Restoration
Restoration
R | 29 December 1995 (USA)
Restoration Trailers

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.

Reviews
Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some
Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!
Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Kirpianuscus Its beauty is special. because it is defined by acting and photography and locations and plot. faithful to the novel, it is a travel across the England of Charles II Stuart in admirable manner. nothing surprising. only few revelations. Sam Neil is one of more expressive. and Robert Downey - new confirmation of his art. a film about the transformation of a man. touching. but with deep roots. so, a little gem.
TxMike The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is very often used to cover the whole reign of Charles II (1660–1685) and often the brief reign of his younger brother James II (1685-1688).So during this period it follows mostly the life of a young physician who falls into the favor of the King, then out again. The young physician is Robert Downey Jr. as Robert Merivel. The King picks him to care for his kennel of dogs after saving his dearest dog that was sick. This was not a preferred career path but you didn't say "no" to the King.The King is Sam Neill as King Charles II, and eventually as his affair with a woman begins to get attention, he decides to marry her to Merivel and send them away to their own private estate. Merivel was NOT to have any relations with his bride, but save her for the King's visits.The fly in that ointment was Merivel begins to fall in love with her, and the King not happy with that turn of events evicts him. So he has to knock around, eventually getting the chance during the great plague of London in 1664 to 1666 to practice medicine again. One he saves there is Meg Ryan as Katharine, thought my most to be insane but she just had deep fears motivating her strange behavior.This is an old movie, Downey Jr. was not even 30 yet when it was filmed. To me it started a bit slow but eventually picked up and the story is very interesting.
ccthemovieman-1 Mainly a biography of a lustful doctor, "Robert Merivel ," (Robert Downey) who has his way in the king's palace for the first half of the film and then helps out the downtrodden in the second half, mainly "Katharine" (Meg Ryan).The GOOD - Fantastic set decoration (i.e. the lush king's palace) and costuming make this a visual treat. The language is also very tame. Ian McKellen and Hugh Grant provide interesting support.The BAD - After 50-60 minutes, this movie simply gets too boring. It desperately needed to be given some spark after an hour but it does the opposite: it drags on and on. The script certainly needed some badly-needed "restoration," shall we say? The film may look nice but it's a long two hours to sit through.....too long.
haroldnmaude I'm not sure we saw the same movie and I'm puzzled.This is a tremendously rich, emotional film, very true to Rose Tremain's novel, and just wonderful.The casting is divine, and I thought Meg Ryan was fine as Catherine.Charles II is my favorite English monarch and Sam Neill portrayed him just as I pictured him.Robert Downey was Marivel to a T, as was David Thewliss as Pierce.The costumes and scenery were magnificent -- from the palace to the countryside and back -- and those fabulous Spaniels running through the palace and environs was just how I'd pictured England's most enlightened monarch's place to be!How anyone can find this movie to be anything less than a gem is beyond me.
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