Downton Abbey: A New Era is the second film based on the original series, which I loved and is miles away better than the first film, which I have to say I did like quite a bit. If you’re a fan of the series, you won’t be disappointed as this hits all the beats that have made the series an endearing favorite. The film is utterly delightful, full of emotional moments, and the excellent costume and production design we are accustomed to with the franchise.
The sequel tells two stories simultaneously as one half of the Crawley family goes on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the Dowager Countess’s newly inherited villa. In contrast, the other half entertains a film crew who is shooting a silent film at Downton.
While I enjoyed the first film, given my love for the series, I felt that it was the equivalent of an extended episode similar to the Christmas specials. This, however, had a much more cinematic style. Much of that has to do with Simon Curtis directing this time around, as he replaced Michael Engler, who directed the first and is primarily a TV director. Curtis directed My Week with Marilyn, which I liked, and given that part of the film’s plot involved filmmaking at Downton, those moments are where he excelled the most.
The script is once again written by Julian Fellowes, who created the series, and you can tell he truly loves these characters and didn’t make this just for cash-grab purposes. He chose to tell two storylines, and I loved how he balanced both, giving each equal importance. He incorporated filmmaking into the storyline, and as a cinephile, I ate that up and loved its inclusion. I loved seeing a film being made inside of a movie, and he has a great nod to Singin’ in the Rain in regards to how hard it was for some actors to transition from silent films to sound. The callback to Singin’ in the Rain is one that cinephiles will catch immediately and appreciate. John Lunn’s iconic score is used so effectively that it always puts a smile on my face.
While I feel the first film gave her a perfect send-off, I’m not mad to see Maggie Smith return as she’s my favorite character. She is a scene-stealer once again, with Fellowes giving her excellent zingers. Her role is more minor this time around but essential as always.
Michelle Dockery was born to play Lady Mary. She’s had better performances, but I love her in this role. Her arc in this film was one I liked a lot and might be one of the best things Fellowes has ever given her character. Her growth in taking more responsibility is significant to see. Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern as Robert and Cora are still such a great pairing, having great chemistry and bringing the best out of each other. Some of the film’s more emotional scenes involve them, and they both rose to the occasion like the veterans they are.
Kevin Doyle gave my favorite performance in the film as Mr. Moseley, who was my spirit animal. They made him a cinephile in the movie, and I lived to see his passion for cinema. His excitement reminded me of me, and I feel this was the best use as he was so intricate to the story in a way I wasn’t expecting.
It’s always fun to spend time with the kitchen staff, with standouts being Jim Carter as Carson and Robert James-Collier as Thomas. Collier’s character development has always been my favorite in the show, as being gay in that period couldn’t be easy. When the show started, I hated his character, and I loved his character by its end. His storyline in the film was good because it gave some happiness to a character who’s been through a lot. Imelda Staunton, who got introduced in the first film, gets a lot more to do this time around, and she’s simply one of those British character actors who can shine in any role. She usually plays more villain roles, so it’s great to see her in this role that sees her having fun and being charming.
Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, and Dominic West are welcomed additions to the cast and fit in perfectly into this world. Haddock was my favorite of the three, playing the role to perfection of a bitchy hotshot actress full of herself. I always forget that West is British due to his work on The Wire, so it was great to see him use his natural accent. He is a complete charmer in this, and he has some touching scenes opposite Collier. As the film director within the film, Dancy is excellent, and I loved his chemistry with Dockery. It almost makes you wish the series had brought him along during its original run, as he has a perfect look to play one of her suitors.
If I had one nitpick, is that the main storyline of the film regarding a villa didn’t intrigue me as much as the filmmaking aspect did. So while I feel Fellowes gave both storylines their share of importance, I think the film slows down at times when it transitions to those scenes. That might not be an issue for most, but being a big fan of filmmaking as a storytelling device, I wanted more of it.
Overall, I can’t wait to rewatch this film, and I’m so happy that Fellowes and the cast are open to coming back for a third film because I love spending time with this cast, and I’ll gladly join them for another evening of royal debauchery.
