Remains of the Day: Special Edition

Although Anthony Hopkins would take home an Academy Award for his performance as an offbeat gourmand in Silence of the Lambs, he is arguably better in his Oscar-nominated turn as James Stevens, the perfect English butler, in this 1993 Merchant-Ivory production based on Kazuo Ishiguru's Booker Prize-winning novel. A heartbreaking story of innocence, ignorance, and misplaced loyalties, this critically lauded effort (it was nominated for eight statues and picked up none) traces the platonic (and yet…) relationship between Stevens and the new housekeeper Miss Sally Kenton (Emma Thompson), who are divided on the issue of allegiance to their employer Lord Darlington (James Fox), a German sympathizer in the appeasement days before the full-scale breakout of WWII. Featuring a handsome, vibrant transfer and a solid Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, this special edition also includes an audio commentary with Merchant, Ivory and Thompson; a new documentary retrospective with cast and crew (including co-stars Christopher Reeve and Hugh Grant), an HBO "making of," and six deleted scenes (including one wonderful scene with Hopkins breaking down that made absolute sense to cut, but is so emotionally satisfying to watch). Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)