The Remains of the Day (1993)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Spencer S

  
  A beautifully wrought piece about the dangers of living through the affairs of aristocracy, this film is the embodiment of the Merchant-Ivory set of films while also being a fairly faithful adaptation of the book by Kazuo Ishiguro. Though the book is well represented and the overall… More
  A beautifully wrought piece about the dangers of living through the affairs of aristocracy, this film is the embodiment of the Merchant-Ivory set of films while also being a fairly faithful adaptation of the book by Kazuo Ishiguro. Though the book is well represented and the overall message and grandeur of the film was in no way affected, I did take issue with several liberties that changed scenes in the book, raised questions that needn't be, and arguably some choices were simply unavoidably strange. Characters were merged, POVs were changed, and undertones were glaring. But I digress, this film does justice to the text by showing the incomparable Anthony Hopkins in a role that could only belong to him. His instincts as a servant and as a man with "dignity," as he espouses, truly embodied the character of Stevens. He seemed bland, yet affected, kind yet unbothered, and clinical while being personable and repressed. Oh, was he repressed. So enters Emma Thompson as Miss. Kenton, the housekeeper who keeps Stevens on his toes and challenges his pre-conceived notions. Their relationship really is the entire film, while also being about loyalty to someone who is blindly being led astray themselves in a long train of unforgiving ignorance. Stevens though, is a character whose psyche just goes deeper and deeper, a well of misgivings and fraudulent narration, unreliable in his own emotions and the way the facts of the film are presented. You want him to rendezvous with the one he longs for, but he is tethered by the belief that he has a grand purpose, and if he doesn't see it through than his entire life has been wasted. Next to Random Harvest this is the saddest film I have ever seen, because it rallies around an idea as old as time, and then doesn't see it to fruition. It's about longing, love, manipulation, and the callous reality that a life worth living is not expected to always be great. I find this film, and the book it is based off of, to be beautiful and poignant in its tender recognition of humanity. Though I don't agree with some decisions by the screenwriter and director, I do agree that this was a film that was difficult to put together, as there was first person narration in the book and none here. It really was a film that achieved on a level unexpected, and stayed heart warming throughout.

• familiar s

  
  While the movie was full of excellent performances, the story itself didn't leave an impression strong enough on me (yeah, again expectations were high, thanks to IMDb ratings). Besides, the execution wasn't effective enough to keep me glued to the movie. If anything was… More
  While the movie was full of excellent performances, the story itself didn't leave an impression strong enough on me (yeah, again expectations were high, thanks to IMDb ratings). Besides, the execution wasn't effective enough to keep me glued to the movie. If anything was done quite right, it was the casting of the movie. That's what made this 2+ hours journey tolerable for me.

• Jennifer X

  
  I am a sucker for starched-collar, buttoned-down romance, and this movie is pretty much the definition of that. Also, it has old people. I LOVE old people love stories. Ishiguro I'm not too crazy about, but I can forgive him.

• Dan S

  
  A masterfully acted, well told story featuring an unassuming butler (Anthony Hopkins) who remembers back to the time when he began to discover disturbing new things about the master (James Fox) he had served for many, many years. Although admittedly slow-paced, this film is largely… More
  A masterfully acted, well told story featuring an unassuming butler (Anthony Hopkins) who remembers back to the time when he began to discover disturbing new things about the master (James Fox) he had served for many, many years. Although admittedly slow-paced, this film is largely fascinating due to the main plot concerning Nazi sympathizers. The movie also adeptly explores an important trait in loyalty - all with a magnetic and versatile actor in Anthony Hopkins leading the way. Both Hopkins and Emma Thompson (as another worker at the house who finds Hopkins' both attractive and infuriating) give outstanding turns, and the movie also ends on a satisfying note. What I love most about this film is that it never betrays us with the way it covers its characters, they stay true to form and never feel artificial for one moment.

• Mike S

  
  A movie that can turn something as eventless and boring as the working life of domestic servants (no offence to any butlers or housekeepers who may read this), into an engaging and compelling drama, certainly deserves a round of applause. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson are both at… More
  A movie that can turn something as eventless and boring as the working life of domestic servants (no offence to any butlers or housekeepers who may read this), into an engaging and compelling drama, certainly deserves a round of applause. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson are both at their very best here, and this film wouldn't be half as good as it was without their fantastic performances. Maybe not the kind of movie I'd want to see more than once, but good and quite memorable nonetheless.

• Ginny  

  
  "A man cannot call himself work contented, until he has done all he can, to be of service to his employer." ~Mr. Stevens Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins reunite in this movie after Howards End. Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) is a butler and an institution by himself at… More
  "A man cannot call himself work contented, until he has done all he can, to be of service to his employer." ~Mr. Stevens Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins reunite in this movie after Howards End. Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) is a butler and an institution by himself at Darlington Hall. See how he goes by his life day by day amist whats going on inside the Manor, and get to know the other characters perspective of the dear ol' butler. I thought this was a powerful, thought provoking film. Theres too much "essence" in this film that Ill just have to decline in even trying to tackle the things in it. I think this movie is quite close to home for some of those people that serve their life as a house help and for those who do have the knowledge and priviledge of what its like to have highly devoted and excelent help. This movie reminds me of my beloved nanny Leizel. *Yeah ok its not a proper review - cant be arsed to write anything properly these days. I still say go ahead and watch it, then tell me what you thought of it.

• Candy R

  
  Movie about an English country home just prior to World War II and it's occupants. Great cast.

• Dean !

  
  A very slow, rather boring period drama. Where not a lot happens in a country house in the period leading up to the war.

• Drew S

  
  Flawless performances by Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson amidst a plot that is both personal and political. This is an important movie if ever there was one. The broken narrative is not the directorial choice I would have made, but it doesn't really have much of an effect on… More
  Flawless performances by Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson amidst a plot that is both personal and political. This is an important movie if ever there was one. The broken narrative is not the directorial choice I would have made, but it doesn't really have much of an effect on the rest of the movie. Powerful, turbulent and effective, Remains of the Day is an A-class drama.

• Kylie B

  
  Well, what can I say about this? I love the novel, and when I heard that there was a film too, my immediate reaction was much like that for the Perfume film: "Oh yay!!...but how the hell are they going to film it when it's so subtle in places? So, of course, I was… More
  Well, what can I say about this? I love the novel, and when I heard that there was a film too, my immediate reaction was much like that for the Perfume film: "Oh yay!!...but how the hell are they going to film it when it's so subtle in places? So, of course, I was inevitably disappointed when I watched this. It looks absolutely beautiful and very authentic, but I didn't like the changes made, no matter how small they were (some were even out of keeping with the characters). I wondered at first whether Hopkins was a good choice for Stevens, but the longer you see him in the role the more natural and acceptable it becomes. Like his performance, once you get in to the film you begin to warm up to it, or it begins to improve. I liked that quotes from Stevens' first person narration were put into the dialogue, and all actors do suprisingly well once you get over the initial 'shock' of seeing them in the role ( 'It's Hugh Grant', was all I could think of for a while after his first appearance...) In truth, this was a very difficult book to film faithfully, so I don't know whether to be impressed at what they managed to achieve, or disappointed, thinking that it could've been done even better.

• Tom E

  
  One of the Best Anthony Hopkins Merchant/Ivory movies

• Sarah G

  
  We studied this for our summer exam in film studies. I think i was one of the only ones in my class who enjoyed this film

• Mark K

  
  If you are a fan of the Merchant Ivory works, this is one of their best. With a standout cast, a crisply written story, and some very interesting human drama, it draws you in and never lets go. Anthony Hopkins is flawless in his portrayal of Stevens, and Emma Thompson makes a great… More
  If you are a fan of the Merchant Ivory works, this is one of their best. With a standout cast, a crisply written story, and some very interesting human drama, it draws you in and never lets go. Anthony Hopkins is flawless in his portrayal of Stevens, and Emma Thompson makes a great counterpoise to his character. There's no action, per se, but there's a lot of layers of human emotion here from the James Fox as Lord Darlington all the way down to the individual housemaids. I wish my dining room looked that good!

• Stefan P

  
  This story focuses on two interesting characters, excellently played by Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. The story itself is rather insipid though, but manages to hold the interest up thanks to a few thoughtful subjects.

• Sarah B

  
  Interesting to see the workings of an aristocratic home and the doings of its servants, but that's it. everything else seems false, contrived and shoe-horned in.

• John A

  
  'The Remains of the Day' is indeed, a romance, but it is layered over such a range of topical issues to label it so abruptly would be an injustice to a marvellous sociological study. It is neither simple nor overtly romantic, but explores the blurred ambiguities between… More
  'The Remains of the Day' is indeed, a romance, but it is layered over such a range of topical issues to label it so abruptly would be an injustice to a marvellous sociological study. It is neither simple nor overtly romantic, but explores the blurred ambiguities between lines of good and evil, love and hate. The film is a series of flashbacks that observe the going-ons in Darlington Manor in the early 1930's, where butler Mr Stevens and housekeeper Miss Kenton, in between undertaking duties and keeping their heads beneath the occuring political talks, begin to fall in love. Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins are magnificent as the couple who repress their feelings for the sake of work, and the exemplary screenplay ensures they deliver on equal levels of believablity - her desperation and need for love uncover slowly and maturely as in reality, and his inability to express emotion, almost in any form, becomes a source of frustration even for himself. They have expert chemistry, providing scenes of intensity, thought and darkly amusing humour to highlight the growth of their relationship. The film also has quality production values, the bold score and elegant costume and sets really enhancing the authenticity of the era. The film captures how decision is always confusing, and only with hindsight can we realise the horror or sincere futility of our mistakes, however good or well-meaning our intentions once were. The director understands the complexities of human nature, and the ending - while almost falling into a dreaded trap and dragging for barely moments too long - highlights this complete sense of waste, regret and remorse a single choice can make of a lifetime. The film is subtle, intelligent and cares enough for its characters to deliver one of the best portraits of human behaviour I have seen in cinema. As a romance, it excels, but as an intense, human drama, it reaches the heights of greatness.

• Richard F

  
  Thematically strong, as it makes the audience question what choices they will make regarding what remains of one's life. The brilliant symbolism as well as the ending suggests that there are no easy answers.

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