- Director: Simon Curtis
- Actors : Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith
- Producers : Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge
- Writers : Julian Fellowes
- Studio : Universal Pictures Home Entertainment New Release
- MPAA rating : PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Country of Origin : UK
- Number of discs : 2
- Run time : 125 minutes
- Release date : July 5, 2022
When Downton Abbey began airing in 2010, it
became a surprise hit amongst audiences. Audiences eagerly awaited new episodes
of the historical drama set on the fictional Yorkshire country estate of
Downton Abbey during the early 20th century without the need for
action or excitement. While there was some spectacle in the setting and immaculate
period clothing, Downton Abbey’s primary selling point was the characters and
the slow-burn development of relationships. As the show ended, fans had a
feature film to look forward to, and three years later we have the follow-up
with Downton Abbey: A New Era. Although the sequel film doesn’t break much new
ground, despite the title, it is a welcome return and an excuse to spend more
time with beloved characters.
While the show
often depicted everyday life in Downton Abbey, primarily focusing on the relationships
between the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic servants, the movies
have had to be more plot driven. The first Downton Abbey film followed a royal
visit to the Crawley family's stately home, complete with an assassination
attempt, while A New Era separates the characters as some of the Crawleys take
a French vacation while the others remain at the estate as a film crew uses the
location for movie shoot.
The reason for
the trip to the south of France is Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith) discovering a
former lover has left her his estate with his passing. She is joined by her son
Robert (Hugh Bonneville), who begins to question the possibility of an unknown
brother. This melodrama plays out as Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery) stays
behind at Downton Abbey to welcome director Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy) and
becoming involved in the production when sound is suddenly required in his
film. This brings a series of obstacles that feel as though they have been
lifted from the plot of Singin’ in the Rain, sans music.
This drama plays
out with a number of relationships developing. With Mary’s husband Henry
missing from the picture (as Matthew Goode was unavailable to appear in the
film), there is a flirtation between her and Jack, though this is not nearly as
engaging as the relationship developed between head butler Thomas Barrow (Robert
James-Collier) and movie star Guy Dexter (Dominic West). The film production
also provides Joseph Molesley (Kevin Doyle) with new opportunities as he is hired
to write dialogue, bolstering his confidence enough to pursue his own romantic
interest.
Downton Abbey: A
New Era is simply a continuation of what has come before, despite several new
storylines. Enjoyment of the film is entirely dependent upon the enjoyment of
the show and past film. This is neither compliment or criticism, however. I was
glad to spend more time with these characters and felt A New Era did them justice
but can’t imagine it will make new fans of the show.
The Blu-ray release
of Downton Abbey: A New Era also comes with a DVD and digital copy of the
movie, along with a handful of fan-service special features. There is a making-of
featurette and several additional promotional featurettes. The best of the
extras is a feature commentary track with director Simon Curtis.
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 6/10
Special Features: 6.5/10
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