Howards End (1992) Movie Drinking Game
Do a Shot: every time a scandal or secret is revealed.
Do a Shot: every time we see the Schlagel sword, in the foreground or background.
Take a Drink: every time the cinematography takes your breath away.
Take a Drink: for every mention of Howards End.
By: Movie Snurb (A Toast) –
Based on the E. M. Forster novel of the same name, Howards End tells the intertwining stories of two families; the Schlagels and the Wilcoxes. The matriarch of the Wilcox family, Ruth (Vanessa Redgrave), befriends Margret Schlegel (Emma Thompson). Ruth’s health begins to decline and while on her deathbed, after hearing about the Schlagels possibly losing their house, Ruth decides to bequeath their home Howards End to Margret. However, Margret is never notified of this. The Wilcox’s decide as a family to not tell Margret and keep Howards End. From there, these two families stories become even more intertwined, all centering around Howards End. Directed by the great James Ivory and starring: Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, and Helena Bonham Carter, it’s a marvelous film.
A Toast
This was my first time watching this film so I wasn’t watching this with the guise of Emma Thompson is a newcomer. I am watching this in 2021 knowing that Emma Thompson is a brilliant actor. However, in 1992 she was a relative no name. So, this film was her announcement to the world that we have a force of nature in Hollywood for years to come. Her character of Margret Schlagel feels timeless because of Emma’s performance but also in the way the character is written. Margret talks in a manner that no one, especially women, would talk in those times. She is intelligent, fiercely independent, empathetic, and almost unctuous with strangers. Emma’s portrayal of her is complex and grounded, and her smile could get her out of almost any situation. It’s easy to see why Henry (Anthony Hopkins) would not only fall for her, but proposed marriage to her in a way to almost keep her under his thumb but also have a bipartisan prosperous relationship. Emma Thompson’s Oscar win is easily one of the best wins for Best Actress.
On face value this film should be stuffy and a boring period piece drama. However, this remains a timeless film. The way the characters are written, or the performances by Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Anthony Hopkins, and Vanessa Redgrave make them all feel grounded and the dialogue isn’t lost in a specific time period. It’s timeless dialogue and performances, and for a film that is 29 years old, it looks like it was made yesterday. It is gorgeous to look at, every frame a painting, whether it is the English countryside, the downtown London flats, or inside the exquisite Howards End house. I wish I could’ve got my hands on a copy of Howards End on Criterion Blu-ray, but they are out of print. Although seeing the film now I don’t know how they could improve on the crispness of it.
The great James Ivory directs this film; he lends his tender hands to this film. James really understands what makes this story compelling and how to make each character complex. There is no character that you fully hate… well maybe Charles Wilcox. However, that is intentional by Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Ruth’s script is also surprisingly funny, mainly in the scenes between Margret and Helen, but also in the climax when Charles grabs the Schlagel family sword, which may be unintentional. Nonetheless, it is a great moment of physical comedy.
Verdict
Everything, from Ruth’s script, Ivory’s direction, every actor’s performance (specifically Emma Thompson), and the gorgeous cinematography, makes Howards End a timeless film. If I had to sum this film up in one word it would be: exquisite.
