Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey

Starring Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Maggie Smith

Directed by Michael Engler

The Story:
In 1927, the entire household of the prestigious Downton Abbey learns that King George and Queen Mary will be making an appearance and staying at the castle for the night, and everyone goes about preparing for their arrival.  In the process, secrets come out, grudges are met, gossip is heard and everything else in between.

The Synopsis:
There was an episode of "Bob's Burgers" where Bob and Linda win the right to participate in a LARP (live action role play) activity at the mansion of their favorite show - a show set in the past with royals and servants, and Linda is very excited to get the chance to play the role of a royal.  However, both Bob and Linda are chosen to be servants and they gather the other LARP players who were selected to be servants to overtake those chosen to be royals because of their mistreatment.  The episode mirrored the events of the PBS series "Downton Abbey," and that's the only knowledge I had of the show going into its movie (for the first few years the show was on, I even thought it was called "Downtown Abbey") - so going into the film I had absolutely no preconceived notions as to what to expect, but I also had no clue what had happened in the six-year run of the show.

Fortunately the film played very well on its own merit, and I wasn't left in the dark concerning the characters or their motives, even if my head was reeling with all the names being tossed about.  I can probably tell you the names of three of the characters, but overall I enjoyed the experience of witnessing this unique tale of royals and servants who reside in the majestic castle known as Downton Abbey.

The film is told like a long episode, and focuses on only one event - the upcoming arrival of the King and Queen, the first time they've been to Downton Abbey.  Everyone is busy preparing for their arrival, and the house is bustling with activity.  The servants eagerly prepare dinners and polish every piece of silverware, while the royals fuss about family drama and worries about the estate's overall cleanliness.  Even though the main thrust of the film is the royal arrival, there's no shortage of side stories that give the numerous characters people have come to know and love their individual moments to shine - from a possible royal assassination to a kleptomaniac, to a damaged broiler to issues with inheritances, there's never a dull moment with these characters and helps propel the story forward at a very decent pace.

I can't really go into detail with all the characters' events, as it would make this review an entire chapter of a book, but there's a few standout performances that actually make me want to go and watch the series - most notably that of scene stealer Maggie Smith, who plays the matriarch of the family who is always ready with a witty remark, a no-holds-barred attitude and no-nonsense manner.  Maggie Smith's performances have always been top-notch, and here she clearly owns her character once again, especially clashing with her estranged cousin Lady Maud, played by fellow "Harry Potter" actress Imelda Staunton.  Seeing these two veteran actresses going toe-to-toe almost makes me want to watch a spinoff movie just with these two, and both are tremendous, as is every single actor in the movie.  It was obvious that those who were with the show would again give it their all (and they do), but even the newcomers act like they've been a part of the show since its inception, and there's not a single bad performance among them.

The set pieces are of course exquisite and give off a beautiful old English feel, and that's due to the careful consideration they give to the construction of its main setting - Downton Abbey itself, which serves as the biggest character of them all.  Looming large over the countyside, its majestic grandeur is undeniable and absolutely spellbinding.  The inside set pieces as well are meticulous and carefully planned right to the smallest detail, making you feel like you're witnessing events taking place in the late 20s.

Equally spellbinding is the costume designs, as each character is dressed to the nines - be it royalty or the carefully woven costumes of the servants.  Throw in the majestic score that echoes throughout, and you've got the makings of a pitch perfect historical piece that's not pretentious but rather a true showcase of heart, a film that wasn't produced quickly but one that took its time preparing, much like the servants prepared for the royal arrival - treating us the viewers as royalty ourselves.

The Summary:
You don't have to be an expert in the series to appreciate "Downton Abbey," as from start to finish we're treated with top-notch performances, beautiful costumes, a strong story, and most importantly the most elegant setting you can imagine.

The Score: A+