Written by Sam Clark
Certificate: 12A
Running time: 123 minutes
Director: Simon Curtis
The main battle and issue with any TV show that is turned into a film, especially a show as big as Downton Abbey, is the change in format. What I mean by this, for example, is turning six seasons of roughly ten episodes which are fifty to sixty minutes long into one film (those figures are just an rough estimate). As a result, characters are not given the same amount of detail and attention for the film as they would have in the show, as you have to condense things down quite drastically. Not only was that one battle for me going into this, but also the fact that I have not even seen the show to begin with, nor do I have any idea who these characters are or the conflicts/drama they are involved in. The fact that I am starting with the film is therefore tricky, but I could only do so much. I did however watch the last two films in preparation for this as that was all I could do.
It is here I would fill you in on the context, but since the show finished years ago and we are on the third and final film, I imagine those who care enough are all caught up. Simon Curtis returns to direct here having helmed the previous, as well as the shows creator Julian Fellows who writes the script once again. The story here, takes place in 1930, and is the concluding story of the Crawley family. In typical Downton fashion, there is not too much at stake regarding the plot, but does involve gossip and drama I would say. Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery) is undergoing a very public divorce in which she is all but shunned from society which was a much bigger deal back then as it is today. The film explores how it is the family must deal with this, both personally and socially, and how much it impacts their image and reputation.
Image credit: IMDb/Rory Mulvey/Focus Features
Not only are they faced with one dilemma, but due to financial circumstances beyond their control (that is if you actually believe people in this position experience such a thing), they are suddenly forced to sell the abbey and begin the next step in their journey. Hugh Bonneville returns as Robert Crawley (Earl of Grantham), alongside his wife Cora Crawley (Countess of Grantham) played by Elizabeth McGovern, as well as the usual cast. My feeling on the first two films, purely as an outsider, is that they felt very safe in which virtually nothing was at stake, I gather that the show is similar and I understand that this is the point.
The main issue I have had with quite large portions of the last two is how you are meant to sympathize with the difficulties the family undergoes, and just how much of it is first world problems of the rich and powerful to whom we are supposed to sympathize with. I found the first in 2019 more bearable than I had anticipated, but began to take issue with the sequel. They make it a plot point that the abbey's roof is leaking, and the more they complain about it, the more it rubbed me the wrong way and the less I (again) sympathized. If that wasn't annoying enough, Maggie Smith's character all of a sudden reveals she has some kind of ownership of a villa in France for which they can just escape to, which did just feel like the ultimate slap in the face and rubbed extra salt into the wound. Here, we are again supposed to believe the family are having ''financial difficulties'', and I just could not get with it one bit.
In hindsight, how you feel about Downton Abbey does also relate to how you feel about the royal family in real life too. I also fully accept that I am not the target demographic. As is entirely on brand and expected, the show and films does consist of posh people engaging in activities you typically expect; sitting in lavish homes and rooms sipping tea. If you like that sort of thing, you'll be right at home. Ultimately, I would say that the films have just rolled into one for me and are just the same film. The Grand Finale proved to be the flashiest and most pristine, which is perfectly fitting for the final outing. Since I have no previous experience with the show, you are probably wondering how I am in the position to say that. My mother has seen the show and the films, and was kind enough to fill me in on what I needed to know.
More importantly however, her feelings on the film was what I needed. She was perfectly satisfied with how everything was wrapped up here, so her perspective is all you need to know. One of my biggest takeaways from this was that I got a far stronger sense of just how prestigious this lifestyle was in a way I haven't quite for the others. We take a trip to a horse race with the family and it's here I understood everything the most. Every single character as far as the eye can see is dressed immaculately from head to toe, walking in slow motion. We see a crowd of people make way for the family, bowing in their presence.
It is here that I truly got the sense of not only luxurious power and wealth, but also a sprinkling of intimidation, even though this is not the intention. Needless to say, it does show off the most from what I have seen so far. Despite the film delivering exactly what I expected, I'm afraid to say that I wasn't able to fully invest in anyone emotionally by the end, for obvious reasons. I do not feel the need to visit the show in any capacity, but from the general reaction I have seen, the fans are happy; and I am for them.
In cinemas now.
