4. TOY STORY & TOY STORY 2 (1995/1999)
Anthony Hopkins delivers one of his greatest performances as the stoic and loyal butler, Stevens, in this encapsulation of the tension between duty and love. In many ways, this movie is the perfect complement to The English Patient, in which the protagonists eschew the external bonds of duty for their own private love. In Remains of the Day, Stevens subjugates all - including his affection for Emma Thompson's Miss Kenton - for the service he owes his somewhat undeserving master, Lord Darlington.
Merchant and Ivory have again captured the essence of a great work of literature, in this case the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. As you might expect, the sets and costumes are perfect. The imposing British manors and breathtaking dcor are enough to make you forget, for just a brief moment, the shambles that is The Empire today (the English Empire, not the Star Wars Empire).
This movie surfaces all the regret you may have ever felt in your life, and then it makes a mockery of it. Stevens has squandered his whole life in soul-crushing obeisance not so much to Lord Darlington as to his own notion of what it means to be the perfect gentleman's gentleman. The movie makes clear that Stevens is the consummate butler, revealing his almost clairvoyant capacity to anticipate what will be needed of him at all times.
Throughout the exposition of Stevens's skills, we see the affection between him and Miss Kenton flicker and then sputter, unattended. The ending is a poignant passage that is sure to jerk a tear or two; or it should if you care about your date going well.
Notes:
- Nominated for 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture... and won none
- Dj vu! Nominated for 5 BAFTA Awards and won none
