Violet. She may be aging, but her barbs are just as pointy. It has its funny moments, but Downton Abbey: A New Era is also quite moving. I won’t say why, but you’ll feel it. Believe me on this.
Here’s the bottom line. If you love the show, you’ll love the movie. I did. To the creators, I’d like to say this in closing. Please go for three! There’s so much more story to tell. If you make them, I will come as will the fans. SO JUST DO IT!
