I rented this movie because it was produced by Andy Paterson, a physicist who also produced "Hillary and Jackie" and "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (2003). I very much enjoyed the art direction and costumes, but I wonder why they deserved an Oscar and those for "Girl...", which depicts the same year, 1665, did not. I was disturbed by the miscasting of Robert Downey Jr. as a British lead - I usually love his work. Was he cast because he looks like Tom Hulce ("Amadeus")? Another low point in acting was provided by a miscast Hugh Grant as a 17th century English painter. Everything about Hugh makes him too modern to play period pieces. Fortunately, Ian McKellen saved the movie for me, a great thespian in the right role.
Review of Restoration
