‘The Hollow Crown: Henry IV Part II’ - BBC2 - Saturday 14th July 2012

(Rated 4/5)

And this time...
Not quite perfectly excellent so I'm taking a mark off ;)!
Still great cast, great writer, great production! But perhaps in a strange way it can't quite match up in emotion and drama with its prequel. Reports on Shakespeare's own writing history differ; some say he planned the entire Hollow Crown series - in effect as the story of the legacy on Henry V of his father's gaining the thrown by killing Richard II, others that Henry IV Part 1 was so well received by the audience, that William wrote a sequel. And are sequels ever as good?! In my experience of current movie sequels usually not.

Still, this is powerful drama. What does it really mean to Henry IV to die and how is he coping with the guilt of the manner of his gaining the thrown? What is he feeling about the prospect of his errant son, Hal, becoming King? How do they resolve things between father and son if at all? And does Hal really banish "plump Jack" and his other non-Royal friends? Or instead does he favour them and honour them?

Life as a royal at the time of these Henrys, and even later in Shakespeare's time was so different to today. Watching Tom as Hal in Part I, I couldn't help thinking of our young Prince Harry and how he would face these issues? He is happily interacting with 'common people' but these days that is so encouraged! (Of course it is his brother William, who we expect to be in Hal's position, but I'm sure William will also not even consider banishing anyone or stopping his friendships with his more lowly subjects! The very idea may seem farcical to us now.) The pressure on them is so much less in that sense. They have been part of revolutionising the monarchy in any case. The crown is perhaps not such a heavy burden as it was. The responsibility and power less. But monarchs still a sacrifice of normal life and cope with being celebrated (or not!).

And so Hal fully becomes Henry V next Saturday...

The Hollow Crown: Henry IV Part II – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2012

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Dreams of a Life - DVD - watched 10th July 2012

(Rated 6/5)


The caption on the DVD label says:

"Joyce Vincent's skeleton was found in her London flat three years after she died. Nothing was known about her. A quest to discover who she was and why she became so forgotten" 

Just that sent shivers down my spine. How could it be that someone dies and is not discovered for such a long time?! How can it be that not a single person in her life wonders where she is? Does/Did she have anybody in her life? Do they not care? My immediate conclusion was that she was elderly, with no children and all her friends and acquaintances had passed before she did. That seemed the only rational, human, 'acceptable' reason for this to be possible. BUT no, Joyce was fairly young, had family living - sisters and nephews and nieces, had friends, even had people living near her... and nobody seemed to actively question why they hadn't seen her in all that time.

This is an extraordinary film - billed as a drama documentary, though no box seems to really fit - and about one person's life, yet about all our lives and society today. It is a real story. This happened to one lady, and could happen more and more. We have lost so much in terms of community values and care. It is possible to live a highly independent life, especially in London, to be amongst a crowd of people and yet not seen, make no impact and disappear with nobody batting an eyelid. The film involves interviews of those found who did actually knew Joyce. And in those interviews, and portrayal by Zawe Ashton, Joyce can be sen as a vibrant, beautiful, attractive woman, who would draw attention to her and make those around her feel special, warm and entertained. She was aspirational but gradually the story reveals traumas in childhood and how they had a profound impact on her emotional and psychological make-up and way of being in the world. As Zawe explains there are both light and depth/darkness in Joyce and comedy and tragedy reside together on a knife-edge. I personally think that is true for very many of us. We could all be Joyce, even though the precise circumstances and personalities may be different. We all know people like her. EVERYONE has a story but so many are unknown.

I often sit on London Underground tube trains, noticing the people around me and feeling certain I will NEVER see them again. I wonder what has happened in their lives, and what will happen. It can feel mind-blowing. You get used to being aware of people in your life, but going for days, weeks, maybe months without making contact with them. We may assume they are still in the world - somewhere in the world even if far away - but in a split second they may not be and how would we know?! In many cases we have lost that close connection. I check in with my friends and family by text or email - the replies may be immediate or take a long time - we've got used to that being 'normal'.

I'm terrified of dying alone, of being the last to go, yet I also value my independence. Many couples these days love each other but only manage to stay together by living apart so they can have their space. It's something I completely understand. I related to much in Joyce's life. Her dreams. Her difficulties in attachment. Bringing sunshine into a room - as I've been told - and yet feeling empty inside. Loving others but wanting to be alone.

The film, as Zawe and director Carol Morley note, is a celebration of her and her life and a way of fulfilling her aspirations - she would have loved to be famous they conclude. In the process of playing Joyce, Zawe found closed doors within her opening. She hopes they did for Joyce too. And perhaps for all of us so that we do not close those physical and psychological doors on hope, life and connection.

This is a tender, sensitive... absolutely gorgeously emotive film... that really makes the audience think and feel.


                               Dreams of a Life – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2012

‘Blackout’ - BBC1 - Monday 9th July 2012

(Rated 3ish/5)


Okay definitely more range from Chris in episode 2 (please ref back to last post on this). In fact some absolutely beautiful and highly emotive close-ups - stunning emotional expression. BUT, but,I find the dialogue cringe-inducing. What a massive shame. I think alcoholics and their therapists will have gasped in horror at the therapy session! It has an exciting plot now - not sure what is going on any longer - and some very good performances, but sadly the writer has let them down IMO. Maybe all will be much improved for the final episode next week.

Blackout – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2012

‘The Hollow Crown: Henry IV Part I’ - BBC2 - Saturday 7th July 2012

(Rated 5/5)

And again...
Perfectly excellent!
Great cast, great writer, great production! Flawless!

This time the exchange between Hal (Tom Hiddleston) and Falstaff (Simon Russell Beale) - playing Hal's father and himself - gave me goosebumps!
Falstaff as Hal                        "...Banish plump Jack and You Banish The World..."
Hal as his father... himself     " I do... I will"

A friend and I met Tom Hiddleston when he came out of the Donmar Warehouse having played in Othello with Chiwetel Ejiofor in the title role. Tom had made a big impression on my friend - yes she fancied him big time ;) - but also she saw something startling in him - she told him that he would make it big in Hollywood. She was so right! Tom has incredible sensitivity, a very high EQ, is gently and beautifully eloquent and such an understanding of the human condition; our feelings and our struggles. As he says and does so convincingly: An actor can "inhabit every extremity of the human condition." 

For me Simon Russell Beale was an unexpected Falstaff but very good. Julie Walters was a delightful Mistress Quickly.

I am very much looking forward to Part II and then to Henry V.

Meant to say this play is also very dear to me as I studied it for English Literature at School :)

The Hollow Crown: Henry IV Part I – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2012

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‘The Hollow Crown: Richard II’ - BBC2 - Saturday 30th June 2012

(Rated 5/5)

Perfectly excellent!
Great cast, great writer, great production! Flawless!
As always 'This sceptered isle' gave me goosebumps!

The Hollow Crown: Richard II – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2012

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‘Blackout’ - BBC1 - Monday 2nd July 2012

(Rated 3ish/5)


I wish Chris Eccleston would be in something properly 'good' again that shows his full talent... something like... Dr Who!! Blackout I found disappointing and predictable, formulaic in plot, dialogue and, sadly, I felt bored. Chris was good as he is at the intense looks... but I so want to see more range!
However, it's only the first episode and may well develop into something great...
More on this here as it develops...

Blackout – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2012

‘The Physicists’ - Donmar Warehouse - Thursday 5th July 2012

(Rated 4/5 )

The Dear Donmar looked extra small walking into it last night. I have been in some of the bigger theatrical spaces, which London provides, more recently, and also I guess I have dramatically (no pun intended) lowered my expectations of Donmar productions, and indeed productions in general – both on stage and on the small screen, having experienced some disappointments. I say that, but I think it’s really important to acknowledge my feelings come from having been truly spoilt by some sensational productions in my fairly recent past. But this time, I am very pleased to say the smallness of the Donmar space was deceptive in several ways. Indeed it did reflect a confined space – a ‘lunatic asylum’ as it might have been termed at the time The Physicists (written by Friedrich Dürrenmatt in 1962, this version by Jack Thorne) was set. The ‘lunatics’ (I seem to have adopted that word though it was not used in the play!) apparently believed themselves to be Albert Einstein (Paul Bhattacharjee), Isaac Newton (Justin Salinger) and the third, Möbius, a channel for King Solomon (John Heffernan). The play opens with the murder – although psychiatrist and head of the institution, Dr Mathilde Von Zahnd (Sophie Thompson) tells us, we must not use that term; it’s rather an ‘unfortunate incident’ – of one of the nurses by Einstein, who is calming himself down with some violin playing. Detective Inspector Richard Voss (John Ramm) investigates and this whole first act turns straight into a farcical comedy, which does not seem to quite work. It brings up some interesting considerations on responsibility of the mentally ill, the nature of mental illness, is mildly amusing in parts, seems to be a little over-acted but with good portrayals of Newton et al., and has us wondering if this is a poor version of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest meets The Pink Panther, but here we have yet another deception.  After the interval, Act Two opens in much the same way as Act One, this time Möbius has murdered his nurse, whom he claimed to be in love with. I wondered if this was making some comment about the mentally challenged in relationships and maybe that they couldn’t handle love and closeness – by this time all 3 patients had murdered their respective nurses. But the actual message of the play was far more wide-reaching and frightening. If I had read reviews, or even the programme beforehand I would have had some idea as to what the play was actually about. At the time it may have helped me forgive what I thought to be a poor first act, but I am pleased I had no idea, as the plot twists are very clever, interesting and really have you thinking and discussing afterwards. It surprised me in an excellent way! But to give them away would be to spoil it so I will avoid details. This play had myself and my friend discussing concepts around brilliance versus madness, and are they maybe highly linked? The legacies of the well-known physicists and philosophers and how they and other lessons from humanity over the years have all fed into our collective unconscious (Jung) and been built on. What it may mean both personally but also to the wider world if someone hides their insights from science or art – in this context Da Vinci lost the credit for his marvellous discoveries on the heart and circulation to Harvey so that help to humanity was delayed – but could the consequences be far worse and for harm rather than good. Are discoveries always a good thing? Is science dangerous in the wrong hands? Are we humans developed enough spiritually to handle our knowledge?

Though, as I mentioned I thought there was some over-acting at points, this was a very good cast and the stage was made great use of. Sophie Thompson delivered in the slightly manic but marvellous way she can, John Ramm was an amusing detective, Miranda Raison did very well in two very different roles as wife and then nurse to Möbius. The physicists themselves hit their marks beautifully. For me, Paul Bhattacharjee did the best job at portraying his famous scientist alter-ego Eistein, but John Heffernan reslly shone as Johann Wilhelm Möbius, especially considering he was struggling with a very runny nose from cold or hayfever. Maybe I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to such things, but I really doubt I’d have been able to do the job he did under the circumstances!

Well done Donmar People and Josie Rourke. An excellent effort with its sights on brilliance.

The Physicists – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2012 

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