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A Handful Of Dust [1988]
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Tony's wife, Brenda (Kristin Scott Thomas), however, pines for London's excitement and commences an affair in the city with penniless aristocrat John Beaver (Rupert Graves). The fallout of Brenda's betrayal includes a family tragedy and creative divorce settlement ultimately undone when fed-up Tony goes on a naturalist trek through Brazil and becomes the hostage of a mad, illiterate explorer (Alec Guinness). One might wonder whether it's more appropriate to laugh or tremble at these events, and director Charles Sturridge's handsome, graceful production ingeniously accommodates the story's streaks of dark comedy and horror. With brief, memorable supporting roles for Anjelica Huston and Stephen Fry.----Tom Keogh
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Adapted from Evelyn Waugh's Jazz Age satire, A Handful of Dust is a brutal story of a failed marriage with shattering consquences. James Wilby stars as a country gentleman, Tony Last, who loves rattling around his expansive estate, Hetton Abbey.
Editorial
Product Description
Rupert Graves, Kristin Scott Thomas, James Wilby, Judi Dench, Alec Guinness "Don't let anyone tell you this isn't the best Waugh ever filmed. It is impeccable in looks, sentiment, locations, casting... everyone in the film is so good!" Alexander Walker - Evening Standard. Tony and Brenda Last (James Wilby and Kristin Scott Thomas) appear to be the perfect married couple - with money, a great country house and an adored son, John Andrew. When Tony inadvertently invites John Beaver (Rupert Graves), an idle and penniless young socialite, to stay for the weekend, he sets in motion a series of events which drastically disrupts the course of all their lives. Special Features 5.1 Sound Chapter/Scene Selection Director Commentary Star Biographies Trailer
Editorial
Synopsis
Tony and Brenda appear to have the perfect marriage - living in the fashionable England of the 30's in a Victorian country estate. But when Tony invites the dashing, yet penniless young socialite John Beaver for a weekend stay, he unknowingly ignites a series of shattering events - passion, infidelity, death. Based on Evelyn Waugh's 1937 novel. Academy Award Nominations: Best Costume Design.
Finely honed film about thoughtless interpersonal cruelty.
Review date: 2008-04-26 Rating: 8 out of 10
A great adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel about self absorbed people in relationships but oblivious to their partners feeling to the point of sadistic cruelty.
I wanted to kick Tony Last (James Wilbey) as he placidly accepts his wife's sudden decision to have a London flat, study economics whilst he remains in his beloved country house. Brenda Last (Kristin Scott Thomas) is of course having an affair with frankly boring self seeking penniless John Beaver (Rupert Graves), supported by his rather nasty mother (Judi Dench).
Highly recommended and absorbing film about people you would never want to know.
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Reviews
Doesn't quite make it
Review date: 2008-03-25 Rating: 6 out of 10
Other reviews of this film are quite polarised and I think I am the first to put it in the middle at 3 stars. I find it hard to pinpoint why it fails, but somehow the chemistry is just not there. The slow pace that works so well in Brideshead just feels slack. Good actors that don't do anything wrong, but simply don't ignite in any way. Arguably this reflects perfectly the hollowness of the dying upper-class system at the time, but it makes it really hard to care about any of the characters. The one who is the greatest "victim" - despite being a really nice man - is so dreadfully ineffectual that one even ends up feeling he deserves his fate, and so the emotional impact is lacking. But you might feel differently, so don't dismiss it out of hand. If you like period pieces, and enjoyed Brideshead, it might work for you.
A star stutted movie, great filming and style and still something was missing
Review date: 2008-01-03 Rating: 8 out of 10
It is one of those movies which capture the decadence of the British upper-class in the period before the WW II. In the centre of it all is a woman (Kristin Scott Thomas) who seems to have it all - a great husband, wealth, a title, a huge country house and a lovely child, but she longs for excitement and forgets what she has: the husband is boring, the country house ugly .... She goes for a penniless socialite and keeps him, till the money runs out. The child dies in an accident and the boring husband goes of to the jungles of Brazil only be kept there by a mad man in order to read to him. Declared dead the widow marries one of his friends and falls back on her feet. It is a strange story and especially the Brazil jungle bit a bit rich for my taste. All the actors - James Wilby, Kristin Scott Thomas, Rupert Graves, Anjelica Huston, Judi Dench and Alec Guinness - are superb and portray their characters to perfection. But oddly there is still something missing and it is very hard to boil sown what it is. It maybe partly the story itself, partly a certain sparkle is missing. It is no Gosford Park. So it is understandable that this movie does not make it and is largely forgotten. I still liked it, but it would be too much to declare it a hidden gem.
What was this all about
Review date: 2007-12-06 Rating: 4 out of 10
Almost two hours of complete rubbish.
Struggle to keep awake.
Save your money and watch the grass grow. More interesting.
Ted
Loved it!
Review date: 2007-06-17 Rating: 10 out of 10
I decided to watch this purely on account of the magnificent cast, not realising it was another Evelyn Waugh adaptation. Maybe if I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered because I absolutely HATED Brideshead Revisited.
But what a magnificent film: sensitively directed, beautifully shot and the amazing cast absolutely spot-on. The understated performances of James Wilby and Kristin Scott Thomas as the two doomed main characters are just perfect to make this strange story come to life. The stellar supporting cast all add up to a feast of fine acting.
In my opinion, AN UNDERRATED MASTERPIECE.
(If I could give it six stars out of five I would!)
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Jackson Kyle
Kristin Scott Thomas
Rupert Graves
James Wilby
Anjelica Huston
Creators:
Jackson Kyle (Primary Contributor)
James Wilby (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Prism Leisure
Manufacturer: Prism Leisure
EAN: 5050824167354
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2005-09-19
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 113 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1988-06-24
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Original Language)