Restoration (1995)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Michael Hoffman

Writers (WGA):

Rose Tremain (novel)
Rupert Walters (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 February 1996 (Canada)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

In a world of seduction and power, temptation has its price.

Plot:

An aspiring young physician, Robert Merivel found himself in the service of King Charles II and saves the life of someone close to the King...

Plot Keywords:

King | Love | King Charles II | Court | Wealth

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Robert Downey Jr.	...	Robert Merivel
Sam Neill	...	King Charles II
David Thewlis	...	John Pearce
Polly Walker	...	Celia Clemence
Meg Ryan	...	Katharine
Ian McKellen	...	Will Gates
Hugh Grant	...	Elias Finn
Ian McDiarmid	...	Ambrose
Mary MacLeod	...	Midwife
Mark Letheren	...	Daniel
Sandy McDade	...	Hannah
Rosalind Bennett	...	Eleanor
Willie Ross	...	Man with Visible Heart
David Gant	...	Chiffinch
Benjamin Whitrow	...	Merivel's Father

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:7 | USA:R | Canada:A

Filming Locations:

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Avenue Pictures Productions

Trivia:

Composer James Newton Howard's main theme is based on "Sarabande" by Georg Friedrich Händel (ca. 1705).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A player at three-card monte reports speaks of being "even Steven". The earliest known records of both the game and the phrase are in the 19th century.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Opening Title Card: In 1660 Charles II was restored to the English Throne ending 11 years of Oliver Cromwell's bleak Puritan rule. Thus began the age of Restoration. It was an era of scientific discovery, artistic exploration and luxurious sensuality.
Opening Title Card: It was also a time of natural disasters and archaic medical practices. Science was pitted against superstition. This is the story of one man's journey through the light and dark of those times.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game K N B: (2007-03-03)" (2007)

Hidden Gem!

Restoration is one of the great overlooked gems of the 1990's. This movie is beautifully shot and competently directed. It is based closely on the original novel, and also reminds me of some of the more juicy excerpts from Samuel Pepys Diary. The use of real historical locations in Britain is inspired, for instance, the Fire of London and Cheapside market scenes were shot at Caerphilly Castle, the 13th-century moat doubling for the 17th-century Thames! Robert Downey gives a highly respectable performance as Merivel (and has an excellent British accent), but Meg Ryan is totally mis-cast, seeming very lost in some scenes. Sam Niell, I think, is probably the best casting for a British Monarch since Alec Guiness as Charles the First in Cromwell, and Dudley Sutton as James the First in Orlando. One of the best performances, however, comes from David Thewlis in support. His moving scenes with Downey at Tretower Court steal the movie. I worked as an extra on the movie, and some scenes for Pierce Brosnan's 'Crusoe' were shot back to back on the Cheapside market set. That movie has still to be released. 'Restoration' was filmed during 1994, and was delayed for release amid rumours of re-shooting scenes with Meg Ryan, and probable cold feet after the box-office difficulties with 'The Red Letter'.

This movie has not been given the credits it truly deserves, and is an excellent illustration of Court life and marriage politics during the reign of Britain's sexiest Monarch!