Coram Deo ~

Looking at contemporary culture from a Christian worldview

Tag Archives: Jim Carter


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My Review of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, rated PG-13
*** ½

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is a pleasing ending to the television and film franchise about the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic servants in England. The film was directed by Simon Curtis (Downton Abbey: A New Era), and was written by Oscar winner Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park). It is the sequel to 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, and is the third, and presumably final, Downton Abbey film.
The film takes place in 1930, a year after the stock market crash, in London and Yorkshire. Long-time fans of the television series will be pleased to see most of the loved characters from the series returning (Dame Maggie Smith, to whom the film is dedicated, died in 2024). Continue reading →


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MOVIE REVIEWS and NEWS ~ My Review of WONKA

Wonka, rated PG
*** ½   

Wonka is the delightful musical comedy prequel to the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film starring Gene Wilder (1971). The film tells the original story of Willy Wonka. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s Wonka books, the film was directed by Paul King (Paddington, Paddington 2), and the screenplay was written by King and Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2).
Willy Wonka is played by Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name, Beautiful Boy). Willy’s mother, played by Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, Blue Jasmine), tells him that every good thing started with a dream. Willy travels the world, spending seven years finding the best ingredients and perfecting his chocolate making craft. Now he has come to a great city to open his own chocolate shop.
The main villains in the film are three powerful chocolate business owners – Slugworth, played by Paterson Joseph, Prodnose, played by Matt Lucas, and Fickelgruber, played by Matthew Banton. The three control the chocolate making in the city as well as the corrupt police force, led by the chief of police played by Emmy winner Keegan Michael Key (Key and Steele). Continue reading →


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My Review of DOWNTON ABBEY

Downton Abbey, rated PG
***

Downton Abbey, a well-made and acted big-screen version of the popular television series that includes some content concerns, takes place in 1927. The big news is that the King and Queen of England will be visiting Downton Abbey. King George V and Queen Mary will be spending a night at Downton during a royal tour of Yorkshire. While that is the main story, there are numerous subplots in the film.
The film is written by Oscar winner Julian Fellows (Gosford Park), and directed by three-time Emmy nominee Michael Engler (Downton Abbey, 30 Rock, Sex and the City). It features all that was loved in the television series – the beauty of the English countryside, the costumes, the abbey (Highclere Castle in real life), and most of all the characters; the nobility and the servants.
Mr. Thomas Barrow, played by Robert James-Collier, is now the butler, replacing Mr. Carson, played by four-time Emmy nominee Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), who is now retired.

***SPOILER ALERT*** Continue reading →