The REMAINS OF THE Day is based on the pre-war days Britain and holds merit in being a material of significant insight; the drama between butler and head mistress or house keeper stands out. The movie became alive after the start of this film like a strange book; dialogue and screenplay. Feeling enchanted but certain appreciation to humans is well shot here by James Ivory. The director is acceptably in his element; to be alive. The humans all spent time and have offered their on screen space with us and this element makes this masterpiece worth noting and reviewing. Then the objective is certain because the direction has provided this window to view through. The actress and actor who are note worthy are the entire crew but an academy award is the sole left behind prospect. Must-watch for merit and being a worthy film to shoot.

Sir Anthony Hopkins brings dignity and poignancy to a role that most actors of his ilk may shun for fear of either being typecast or remembered poorly. James is a man who let himself be defined by his profession in a day and age where servants were noble and noblemen were fools.

Watch itIgnore this part im just writing down something so i can submit my review

As I turned the lights up in our TV room, my wife and I looked at each other and both said, "What was THAT??" In this case "that" was "The Remains of the Day," a story about a butler who has the range of emotions of Chance the Gardener in "Being There," and the personality of drying paint.Playing this role was a tough assignment, but give credit to Anthony Hopkins for pulling it off. Without his performance, this movie would be a complete stinker. With it, the movie is watchable, but still unsatisfying. The main problem is that the movie doesn't go anywhere. You know, the old "writing 101" business about beginning, middle, and end, and the concept that there ought to be a climax or resolution or something that pulls things together as you get to the final scenes.Instead, at the end you just scratch your head and wonder why you just spent 2+ hours watching this thing.If someone recommends this movie to you because your wife likes "Downton Abbey" (which is how we came to rent it), do yourself a favor and instead rent the very similar, and infinitely better film, "The Grand Budapest Hotel." It too has a "majordomo" at its center (a concierge at a hotel instead of a butler in a private residence), but the characters in that film are infinitely more interesting and compelling. That film is also told in flashbacks, but to much better effect. But the key difference is that the resolutions at the end are satisfying in all respects.What makes it so much better? One word: writing. It is simply much, much better-written.So, "The Remains of the Day" is way over-rated (nominated for a "best picture" Oscar which it most definitely did not deserve) and, except for Hopkins' performance, deserves no other accolades.