Downton Abbey: A New Era

Downton Abbey: A New Era

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.

  • Released: 2022-04-27
  • Runtime: 125 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, History, Romance
  • Stars: Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Robert James-Collier, Lesley Nicol, Allen Leech, Laura Carmichael, Phyllis Logan, Dominic West, Hugh Dancy, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Joanne Froggatt, Jim Carter, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, Penelope Wilton, Fifi Hart, Jonathan Coy, Samantha Bond, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Imelda Staunton, Harry Hadden-Paton, Rodrigo Saavedra, Matthew Goode, Tuppence Middleton, Douglas Reith, Oliver Barker, Zac Barker, Eva Samms, Megan Barker, Joanne Frogatt, Sophie McShera, Jeremy Swift, Sue Johnston, Jonathan Zaccaï, Charlie Watson, Archer Robbins, Eva Samms, Karina Samms, Alex McQueen, Paul Copley, Alex MacQueen, David Robb
  • Director: Simon Curtis
 Comments
  • cvttqnck - 26 December 2023
    Was this written by ChatGPT?
    The original series, while not perfect, had authentic writing, compelling plots, and fully developed characters. This sorry excuse for a movie, on the other hand, feels like the response to a ChatGPT prompt to write a script for a Downtown Abbey movie. Everything about it is dull, flat, predictable, perfunctory, silly, and utterly cliche. Movies are both works of art and commercial enterprises. The best ones make their commercial success on the merits of their art; the worst ones simply capitalize on already-beloved titles and characters to make a quick buck. This one certainly feels like the latter. The extent to which any reviewer gives this film more than two or three stars must be based entirely on a nostalgia for the characters developed over the course of the original television series, as the familiar names and faces are quite literally the only redeeming factors in this otherwise completely uninspired movie. As a fan of the original series, I'm left feeling duped. It's not uncommon for popular children's shows to make a quick buck by offering spin offs or "live" versions that lack any semblance of the beloved original save the name and branding; this same strategy, unfortunately, seems to have been used here.

    In short, if you're looking for a Downton Abbey fix, save yourself time and money, skip this dud, and just do a google search for a five minute Downton highlight reel. It's likely to have more artistic merit anyway.
  • thalassafischer - 24 April 2023
    A Little on the Fence About This
    I watched the entire Downton Abbey series and the first film and I just don't see why people are giving this such high praise. It lacks the darkness and complexity of the original tv drama, it's sort of like a cross between an Agatha Christie mystery and a Disney movie to be quite frank.

    All of us came back for the characters but honestly a person must be obsessed with the show to give this film a 10. It's entertaining and pleasant, has a few sad moments, but beyond the death of the matriarch (which we all knew was long coming) the entire script was pretty trite. The mystery bit was silly and the Hollywood scenes were fun.

    I think "I hope you will be as happy as our cruel world allows" was by far the most meaningful line, and the most meaningful scene that in which the maids tell the actress "you're one of us!"
  • misteremitchell - 2 January 2023
    An emotional end to a beautiful series.
    There isn't much Downton Abbey can get wrong and as the world around the classic home continues to change, one is treated to another amazing chapter in the lives of the Crawley family.

    Although this flick is styled as the next era / progression of the story, non of the elegance or charm has gone. From the start as we witness the happy scenes of Tom and Lucy's wedding through to the sad ending which concludes, so much is explored in the everyday goings on upstairs and down.

    One point that was missing however is the absence of Matthew Goode. After the struggles Mary went through to let go of Matthew and accept her feelings towards Henry, one cannot help but feel slightly disappointed in the outcome of their marriage. The real showstopper as always however is the Dowager Countess. Maggie Smith as the ever present Matriarch continues to entertain and impress with her strong wills but loving heart.

    With Violet's exit from the franchise, who knows what is next for this family that have grown so close to our hearts. However, if this is to be the conclusion, it is a very sweet, heart warming ending to what is the greatest and most regarded period drama of all time.
  • joebnow - 6 November 2022
    Only a curmudgeon could not love this film
    I kept putting A New Era off because the last Downton movie was fine but a little disappointing. I thought this one was delightful in every way. Maggie Smith was at her best, deserving of an Oscar nomination. But the entire cast was terrific. Of course, it is not believable. Who cares? We've grown to love these characters and want the best for them. It's a fairy tale and a perfectly delightful one. There certainly is an opening for the next generation, but this film ties everything up in a tidy bow. I think it has gone out on top with this one, and I'll miss them. Don't listen to the gripes: you'll laugh, you'll cry, but in the end m, you'll be sorry to see them go.
  • dgarciaconde2 - 4 September 2022
    Squeezing profits from old stories
    After having enjoined very much the series, the movie leaves you with mixed feelings. The movie keeps the standard of art direction and costume design that the series had, but lacks an interesting story, which makes it lose a lot of points. Looks like the producers wanted to cut all lose stories that the series left open but only using 120 min, so you start to run from one family to the other, up and down the stairs, closing what was left unfinished. Obviously it is imperative that you remember the characters in the series and their stories, if not, it's impossible to understand what is happening. Seems like the producers wanted to squeeze out more earnings from the series with the least of efforts. This could have been solved shooting a last season and it wouldn't be that bad.