Movie No. 75 (2013): HOWARDS END

Howards End (1992)
Director: James Ivory
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Vanessa Redgrave

The film is based on E.M. Forster's 1910 novel. In a fluid script, the films clearly presents the  hypocrisy and clash of classes in the Edwardian society, and the 'fight' over the ownership of the manor at Howards End.

I didn't read the book. I might read it in the future. It's a good thing that I haven't read it yet because the film version, for me, is already a masterpiece. People will always say the book is better. Of course, the book is always better since it has the details and moods that simply can't be translated into the film medium; or, even if such details can be put in the film adaptation the film can't be better because of extended running time.

Anthony Hopkins (as Mr. Henry Wilcox) did a great job as the pretentious and scheming widower of the rich mistress (Vanessa Redgrave) of the country manor at Howards End who, out of guilt, marries the mistress' friend (Emma Thompson, as Margaret Schlegel) who doesn't know that she inherited the manor from the mistress. The greedy children of the Wilcoxes destroyed the will that Mrs. Wilcox wrote in her dying bed. Helena Bonham Carter (as Helen Schlegel) is the headstrong sister of Margaret who had a past with one of the sons of the Wilcoxes.

Emma Thompson seemed to have understood Margaret Schlegel very well. The depth of feeling and right emotions (as response to the turn of events) that she brings to the character  is more than enough to deserve the many Best Actress awards she won for her performance in the film that year, including Academy Awards. The other two (Academy) awards won by the film were for art direction and screenplay, also for obvious reasons (if you saw the film).

Rating: 4.0/4.0

Date seen: April 1, 2013