Miramax
Not part of a collection.
Restoration
An ordinary man, an irresistible offer. In a world of seduction and power, temptation has its price.
An aspiring young physician, Robert Merivel found himself in the service of King Charles II and saves the life of someone close to the King. Merivel joins the King's court and lives the high life provided to someone of his position. Merivel is ordered to marry his King's mistress in order to divert the queens suspicions. He is given one order by the king and that is not to fall in love. The situation worsens when Merivel finds himself in love with his new wife. Eventually, the King finds out and relieves Merivel of his position and wealth. His fall from grace leaves Merivel where he first started. And through his travels and reunions with an old friend, he rediscovers his love for true medicine and what it really means to be a physician.
- Original title
- Restoration
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- $19,000,000
- Revenue
- $4,005,941
CinemaSerf
Nov 23, 2024 · via TMDB
"Merivel" (Robert Downey Jnr.) is an aspiring doctor who just happens to be in the right place at the right time. Charles II (Sam Neill) has just been restored to Britain's post-Cromwellian thrones and is rather fond of his spaniel. It's poorly, the doctor makes it better and next thing he's enjoying the life of a libertine at the king's court. Now the king has a reputation as a bit of a Lothario, so he decides to get his favourite physician to marry one of his mistresses so as to turn the heat down a little. The only stipulation is that he isn't to fall in love with "Celia" (Polly Walker) but you can guess how successful that strategy proves. Furious, what the king giveth he can taketh away, and promptly "Merivel" is out on his ear - just as plague sweeps the country. Perhaps salvation might come in the form of wench "Katharine" (Meg Ryan)? At times it's bawdy fun, but for the most part it's just a rather dull interpretation of life at a legendarily vibrant and debauched court that's all too devoid of fun. Downey embraces the character to an extent, but I felt he relied way too much on the design (production and costume) to present his persona or to really show us how seriously he took his profession. Sam Neill is just plain wooden as the mischievous king and though the ensemble cast enter into the spirit of the film with varying degrees of enthusiasm, even this familiar array of British thesps can't make this sow's ear into a silk purse. History tells us that though Charles II was undoubtedly a ladies' man, he was also quite a philanthropist and had the writers tried to raise this above the level of a latter day "Carry On" film, we could have put some more meat on the bones of a story about people at a crossroads in history. There's some period Henry Purcell to be found amidst the soundtrack and it does look great, but somehow it just doesn't deliver.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Merivel
Meg Ryan
Katharine
Sam Neill
King Charles II
David Thewlis
John Pearce
Hugh Grant
Elias Finn
Polly Walker
Celia Clemence
Ian McKellen
Will Gates
Ian McDiarmid
Ambrose
Willie Ross
Man with Visible Heart
Benjamin Whitrow
Merivel's Father
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
Mr. Bung
Andrew Havill
Gallant
Tony Gardner
Gallant
David Ryall
Lord Bathurst
Mark Letheren
Daniel
Sandy McDade
Hannah
David Gant
Chaffinch
Bryan Pringle
Watchman
John Quarmby
The Chancellor
Selina Giles
Fair Lady
Nicholas Hutchison
Pinworth
Jenny Runacre
Painted Lady
Anna Savva
Celia's Maid
Frank Rozelaar-Green
Whittlesea Dancer
Oliver Stapleton
Director of Photography
David Appleby
Still Photographer
James Acheson
Costume Design
Michael Hoffman
Director
Bob Weinstein
Co-Producer
Harvey Weinstein
Co-Producer
Cary Brokaw
Producer
James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer
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Witness for the Prosecution
Stolen Baby: The Murder of Heidi Broussard
Like Stars on Earth
Annaluise & Anton
Anatomy of a Murder
Primal Fear
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Giant
Sleepers
Harold and Maude
Jules and Jim
Control
The Rules of the Game
Trouble in Paradise
A Time to Kill
Match Point
A Man for All Seasons
The Magnificent Ambersons
To Catch a Thief
2046
The King
Melancholia
Broken Embraces
This Boy's Life
Verdammt die jungen Sünder nicht
Das Siegel Gottes
Contempt
The Science of Sleep
The Isle
The Moonraker
Election
The Jacket
The Baby of Mâcon
The Great Love
Chinese Coffee
Welcome to the Sticks
Brother of Sleep
The Last Wave
Dying Young
Charlie Bartlett
Bull Durham
In the Realm of the Senses
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Witness for the Prosecution
Dog Days
La malquerida
All the Money in the World
A Royal Night Out
Piccadilly
In My Dreams
The World, the Flesh and the Devil
Fanny Lye Deliver'd
I ♥ Huckabees
Parole Girl
New York Stories
Vatel
Lowlands
Queen of Earth
The Libertine
I Love You, I Don't
A Girl Cut in Two
The Countess
Swimming Instructor
Married Life
Deep Water
Nichts als Gespenster
Liar, Liar
Death Clique
Victoria the Great
Marquise
Vixen!
The Alcove
The Roommate
Berlin is in Germany
Fast and Loose
Farewell, Home Sweet Home
The Jealous Sea
Neljä naista
Three of Hearts
Words of Devotion: To the End of the World
Summer
Wildfire
The Cool Surface
Scandal: Lawful Entry
Slope
Pure Air of the Mountain: For All and None
Fly High Little Hearts
Landscape with Linen
The Piano Player
The Ballad of the Sunset Kid
Moliére
The Possessed
Dead End
Gabriel's Inferno: Part II
Maurice
Your Fault: London
Winter Spring Summer or Fall
Dangerous Liaisons
Dangerous Beauty
Lady Jane
Queen Christina
Madame Bovary
Valmont
On the Edge
The Wings of the Dove
Sunday Bloody Sunday
The Scandalous Lady W
Time Is Up
Tulip Fever
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Sylvie's Love
The Edge of Love
Fire with Fire
Anna Karenina
In Secret
Newness
London
Angel Eyes
Maria's Lovers
Dot the I
The Golden Bowl
The Libertine
The Man from Elysian Fields
Dec 29, 1995
