Director: Simon Curtis
Starring: Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Paul Giamatti
‘A Beautiful Period Piece’
Few television shows have built a legacy as powerful as Downton Abbey. Since its 2010 introduction, Julian Fellowes’ television series about aristocratic families has achieved recognition. On a personal level, I find the show about British families to be relatable. Many years ago, I formed a strong bond with a grandmother that was a fan of the television show. Raised during an age of innocence, she appreciated a television show about families seeking guidance. Fond of the Crawley family, she was drawn towards the sense and sensibility of a TV show impacting her identity. She loved spend ing the remains of the day seeing a television series she regarded to be practically perfect in every way. My grandma always took pride rather than prejudice in a show that left her satisfied. Like Lady Mary, she was a strong woman adored by my family. Shining bright light in darkness, Downton Abbey always gave my grandmother strength to cope with terminal illness. Even when her health began to deteriorate, she never lost interest in shows about an estate. Her wish was to one day finish seasons of the British television show she had grown to cherish. However, the barrier of Cancer brought my grandmother’s dreams to a closure. Sadly, my grandmother passed away before she had a chance to see the finale of a show she loved in every way. A crushing blow, my grandma’s death made me lose interest in my favourite show. Following my grandmother’s passing, it became hard to watch a series I no longer found inspiring. Years later, I treasure a series which reminds me of my beloved grandmother.
As someone treasuring a grandmother that loved Downton Abbey in every way, I adored “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”. Released in 2025, Simon Curtis’ movie honoured the show’s legacy. Packed with breathtaking sets, engaging storytelling and strong acting, it’s a beautiful period piece. At the centre of it all is Michelle Dockery, who embodies Lady Mary. Although “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is entertaining, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing. Nevertheless, it will satisfy fans of the series.
Based on the television series, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” follows a wealthy family facing a price to pay. Michelle Dockery portrays Lady Mary, an aristocratic woman with authority. Assisted by her father Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), Mary has always thrived at managing her family’s property. However, Mary’s life forever changes when she faces a divorce causing disaster. Faced with a scandal, Mary struggles to protect her family’s name. Experiencing anxiety, Lady Mary questions future of Downton Abbey.
Simon Curtis has always been fascinated with television series about British families. His iconic movie “Downton Abbey: A New Era” captured the Crawley family struggling surviving in a new era. With “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”, however, Curtis creates his first series finale. It’s the filmmaker’s first attempt to conclude a legendary television series about a British family, but he succeeds. Evoking Joe Wright’s “Pride & Prejudice”, Curtis uses montages to capture bonds between a British family with pride and prejudice. For instance, montages enhance the divorce scandal scene. During this memorable scene, Lady Mary seeks support from her parents when she is accused of divorce at a dinner party. It brought back fond memories of my bond with a grandmother that adored a television series about a British family. Montages are tricky. As James Cameron’s “Titanic” suggested, montages elevate disaster movies about shipwrecks. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Curtis honours a series that’s inspiring.
Another admirable aspect of “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” that merits appreciation is the production. Evoking Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out”, Curtis effectively uses set-design of a mansion to capture dysfunctional families facing a decline. Throughout the movie, the Downton Abbey mansion plays a crucial role in capturing families facing tension. For instance, the production of the mansion elevates the family dinner scene. During this unforgettable scene, Lady Mary has a business meeting with her family to discuss her responsibilities. It reminded me of my grandmother’s strong devotion towards caring for her household whose presence my family always appreciated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. John Lunn’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that British families bear. Through stunning production, Curtis honours television.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is a television adaptation that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the lives of families facing tension. Evoking James Ivory’s “The Remains of the Day”, Curtis uses scenes of silence to capture a family mourning loss of relatives over remains of a day. For instance, silence elevates the final farewell scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Robert Crawley bids emotional farewell to his precious Downton Abbey estate after years of service. Through silence, Curtis creates a portrait of grief that audiences can easily relate to. It reminded me of my grief when my beloved grandmother I had always appreciated passed away leaving my family emotionally devastated. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Ang Lee’s “Sense & Sensibility” suggested, silence elevates Jane Austen adaptations. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Curtis honours a series today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Michelle Dockery delivers one of her best career performances as Lady Mary. Dockery achieved appreciation playing the iconic character in the television series. With “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”, however, she took on her most complex role. It is not easy to portray a divorced woman that struggles to care for her family but she succeeded tremendously. Evoking Michelle Pfeiffer in Martin Scorsese’s “The Age of Innocence”, Dockery portrayed an aristocratic woman that struggles to survive in an age of innocence With riveting expressions, she captures the anxiety, desperation and grief of an upper-class woman. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated British actresses working today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Dockery, the supporting cast is also spectacular and worthy of appreciation. Hugh Bonneville is brilliant, capturing the hardships that the wealthy owner of an estate must go through. Paul Giamatti is phenomenal, capturing the reckless personality of a landowner that makes mistakes affecting the destiny of his family. Lastly, Laura Carmichael merits appreciation. As the Crawley sister, she is unforgettable.
Despite its extraordinary performances, however, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” can’t quite honour a British television series that is beloved today. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Curtis’ decision to integrate subplots about crime scandals into the movie is bold but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty decision, scenes capturing Sambrook’s criminal activities are less engaging than the Crawley family’s journey finding identity. As Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” suggested, subplots involving crime elevate classic gangster movies. Moreover, the film lacks a compelling ending. It’s an ambiguous finale without clear resolution that fails to honour the television show. Therefore, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” falters.
Nevertheless, fans of the beloved television series will definitely enjoy “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” and so would movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A beautiful period piece, it honoured a beloved British television series.
A fantastic farewell towards a beloved television series about British families seeking to care for a wealthy estate, it’s a riveting reminder that famous television shows that captivate are worth adapting into movies that audiences appreciate.
As strong as Lady Mary’s desire to take care of Downton Abbey, it has motivated me to move on in life several years after the heartbreaking death of my grandmother I loved dearly that left my family devastated by cherishing joyous memories of a relative that inspired me to turn my dreams of film criticism into reality.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 