Helena Bonham Carter should have gotten an Oscar nomination for her performance.

Her performance may be brief, but it leaves an indelible mark, particularly in later scenes when Margaret visits Howards End. Vanessa Redgrave is a presence to behold as the fragile Ruth Wilcox. There is plenty of erotic tension, but at the same time it almost feels like he is making some sort of impersonal business venture with her. The scene where he proposes to Margaret stands out in particular. So many scenes shed different lights onto his character. Anthony Hopkins also gives one of his best performances as the cold and hypocritical Henry Wilcox. She still remains a sympathetic character up until the very end when she slowly comes back to her senses. What's remarkable is that we still feel for her greatly as she is going through this transition. I loved watching the character development in her portrayal of Margaret Schlegel, as she transforms from an open-minded intellectual to a class-conscious social climber. Emma Thompson won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance, and deservedly so! This is her best performance and her best film, in my opinion. The ensemble cast is perhaps the best reason to see this film. 'Howards End' also boasts breath-taking cinematography by Tony Pierce-Roberts and a rousing and rueful musical score by Richard Robbins. I love how its intricate story gradually unfolds layer by layer, involving us more and more with the characters. I have seen this film several times over the past 7 years and each time I find myself in complete awe. 'Howards End' is certainly one of the best films of the last decade.

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