Film Experience Blog

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

27 comments:

Chris in WV said...: "Remains of the Day"!! I miss Emma Thompson. Come do something brilliant! Give us another "Wit" or "Howard's End". Or at least be really good in "Pirate Radio" and "An Education". LOVE YOU!!!!; 12:40 AM
chris na Taraja said...: She could be an orgasmic angel again any time soon.; 1:12 AM
Andrew K. said...: God. I see this picture and I immediately tear up...how embarrassing no? But this film really strikes chord with me...and that reminds I need to get a new copy of it.

I prefer Howards End...but I really think this is Anthony and Emma at their glorious, British BESTEST!!!; 1:15 AM
NicksFlickPicks said...: You read my mind, again! I just learned today how close Meryl Streep came to playing Miss Kenton, and how steamed she was when reshuffling among the creative team cost her the part. Did everyone else already know this?

I'm with WVU that we need more Emma, and with A:EE in being a Howards man who's still all about Remains of the Day. And way to drop that musical metaphor, A:EE, since Remains has one of my very favorite film scores.; 2:01 AM
Rae Kasey said...: I want this still framed and hanging somewhere in my apartment.; 2:17 AM
Wayne B said...: Nick - I never knew that. Meryl Streep missed out on a role?? How many times has that ever happened?

Great movie. Hopkins had a great run in the 90s in terms of female co-stars: Foster, Thompson, Winger, Allen, Moore and Lange. Whew!; 2:28 AM
Unknown said...: LOVE Emma Thompson, particularly in this movie. She breaks my heart every single time I watch it, especially in the scene right after she confronts Hopkins and then cries in her room when he walks in. Magnificent.

I never knew about Streep..But, boy was this ever meant to be Emma's part! I can't imaine anyone else but her playing it, and thank God she did!; 2:48 AM
Kelsy said...: I just finished reading the novel of this, and I think I prefer the film, mostly because you understand Miss Kenton from a less...ignorant perspective than Mr. Stevens. Great picture.; 3:17 AM
The Pretentious Know it All said...: When I watch "Howards End" and "The Remains of the Day" (the golden age of Merchant-Ivory) I really think about how it's sad the type of performance Thompson gave in "Howards End" wouldn't win best actress today, what with the way the category has been of late. It's so devoid of tricks and gimmick. If the same race was held today, I'm not so sure that Sarandon, or possibly even Pfeiffer (I don't mean to tease) wouldn't surge ahead of Thompson. They just don't seem to reward that type of performance anymore...makes me kind of pessimistic for Carey Mulligan's chances this year (Yes, I just compared Carey Mulligan to Emma Thompson. The performance is that good.); 3:32 AM
Glenn Dunks said...: Oh man, what a great still!; 3:42 AM
denparser said...: @Rae Kasey

people would say, you're really a fan of it. :-); 5:17 AM
mrripley said...: gr8 still i knew about streep it's on imdb i thought thompson was great recently in stranger than fiction,last chance harvey and love actually elevates the material she is in.; 8:15 AM
Michael W. said...: I honestly feel that Anthony Hopkins' performance in The Remains of the Day is one of the finest pieces of acting in the last 25 years. Simply amazing and he definitely gets my lead acting award for 93.; 8:30 AM
Andrew K. said...: Nick: As someone who who is not a big Meryl lover...I don't know...but her as Ms. Kenton. I don't just seems weird...I didn't know that though. I do know she's only be been refused two roles I think the other was Elizabeth. Yes, Blanchett's Elizabeth. I could be wrong, and I hope I am.; 8:34 AM
MrJeffery said...: Beautiful film.; 9:50 AM
NicksFlickPicks said...: As I understand it, Remains was gearing up to be Streep's fourth teaming with Mike Nichols, but when he opted out of directing and the project passed to Merchant-Ivory, they insisted on Thompson. Since Nichols had stayed on as a producer, Meryl was apparently surprised and put out that he either wouldn't or couldn't negotiate to keep her in.

At least everything worked out happily: a lovely acting duet between Thompson & Hopkins, the making of an acquaintance between Nichols and Thompson that later led to more great work from her, and the whole trio becoming fast friends and teaming up on Angels in America. That's the only happy ending to be found anywhere near The Remains of the Day, I suppose.; 9:55 AM
Sawyer said...: Wonderful movie. One of my top 10 of the 90's.; 10:11 AM
Ian said...: Emma Thompson as Mattie Fae in August:Osage County...; 11:35 AM
mripley said...: wasn't streep down for patty clarkson role in all the kings men and a role in minority report.; 12:18 PM
NATHANIEL R said...: Meryl also lost "Evita"; 12:53 PM
sphinx said...: I remember reading about this scene in the book and being kind of haunted by it. When the butler's father dies, he's so busy with the party that he can't even go close his dead father's eyes. Probably the most tremendous example of loyalty (to one's duty)you'll ever come across.; 4:15 PM
NicksFlickPicks said...: Well, most of these parts she opted out of or was forced to drop when the scheduling didn't work out; Evita couldn't get financed when she was campaigning hardest to get it. Remains and a small handful of others are the only instances where she wanted a part, was free for it, the producers were free to hire her, and they went with somebody else. (Again, as far as what I've read—and no, not just on IMDb. Still, you'd think I was speaking from her assistant's desk. Pass around the grains of salt!); 11:37 PM
John D. said...: The best film of that year. I want Hopkins back in the Oscar race. I really hope he has a good role in Woody Allen's upcoming film.; 11:50 PM
RC said...: i love this movie - (and love the book more); 1:19 AM
John T said...: Yeah, according to imdb it's only four roles-American Gigolo, Sweet Dreams, The Remains of the Day, and Elizabeth (oddly enough only one of those four didn't land an eventual Oscar nomination). I can't confirm all four of those, though (the Elizabeth one sounds odd to me).; 3:13 AM
amir_uk said...: I'd had the DVD on my shelf unwatched for months now. (Wanted to read the book first.) I finally watched it last night because of you, Nathaniel, and that still. Thank you! What a completely, utterly gorgeous picture.

The scene from which the still is taken was shot in Powderham Castle, Devon - one of many locations used for Darlington Hall. It just goes to show how the attention to detail in that film is breathtaking - and how apt that is, given the subject matter.

And I wasn't expecting the political-historical context that underscored the heartbreaking primary narrative. You just never hear about that when The Remains of the Day comes up in conversation. I can't wait to go to the Ishiguro now, seeing as I'm already a bit of a fan from reading some of his other works.

I'm also now on the hunt for a lobby card of that still. Breath. Taking. Cinema. Tography...; 8:33 AM
Jordan Ruimy said...: amazing; 11:46 AM