James Ivory's Howards End: Slow Burn Perfection?

Okay, so I finally tackled James Ivory's Howards End (1992). I've been trying to work through his filmography because Call Me By Your Name completely wrecked me, and I'm curious about his other works. This one's a bit of a different beast. I knew it was a period piece, obviously, but it's SO Edwardian England, like dripping with it. At first, I was kind of impatient. It felt slow – real slow. All that talk of property rights and social classes… I was wondering where it was going for a bit there. But then, the characters wormed their way in. Emma Thompson is fantastic as Margaret Schlegel – so intelligent and perceptive. Her interactions with Ruth Wilcox (Vanessa Redgrave), before Ruth passes are just beautifully acted. And the whole drama surrounding Howards End itself became more compelling. I really empathized with them, the Schlegel sisters, and their desire to create some sort of intellectual utopia. That picnic scene where Helen defends Leonard Bast (Samuel West)… I was totally on her side, even though I think she went about things impulsively after that. Anthony Hopkins… man, is he playing against type! The stern, repressed Mr. Wilcox totally made me dislike him, which I guess speaks to his performance. And Helena Bonham Carter as Helen is great, that scene where she confronts Henry about Leonard and Jacky in the country house is powerful. Is it my favorite film of Ivory's so far? Probably not. But it's definitely a beautifully crafted and thought-provoking film. It stayed with me for days, even though it was slow to get going. Anyone else felt the same way about the pacing? Did anyone find the ending a little… too neat? I was hoping for some more resolution for Leonard Bast, but I guess this isn't solely his story. It's definitely worth the watch for the performances and the overall mood, though. I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts!