Restoration

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Jelisije J A well written heartfelt human story of a young doctor desiring more in life and discovering the gift that other praised him for when he is disposed by the King of England. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Nawt W In the opening hour, the film maintains such a brisk pace that it alters the potential of being a splendid period piece into a somewhat extravagant melodrama. The unmistakable touch of British filmmakers is evident, as only they would possess such reverence for their monarch. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/28/24 Full Review Steve D Melodramatic and unconvincing. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Taylor L "We are all mere pawns." "Mmm ... prawns, yes." For a relatively little-known film, Restoration has one incredibly stacked cast - Robert Downey Jr., Ian McKellen, David Thewlis, Hugh Grant, Meg Ryan, Sam Neill, and Ian McDiarmid among them, many in the prime of their recognizability. There are glimmers of the charisma that would lead RDJ out of the informal blacklist of once-promising actors that started to "become unreliable". The set dressing is nice, really conveying the sumptuousness of the time when England was still a true monarchy in an age of decadence. But the film really falls apart in two major areas - casting and story. Neill really does not make a lot of sense as King Charles II, there's some pomp but he just doesn't fit the gold-threaded jackets very well; likewise Meg Ryan is pretty out of place in her role (and it doesn't help that the character really is a loose thread in the narrative). At first a jaunty ride through the royal misdeeds of the English court, promising melodrama and laughs in equal measure, the film gradually slides into a disappointing character study and moral redemption arc that is both unsubstantial and unexciting, capped off by a surprisingly cheery king-ex-machina that turns the Great Fire of 1666 into a neatly trussed-up conclusion with no elements of moral grayness. Restoration looks nice and has a lot of faces you'll be familiar with, but it struggles to find an actual purpose. When RDJ is allowed to be funny, this film shows promise; when he's supposed to be learning some sort of lesson, there's less to like. (2/5) Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/13/22 Full Review Audience Member The worst 01 hour: and 58 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review jon c A superb cast containing Robert Downey, Jr. Sam Neill, Meg Ryan, David Thewlis, Ian McKellen, Hugh Grant, and Ian McDiarmid. Based on the book of the same name Downey, Jr. is a medical student Robert Merival in the 17th century England. Neill is King Charles II restored to his throne in 1660 after 11 years of Oliver Cromwell's Puritan rule. He wants his help saving a dog from certain death. In return he grants him residence in his royal court. There's another angle though; if Robert marries one of Charles' mistresses Celia they must never be intimate with one another. The plague then hits so he scrambles to heal the sick and falls for a less wealthy woman Katharine played by Meg Ryan abandoned by her husband. Now Robert gets a taste of the less glamorous side of things. She and others are the special needs individuals so to speak so his belief his curing them with dancing, music, singing rather than relying on brutal medicinal methods. The costume designs and the art direction are some of the best here. They got every detail of the hair styles to the architecture to the music of the era. A plethora of golden palaces, wardrobe, and wealth. The restoration was a time booming in scientific discovery, artistic exploration, and medicine. But also a big point for heightened, luxurious sensual attraction next to big natural disasters and archaic medical practices. Science itself butted against superstition. This is Robert's personal journey making it through the light and dark. He loses his way but discovers himself in the process. He goes from ordinary to rich to poor. The life he had then lost may just be his own restoration. Fear is our greatest enemy, hope is our best weapon, medicine may not be enough there are other ways to heal people, sometimes the things we love do not love us in return Downey is amazing here. The other players give it their all. The music is elegant. The rich colors are vibrant. It goes on a little longer than usual but it transports you to a beautiful era full of elegance and shine. The world can be healed with more if we give it more. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Restoration

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