Having watched every episode so far I have found the quality has varied over time. The first seven series with Amanda Burton (Sam) were fine although she was rather one-note emotionally and the number of times her character was, or had been, personally involved with the people in the case became ridiculously coincidental. New main characters were good and the introduction of Liz Carr (Clarissa) and David Caves (Jack) made, in my opinion, the best series. After Clarissa's departure stories were a bit weaker and the current series (26) has been the poorest yet. The ridiculous level of coincidence has returned and too often the tone has become smug, pious and simpering. Some characters have become fluent in BSL in an impossibly short time. Police interviews have become very unrealistic with the police never pressing for answers to their questions but just letting the interviewees respond with questions or make speeches. I shall continue watching for the time being in the hope of improvement but it is becoming difficult to care about these new stories. (5/10 stars is for the current series.)
Reviews
5 Reviews
Withnail & I
(1987)
Why did I not like this film more?
6 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The whole film feels surprisingly authentic - it recreates the era well, the characters are believable and even the plot is not too far-fetched. However, it feels more like a tragedy than a comedy.
Withnail is a boor: a loudmouthed, egocentric, amoral piss-head who deceives and betrays his best friend for his own selfish ends. His final scene after Marwood has gone hints at a talent and love of the arts that will probably go unfulfilled and, owing to his alcohol and drugs use, will probably end in an early death.
& I (Marwood) has a degree of self-awareness but his relationship with Withnail appears to be longstanding and unquestioned. He is a victim of Withnail's duplicity and selfishness until he lands an acting job that takes him out of Withnails immediate negative influence and his physical transformation appears to promise an end to his self-destructive lifestyle.
Uncle Monty is wealthy and comfortable but is driven by his sexual urges and his veneer of joviality appears to cover a sad and lonely life.
Is it funny? It is not witty, there's little physical humour, Monty's advances and other encounters are uncomfortable rather than humorous. I can recall after the film was released various young men shouting Withnail's lines about booze and 'finest wines' and clearly thinking themselves hilarious but those lines do not stand well on their own. Danny has a mildly amusing delivery but it wears thin.
I'm glad I watched it but I would not watch it again.
Withnail is a boor: a loudmouthed, egocentric, amoral piss-head who deceives and betrays his best friend for his own selfish ends. His final scene after Marwood has gone hints at a talent and love of the arts that will probably go unfulfilled and, owing to his alcohol and drugs use, will probably end in an early death.
& I (Marwood) has a degree of self-awareness but his relationship with Withnail appears to be longstanding and unquestioned. He is a victim of Withnail's duplicity and selfishness until he lands an acting job that takes him out of Withnails immediate negative influence and his physical transformation appears to promise an end to his self-destructive lifestyle.
Uncle Monty is wealthy and comfortable but is driven by his sexual urges and his veneer of joviality appears to cover a sad and lonely life.
Is it funny? It is not witty, there's little physical humour, Monty's advances and other encounters are uncomfortable rather than humorous. I can recall after the film was released various young men shouting Withnail's lines about booze and 'finest wines' and clearly thinking themselves hilarious but those lines do not stand well on their own. Danny has a mildly amusing delivery but it wears thin.
I'm glad I watched it but I would not watch it again.
Cover Girl Killer
(1959)
A glimpse of what we missed
18 April 2008
Harry H Corbett won acclaim as a stage actor early in his career but in 1962 he appeared on television for a 'one-off' Galton and Simpson Playhouse called 'The offer'. This was successful enough for Galton and Simpson to be asked to turn it into a series which they called Steptoe and Son. This was so popular that it ran for eight series ending in 1974.
Most people will only know Harry H Corbett for his portrayal of Harold Steptoe in Steptoe and Son. The quality of these performances, especially the little monologues and character sketches that were often included in the beginning of some of the later episodes, give an insight into the potential he had which was never realised.
Sadly, after 12 years as Harold Steptoe, Harry H Corbett was irredeemably typecast and found little serious dramatic work before his untimely death from a heart attack in 1982.
In Cover Girl Killer he is almost unrecognisable and his (believable) character could not be much further from his later typecasting.
This film is slightly clichéd but is worth seeing in its own right. However, I would advise anyone who has enjoyed Harry H Corbett in anything else to watch this if only to see what we missed of a potentially great dramatic career.
Most people will only know Harry H Corbett for his portrayal of Harold Steptoe in Steptoe and Son. The quality of these performances, especially the little monologues and character sketches that were often included in the beginning of some of the later episodes, give an insight into the potential he had which was never realised.
Sadly, after 12 years as Harold Steptoe, Harry H Corbett was irredeemably typecast and found little serious dramatic work before his untimely death from a heart attack in 1982.
In Cover Girl Killer he is almost unrecognisable and his (believable) character could not be much further from his later typecasting.
This film is slightly clichéd but is worth seeing in its own right. However, I would advise anyone who has enjoyed Harry H Corbett in anything else to watch this if only to see what we missed of a potentially great dramatic career.
Gormenghast
(2000)
Good but not dark enough
28 May 2007
This was a good dramatisation of the book but was not dark enough in any sense. Gormenghast (the place) was too bright and airy although it looked right otherwise. Also the sinister side of the story, which is most of it, was underplayed. When I read the book I hated Steerpike more than any other character I have read but this did not come out on the screen enough. Perhaps it is the restriction of turning such a long, detailed story into a drama. Nonetheless it looked good and all the performances were excellent. If you haven't done so yet - read the book. It is one of the greatest stories I have read and there are a couple of extras not included in the dramatisation. These are the third book "Titus Alone" which is very different from the first two books, and a separate episode in the life of the young Titus called "Boy in Darkness". Again, different from the first two books and quite surreal.
Shark
(2006–2008)
Woods is great but that's about all
28 May 2007
This is an excellent vehicle to show how good an actor James Woods is. He carries it and when he is on screen you don't look at anyone else.
Jeri Ryan, Danielle Panabaker and Henry Simmons are OK. Unfortunately, the actors playing his young assistants appear to have been chosen for their looks rather than their acting skills. They are generally bland and uninteresting. Sarah Carter is the worst - you would think she is on a catwalk. She always seems to be trying to show off her looks and dare not have a expression on her face unless it cracks. Is she a shop window dummy or something?
However, I would like to make a special mention for Alexis Cruz: he is inexperienced but he makes an effort. I wish him well.
Jeri Ryan, Danielle Panabaker and Henry Simmons are OK. Unfortunately, the actors playing his young assistants appear to have been chosen for their looks rather than their acting skills. They are generally bland and uninteresting. Sarah Carter is the worst - you would think she is on a catwalk. She always seems to be trying to show off her looks and dare not have a expression on her face unless it cracks. Is she a shop window dummy or something?
However, I would like to make a special mention for Alexis Cruz: he is inexperienced but he makes an effort. I wish him well.
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