Watching this start to finish will change you as a person and the characters will stay in your mind and heart forever. Like some others have said, it didn't grab me immediately but on third attempt something clicked and I spent every spare minute of my life watching it until I had watched all 5 seasons over 6 days. Baltimore is the central character and It's impossible to single out any actor as their performances are all incredible, and the seasons are all equally important and gripping. If you haven't watched this yet, don't waste another minute because once you know what happens, and iall 5 seasons will keep you on the edge of your seat, you will want to start again just to relish in the detail.
Reviews
6 Reviews
The Wire
(2002–2008)
I never thought anything would top the Sopranos but this is THE ONE
30 July 2023
The Village
(2013–2014)
Gorgeously acted Downton antidote
6 May 2013
I am having withdrawal symptoms from this now having watched the whole series and revisited episode 1.
Yes, it's pretty bleak at times - and it hardly breaks the stereotype of it being a tad grim up North - but then it probably was everywhere let alone Oop North when WW1 broke out- and as a massive John Simm fan, it's tough watching him play this unendearing character. But stick with it, and you are rewarded with seeing some amazing performances unfold. Maxine Peake deserves a special nod for her moving portrayal of Joe and Bert's mum. How much heartache can a woman take??? A lot, it seems.
It's beautifully shot, beautifully acted, almost incessantly grim, but you do care about enough of the characters to want to keep on watching.
I would recommend a second viewing as I am doing now, and enjoying it even more now I know what happens and can just focus on the performances and period detail done as only BBC can.
This is a real winner for me, and I am really looking forward to Series 2.
Yes, it's pretty bleak at times - and it hardly breaks the stereotype of it being a tad grim up North - but then it probably was everywhere let alone Oop North when WW1 broke out- and as a massive John Simm fan, it's tough watching him play this unendearing character. But stick with it, and you are rewarded with seeing some amazing performances unfold. Maxine Peake deserves a special nod for her moving portrayal of Joe and Bert's mum. How much heartache can a woman take??? A lot, it seems.
It's beautifully shot, beautifully acted, almost incessantly grim, but you do care about enough of the characters to want to keep on watching.
I would recommend a second viewing as I am doing now, and enjoying it even more now I know what happens and can just focus on the performances and period detail done as only BBC can.
This is a real winner for me, and I am really looking forward to Series 2.
Young Adult
(2011)
Dark, dark, hilarious brilliance - nice one, Charlize!
24 October 2012
Charlize is utterly convincing and strangely sympathetic as the repellent, personality-disordered Mavis, hell-bent on winning back her high school sweetheart, who is happily married with a new baby.
The real (albeit very twisted) romance here is between her and Matt, who is as damaged as she is. The scenes between them as they bicker and spark are compelling and believable.
The film is a twisted take on American high school novels but with a small-town 'homecoming' of a former school heroine that goes horribly wrong..or does it??
Every performance is a treat to watch and there are some great scenes of deepest, darkest comedy.
The real (albeit very twisted) romance here is between her and Matt, who is as damaged as she is. The scenes between them as they bicker and spark are compelling and believable.
The film is a twisted take on American high school novels but with a small-town 'homecoming' of a former school heroine that goes horribly wrong..or does it??
Every performance is a treat to watch and there are some great scenes of deepest, darkest comedy.
Bleak House
(2005)
Absolutely amazing TV
10 February 2012
This adaptation is outstanding - for me, it is on a par with the BBC's Pride and Prejudice (which has to be one of the best TV adaptations of all time), albeit a much darker and sadder tale.
I hadn't read the book and didn't know what to expect, but from the first episode was completely addicted and had to stop myself from watching all 15 episodes on one go.
Gillian Anderson is perfect as the brittle Honoria - her performance brought a tear to my eye on many occasions. In fact, the whole cast cannot be faulted. Each frame of each episode is stunning - the costume and set designers deserve massive praise for such a beautifully realised vision. Charles Dance is also particularly compelling, as is Anna Maxwell Martin as Esther and Denis Lawson as Jarndyce.
I also loved the theme music.
It really does feel so right to be watching this excellent drama at this cold and dark time of year. Watch it as soon as you can!
I hadn't read the book and didn't know what to expect, but from the first episode was completely addicted and had to stop myself from watching all 15 episodes on one go.
Gillian Anderson is perfect as the brittle Honoria - her performance brought a tear to my eye on many occasions. In fact, the whole cast cannot be faulted. Each frame of each episode is stunning - the costume and set designers deserve massive praise for such a beautifully realised vision. Charles Dance is also particularly compelling, as is Anna Maxwell Martin as Esther and Denis Lawson as Jarndyce.
I also loved the theme music.
It really does feel so right to be watching this excellent drama at this cold and dark time of year. Watch it as soon as you can!
Bridget Jones's Diary
(2001)
Richard Curtis woz here
7 January 2012
I read the book - loved it - but the film is unfortunately a cringefest. RZ does her best, but what's with the posh accent, a la Gwyneth Paltrow in Sliding Doors? I do think that a British actress e.g., Anne Marie Duff, who is actually a London gal, would have been a much more appropriate choice.
Colin Firth is a great piece of casting - who else could it have been - and he does his best, but frankly the script is beneath him and I think he looks a bit embarrassed himself at times at the nonsense he has to spout. Hugh Grant is great - makes a change from his usual bumbling foppishness, and really well cast.
I have added this film to a list that includes Match Point, Sliding Doors and any of Richard Curtis' films - namely - awful, but so bad, they are worth watching just for the unintentional comedy.
Colin Firth is a great piece of casting - who else could it have been - and he does his best, but frankly the script is beneath him and I think he looks a bit embarrassed himself at times at the nonsense he has to spout. Hugh Grant is great - makes a change from his usual bumbling foppishness, and really well cast.
I have added this film to a list that includes Match Point, Sliding Doors and any of Richard Curtis' films - namely - awful, but so bad, they are worth watching just for the unintentional comedy.
Exile
(2011)
Amazing performances from John Simm and cast
29 December 2011
This is a high quality, dark psychological drama, with the odd blackly comic moment thrown in, and well worth spending 3 hours on. It's beautifully shot with some stunning locations, and the performances of John Simm, Jim Broadbent and Olivia Coleman (particulary John Simm) are utterly compelling.
John Simm's character, Tom, spectacularly messes up his life and career as a journalist in London, and goes back home to Lancashire. He finds his retired journalist dad, whom he idolised as a child, to be suffering from dementia and being cared for by his sister. It turns out he had a sudden, violent and catastrophic falling-out with his dad many years ago which led to him fleeing to London, and now he is back home he becomes determined to get to the bottom of what happened to cause the fall-out. This proves more complicated that he thought, mainly due to his dad's mental capacity - however by the end, he does manage to piece the devastating truth together, and as with all the characters John Simm plays in such a believable, 'everyman' way, we root for him the whole time, even though his character is not saintly by any means.
My only beef with this would be that the script and plot do contain some real clichéd moments, and you do have to suspend a bit of disbelief about how relatively easy it is for Tom to locate some of the key characters and certain bits of information about the past. That being said, it's the excellence of the actors' performances that totally clinch this for me.
If, like me, you're a fan of Mr Simm, you will not be disappointed in this.
John Simm's character, Tom, spectacularly messes up his life and career as a journalist in London, and goes back home to Lancashire. He finds his retired journalist dad, whom he idolised as a child, to be suffering from dementia and being cared for by his sister. It turns out he had a sudden, violent and catastrophic falling-out with his dad many years ago which led to him fleeing to London, and now he is back home he becomes determined to get to the bottom of what happened to cause the fall-out. This proves more complicated that he thought, mainly due to his dad's mental capacity - however by the end, he does manage to piece the devastating truth together, and as with all the characters John Simm plays in such a believable, 'everyman' way, we root for him the whole time, even though his character is not saintly by any means.
My only beef with this would be that the script and plot do contain some real clichéd moments, and you do have to suspend a bit of disbelief about how relatively easy it is for Tom to locate some of the key characters and certain bits of information about the past. That being said, it's the excellence of the actors' performances that totally clinch this for me.
If, like me, you're a fan of Mr Simm, you will not be disappointed in this.
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