Micro Men (2009) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Saul Metzstein

Writer:

Tony Saint (writer)

Release Date:

8 October 2009 (UK)

Plot Keywords:

Computer

Cast

Alexander Armstrong	...	Clive Sinclair
Martin Freeman	...	Chris Curry
Edward Baker-Duly	...	Hermann Hauser
Sam Phillips	...	Steve Furber
Stefan Butler	...	Roger Wilson
Colin Michael Carmichael	...	Jim Westwood
Derek Riddell	...	Nigel Searle
Rhona Croker	...	Valerie
Amy Beth Hayes	...	Cynthia
Nicola Harrison	...	Ann Sinclair
Anthony Smee	...	Norman Hewett
Michael Keating	...	Derek Holley
Peter Davison	...	Bank Manager
Jon Glover	...	John Radcliffe
Theo Barklem-Biggs	...	Sinclair Journalist

Also Known As:

Syntax Era (UK) (working title)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Darlow Smithson Productions

Trivia:

Cameo: [Jim Westwood]Man reading magazine in computer shop. Westwood was chief engineer at Sinclair Research Ltd.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Clive Sinclair receives a cheque for 10,000 pounds dated 1st October 1979. Later on, a news-board pronounces Margaret Thatcher as having won the election; which happened in May of the same year.

The rise and fall of the UK computer business

Just saw this on BBC4. A very interesting take on how close the UK came to dominating the world computer development and manufacturing industry in the early 80s, only for it to all fall apart just 5 years later.

Despite some garish and unconvincing make-up, Armstrong shows he can do serious drama in his portrayal of Sir Clive Sinclair, the man who brought affordable computing to the masses. Martin Freeman is good (as always) as the confidante in Sinclair's company who, unable to understand Sinclairs bloody mindedness over what to concentrate their efforts on, leaves and sets up arch rival 'Acorn Computers' with an Austrian business partner.

The production team have done a solid job in displaying the drabness of the era. The mix of archive TV footage of the time inter-cut with this filmed TV drama works quite well. The background story of how the UK became a world leader in the home PC market, and then blew it, is a fascinating tale for anyone interested in recent history. At one point Freemans character turns to Sinclair and says 'We could have been the British IBM but you wouldn't listen to me' is very apt. Sinclairs obsession with the notorious C5 is also addressed. It does make you wonder what would have happened had there been more cohesion in the industry at the time rather than the arrogant self interest of the industry that resulted in the UK losing such a massive foothold.

A thought provoking drama that has just enough momentum to keep itself interesting despite some flaws.