Julian Fellowesis a British actor, writer, and director who excels at costume dramas.
His journey in the entertainment industry began with acting, but his transition to writing truly revealed his strengths.
He gained attention for penning the Oscar-winningGosford Park, which he followed with a string of period dramas.
Image via Mammoth Screen
Fellowes then produced his most popular work of all with the TV showDownton Abbey,a global hit.
He’s clearly well-schooled in history and mines different time periods for drama.
Plus, he’s got a remarkable ability for ensemble storytelling, keeping multiple narrative threads going at once.
Here are all of his period drama films, ranked.
The movie was adapted from a novel byP.G.
Plus, the more modern elements and fresh dialogue are either compelling or sacrilegious, depending on the viewer.
However, her pursuit of wealth and status comes at a moral cost.
“Crooked Houseis Fellowes’s take on an Agatha Christie novel.
Unfortunately,Crooked Housemay succeed a little too well in its Christie tribute.
It’s well-made but nothing the viewer hasn’t seen before.
6’The Chaperone' (2018)
Directed by Michael Engler
“Art is not tinsel.
And it must be handled by the worthy.”
Image via Focus Features
The stars do a lot of heavy lifting here.
Richardson, in particular,excels at playing this kind of character.
Through these supernatural encounters, he unravels long-hidden family secrets about a terrible fire and stolen jewels.
Adults, however, may find the magical elements a little too hard to swallow.
I’m not a racing car.”
Royal intrigue is at a premium here, as is exquisite art direction and production design.
Fellowes adeptly juggles multiple storylines; each of them is satisfying and none feels underdeveloped.
The plots are engaging, and the script crackles with wit.
There are many quotable lines to be found here.
Image Via Vertical Entertainment
Plus, Fellowes keeps everything frothy and fundamentally uplifting, despite some tense elements like an assassination plot.
Beautifully shot and lavishly staged,Down Abbeyis escapist fare of the highest order.
Fellowes’s finest project as a screenwriter is this drama set in 1930s England.
Image via Focus Features
Soon, hidden tensions and long-simmering resentments between the aristocrats and their servants start to boil over.
Here, he flexes his talent for managing ensemble casts.
He draws great work from these performers, crafting several acerbic and humorous scenes.
They poke fun at British class tensions without letting up on the narrative tension.
Finally, technical mastery holds it all together, especially when it comes to the cinematographer.
There are impressive camera moves aplenty, including glides and extended long shots.
Image via Momentum Pictures
It’s a terrific movie and one still well worth watching, particularly forDownton Abbeyfans.
Rent on AppleTV
NEXT:10 Great Movies Recommended by Hayao Miyazaki
Image via Focus Features
