Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Brideshead Revisited (2008) Directed by Julian Jarrold from the novel by Evelyn Waugh

"Sebastian and Charles contra mundum!" Sebastian Flyte, Lord Marchmain.

Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) is a poor student of history who wants to be an artist.  He attracts the attention of Sebastian Flyte (Ben Whishaw).  Sebastian, very gay, adopts him, and slowly, the two develop into lovers.  (Romantic or sexual is a question Waugh would like to leave open.)

Charles cannot help but notice Sebastian's determination to keep him away from the family.  Charles has no family, just a totally disinterested father (Patrick Malahide).  However, boredom erodes Sebastian's intentions, and he summons Charles to Brideshead, the family manse.

Charles is in love.  He loves Sebastian, he loves Brideshead, and he loves the art.  And he loves the family; perhaps not in and of themselves, but as a concept.  They loathe their codependent intertwinement, but Charles, unloved, sees it as appealing.

The Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson) does not disapprove of Charles and Sebastian, and sets the lad to "watch after" her son.  However, on a trip to Venice, Sebastian's father's (Michael Gambon) mistress (Greta Scacchi) warns him to be careful.  Their romance may be a phase to Charles, but is a life to Sebastian.  He may be hurt.

And he is, as Charles finds himself falling in love with Julia, (Hayley Atwell) Sebastian's sister.  This is Sebastian's greatest fear, and it drives him deeper into alcoholism.

Nor does Lady Marchmain let it stand; she invites Charles back to Brideshead...as Sebastian's friend.  She will countenance him as her son's homosexual lover, but not as her daughter's non-Catholic husband.

However, Ryder refuses to be used as Sebastian's jailor, and after supplying Sebastian the booze that fueled his scene at Julia's engagement announcement, Ryder is banished by the Lady.

Years pass.  Ryder becomes a celebrated artist.  He marries but the Flytes are still his first love so when Lady Marchmain asks him to go to Morocco to bring Sebastian back home, he goes, because no one else is more likely to reach him.

Sebastian is dying of booze.  He has a lover even more fragile than he.  It is good to take care of someone else for a change.  He refuses to come home, even when told his mother is dying.

Years pass, and Charles and Julia start an affair, determine to shed their respective spouses and try to find happiness together...however, the old enemy is still there...Catholic Guilt.

This tale is condensed, the story reduced to the bare bones.  They shine through the clearer for it, but the tale loses some of the richness in the trade.  Ryder is so hungry for a life that he did not have; privilege, attention, love, that he is seduced by the brother and seduces the sister.  Does it make him a bad person, or just horribly human?  I think it is a symptom of despair.  The despair that marks this work mirrors Waugh's own, a Catholic convert, and a homosexual.  A masterpiece of the human heart.

This review is, like the movie, Lean-N-Mean.  It weighs in at 500 words exactly.

Gay Movies:

La Mission***Burnt Money***8: The Mormon Propo$ition***In The Flesh***The Sensei***The 24th Day***Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon***ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction***East Side Story***Dorian Blues***Creatures From the Pink Lagoon***Satyricon***Ice Men***Richard O'Briens Rocky Horror Tribute Show***Prom Queen***The Kids are All Right***Between Love and Goodbye***The Mudge Boy***That Man: Peter Berlin***A Single Man***Almost Normal***Outing Riley***Outrage!***Law of Desire***Love is the Devil***Cowboy Junction***Horror in the Wind***Bedrooms and Hallways***Cut Sleeve Boys***Big Eden***For A Lost Soldier***Midnight Cowboy***Redwoods***The Massuer***Boy Culture***Breakfast With Scot***The Fluffer***Flesh***Little Ashes***L.I.E. ***Dorian Gray***9 Dead Gay Guys***Shank***I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry***Beautiful Boxer***Bangkok Love Story***Schoolboy Crush***Shelter***Back Soon***Dog Tags***Theft***The Mulligans***The Velvet Goldmine***Swashbuckler***Smoke Signals
***C'Thulhu***Milk***The Picture of Dorian Gray***Brideshead Revisited***Notes on a Scandal***RocknRolla***Mamma Mia!
***Priscillia: Queen of the Desert***The History Boys***Brokeback Mountain***The Broken Hearts Club*** Yaji and Kita: Midnight Pilgrims ***Surge of Power ***In & Out ***Mambo Italiano ***Touch of Pink ***To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar ***Wolves of Kromer ***Rocky Horror Picture Show ***Taboo ***Deathtrap 


Gay Themed Series:

Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Dante's Cove
Hex
Carnivale Season One
Carnivale Season Two
Rome Season One
Rome Season Two
True Blood
True Blood: Season Two
The Book of Daniel: The Complete Series
Torchwood: Children of Earth
Torchwood: Season One


Gay Animation:

Pirate's Booty***Sensitive Pornograph***Loveless: The Complete Series***Loveless: Hope on the Run***Loveless: Soul of Chains***Loveless: Lost and Found***Embracing Love: A Cicada in Winter***Embracing Love: Cherished Spring ***Stonewall & Riot***Drawn Together Movie: The Movie***Drawn Together: Season 2***Drawn Together: Season 3

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older