Downton Abbey: A New Era
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Elizabeth McGovern
Directed By: Simon Curtis
Rated: PG-13
Welcome back to Downton Abbey! After 3 years, the Grantham and Crawley families return to the silver screen with just as much glitz, glamor, and drama as ever before. This time around, the family welcomes a film crew to make a silent movie at Downton. They encounter a few road bumps when it’s discovered that talkies are the way of the future. At the same time, the Dowager Countess inherits a villa in the south of France from a past love. The film is split between these two storylines cutting back and forth between the action.
As a huge fan of the show, I was excited to see a continuation of the Downton franchise. Who doesn’t want to check in with these beloved characters? Director Simon Curtis and writer/showrunner Jullian Fellows make sure that there’s plenty of time for all of our favorite characters to have their moment in the film. At its core, Downton Abbey: A New Era is about welcoming a new generation as the past is ushered out. The film interweaves that theme excellently as silent films must make way for the new era of talkies and as a new generation prepares to lead the way for Downton. We’ve seen these characters grow up before our eyes so it’s exciting to see the chapter continue.
There are a few new characters this time around including Hugh Dancy as film director Jack Barber, Laura Haddock as actress Myrna Dagleish, and Dominic West as actor Guy Dexter. The three get their own plotlines involving the staff and family of Downton. Of course, the central cast of Downton is back to reprise their roles. Both the family and staff have several moments that are sure to make you smile. The filmmakers try to divide screen time equally but I’d say Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), the Dowager Countess ( Maggie Smith), Robert (Hugh Bonneville), Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), and Barrow (Robert James-Collier) have the biggest storylines in the film. My question is where was Lady Mary’s husband in the movie? Could Matthew Goode really not show up for a 2-second cameo? Inquiring minds would like to know.
There are times when the storylines in A New Era feel a little bit disjointed with Robert, Cora, Edith, and Tom visiting France and the rest of the group staying back at Downton. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a gorgeous filming location and the storyline itself makes for some classic Downton drama. However, it feels disconnected from the central film crew storyline at the house with the rest of the family and servants. Plus, there are so many plots to keep up with that it can feel a little dizzying at times.
I recently attended a Downton Abbey exhibit where the costumes were displayed from different seasons of the show. It was striking how detail-oriented every single outfit is for each character. I was stunned at the beauty. While watching A New Era, I was struck by how gorgeous everything looks in the film. There’s a certain visual flair that viewers have come to expect while watching Downton and the film certainly doesn’t disappoint. Major props to the costume designers who dressed everyone in the perfect outfits for every scene. The filming locations are also stunning from the villa in the south of France to the classic Downton Abbey. Each scene has incredible ornate details.
Despite a few too many plot points, Downton Abbey: A New Era is a welcome return. Fans of the show will love seeing their favorite characters on the big screen again as they take on their latest adventure. This is a beautiful film with glitz, glamor, and heart.
My Rating: 8/10