January 17, 2006

Llama Netflix Movie Review

Restoration (1995). Charles II (Sam Neill), in order to placate one mistress, decides to stash another mistress in the country. In order to perfect the cover, he marries this second mistress to a gifted but dissipated young doctor (a type-cast Robert Downey Jr.). The doctor is granted a title, an estate and riches and the only condition Charles places on him is that he can't touch the woman. Of course the doctor immediately falls for her.

One word review: Meh.

I was expecting this to be a romp through the world of 17th Century court politics and intrigue. (I recall this is how the flick was pitched when it came out.) While it starts out that way, it suddenly takes a turn toward dark mawkishness when the doctor is stripped of his position after having an ill-considered go at the girl. Cast out with nothing, he has to find himself again. (See? "Restoration." Get it? Get it?) This he does with the aid of a stout Quaker friend and a mad Irishwoman (Meg Ryan), but not before the madwoman dies in childbirth (it's never quite explained how the doctor shifts his affections so quickly), the plague ravages London and Cheapside burns to the ground. Oh, and the doctor saves his pretend-wife's life, thus causing Charles to restore him to his former grand position.

Redeeming aspect of the film: Seeing Gandalf and Emperor Palpatine together.

BONUS MUSICKAL RANT: Sorry, I can't resist this. The action of the movie begins in 1663. Yet the music accompanying the opening credits and the beginning of the story is from the semi-opera King Arthur, composed by Henry Purcell with libretto by John Dryden. That piece didn't premier until 1691. (Indeed, Purcell was only born in 1659.)

Interestingly, Charles himself died in 1685 and was succeeded on the throne by his brother James II. However, James' hamfisted efforts to turn England back to Catholicism promptly got him chased out of the kingdom during the Glorious Revolution of 1688, being replaced by his (Protestant) daughter Mary and her husband Willam of Orange. This caused some hasty rewriting by Purcell and Dryden, who had been planning King Arthur for James' eyes and ears. Dryden, at least, was reported none too pleased at having to rejig the piece for the benefit of Dutch William.

(Incidently, the Wikipedia entry for the Glorious Revolution evidently was written by a Jacobite sympathizer. I find this very amusing.)

Posted by Robert at January 17, 2006 09:01 AM | TrackBack
Comments

If you want 17th century costume drama, find "The Draughtsman's Contract" and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. None of that "meh" will be forthcoming.

Posted by: Mike at January 17, 2006 01:36 PM

Added to the queue. Thanks for the tip!

Posted by: Robbo the LB at January 17, 2006 03:21 PM

Not interesting in and of itself, but it was an eerie foreshadowing of Robert Downey Jr.'s fall from grace and restoration. And another fall. And...

Posted by: Chrees at January 17, 2006 06:27 PM

It has Professor Lupin, too!

Posted by: The Unabrewer at January 17, 2006 09:28 PM

I was also going to suggest the Draughtsman's Contract! Though it's a bit dark and creepy, it is an interesting mystery and much more interesting than Restoration (which also left me underwhelmed).

Finally, if you want something lighter but unique and very entertaining set in a similar (not quite) era, get "The Emperor's New Clothes." No, don't confuse it with the Disney animated talking llama film (which you'd probably also enjoy) "The Emperor's New Groove", but the one with the always delightful Ian Holm as Napoleon. The film looks at an alternate history where Napoleon escapes from Elba to reclaim his position, except that nobody recognizes or believes him. Great, great story.

Posted by: Night Writer at January 17, 2006 10:30 PM

Night Writer - I'd heard of that flick but had been hesitant. Maybe this is a good time to try it out. And Ian Holm is worth watching no matter what he's in.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at January 17, 2006 11:18 PM