Taking Hugh for Granted

Restoration

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Episode notes

Enter the frame with Oscar and Diggory as they discuss the stroke of genius that is Hugh Grant's performance of painter 'Finn' in Restoration (John Hoffman, 1995).  

Your hosts speak about Hugh's beef with Robert Downey Jr and (probably)  Sir Ian McKellen, Hugh Grant's fabulous look and piss-taking performance as Finn and analyse in great detail the tail of two halves that is Restoration.

After befriending King Charles II (played by Sam Neill), aspiring young physician Robert Merivel (played by Robert Downey Junior) is living a new lavish lifestyle in the King’s court. In order to retain his new position, King Charles enlists Merivel to marry his favourite mistress, Celia (played by Polly Walker) in order to divert the suspicions of the King’s other, increasingly jealous mistresses.

However, though Celia is to be married, the King wants her to remain his mistress and gives Merivel a simple instruction: “You must marry my mistress - but do not fall in love with her.” Inevitably, Merivel falls for Celia, and though he intends to keep his fondness a secret from the King, it's only a matter of time before disgruntled painter Finn (played by Hugh Grant) gives the game away...

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For those of you that want to skip disclaimers, opening theme tunes, salutations, synopses and go straight to the film analysis, head to 5:00