Recommended Television Programmes

[Pulcinella]

On the whole I agree. I sometimes think Rylands has been directed to be too impassive most of the time. I understand the thinking behind that but the extremes between that impassive face with the darting gaze on the one hand and when he does show he's a bit rattled seem too broad to me.

I agree, apart from the fact that it's Mark Rylance (maybe autocorrect had its wicked way):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rylance

We'll be catching up tonight. It was Charles Dance as Michelangelo and then Mary Beard in Rome for us last night.

[johncorrigan]

[QUOTE=Pulcinella;n1325248]

I agree, apart from the fact that it's Mark Rylance (maybe autocorrect had its wicked way):
[/URL]
Thanks, Pulcinella...I keep making that error.
:

[Ein Heldenleben]

[QUOTE=kernelbogey;n1325247]

On the whole I agree. I sometimes think Rylands has been directed to be too impassive most of the time. I understand the thinking behind that but the extremes between that impassive face with the darting gaze on the one hand and when he does show he's a bit rattled seem too broad to me.

Couldn’t agree more. The most overrated TV drama in decades. Full of clunky expostional dialogue and plodding direction . It’s almost as if a collective torpor has seized the entire cast as they seek to outblank each other by copying Rylance .
With the exception of Timothy Spall who’s actually putting in a performance .Rylance’s comatose and undercharacterised performance in Wolf Hall was memorably satirised in Upstart Crow. If you want to see understated acting with a purpose watch Guinness in Tinker Tailor currently on iPlayer .

[LMcD]

[QUOTE=johncorrigan;n1325244]

Gripping. Terrific acting throughout. Rylance is magnificent, but Lewis continues to give a tour de force as Henry..
One day I must read the books.

(By the way, Cromwell hasn't that impassive since the end of episode 4, has he?)

[smittims]

Thanks, vinteuil. As soon as I started watching episode one I realised I was 1960s not '70s. I can't think how I missed such an acclaimed series. This is truly landmark Television of sort we just don't see made today (and , yes, I know there are various reasons why not). A tremendously intense performance from Judi Dench. I also admired Margery Mason,who seems to have specialised in playing troubled mothers. She was John's mother in 'A Family at War' : an underrated actor, I think. .

[LMcD]

Thanks, vinteuil. As soon as I started watching episode one I realised I was 1960s not '70s. I can't think how I missed such an acclaimed series. This is truly landmark Television of sort we just don't see made today (and , yes, I know there are various reasons why not). A tremendously intense performance from Judi Dench. I also admired Margery Mason,who seems to have specialised in playing troubled mothers. She was John's mother in 'A Family at War' : an underrated actor, I think. .

I recently enjoyed 'Reckless' on Talking Pictures TV, in which she played Francesca Annis's mother. She was issued with a scuba diving licence at the age of 81.

[kernelbogey]

Some strange things have happened above - posts attributed to me that were by others, and vice versa. (500 years ago you could lose your head for that sort of thing. )

[Pulcinella]

Some strange things have happened above - posts attributed to me that were by others, and vice versa. (500 years ago you could lose your head for that sort of thing. )

I think that the 'quotes' went awry.
I don't have the necessary rights to try to tidy things up: maybe ff will see this and be able to do so trickery for us.

[kernelbogey]

...The most overrated TV drama in decades.

A tad harsh?

Full of clunky expostional dialogue and plodding direction ...

I wonder how that could have been avoided. I don't have the three Mantel books to hand but they must have added up to about 1500 pages.

Rylance’s comatose and undercharacterised performance in Wolf Hall...

He is a blacksmith's son who's become the second most powerful person in the land: by keeping a Machiavellian taciturn demeanour. Not comatose IMVHO.

[kernelbogey]

I think that the 'quotes' went awry.
I don't have the necessary rights to try to tidy things up: maybe ff will see this and be able to do so trickery for us.

Yes but it doesn't really matter.

[Ein Heldenleben]

A tad harsh?


I wonder how that could have been avoided. I don't have the three Mantel books to hand but they must have added up to about 1500 pages.


He is a blacksmith's son who's become the second most powerful person in the land: by keeping a Machiavellian taciturn demeanour. Not comatose IMVHO.

yes maybe a tad harsh but I keep getting texted by friends during the programme telling me how amazing it is when I don’t think it’s as good as the Tudors . The whole Anne of Cleves thing last night took forever to say what I’ve seen a dozen times before done quicker and better . Every time I see Damian Lewis all I can think of is Axe in Billions. And so far not a single memorable shot . It’s been done on the cheap sadly and looks it.

[eighthobstruction]

.....perhaps wearing a hat indoors during Wolf Hall is where he got the idea of wearing a hat indoors, in public, in everyday life

....Here is a very odd Rylance Henry V....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOouofFFrZE&t=176s

[Barbirollians]

yes maybe a tad harsh but I keep getting texted by friends during the programme telling me how amazing it is when I don’t think it’s as good as the Tudors . The whole Anne of Cleves thing last night took forever to say what I’ve seen a dozen times before done quicker and better . Every time I see Damian Lewis all I can think of is Axe in Billions. And so far not a single memorable shot . It’s been done on the cheap sadly and looks it.

I couldn't disagree more. The Tudors was ridiculous old ham IMO . The acting in Wolf Hall is extraordinary as is the screwing of tension by the story inexorably moving to Cromwell's downfall. Its been largely filmed at Hampton Court so not quite cheap. It's lovely to see a drama about the acting and the story and not the camera work, anachronisms and intrusive music

[LMcD]

yes maybe a tad harsh but I keep getting texted by friends during the programme telling me how amazing it is when I don’t think it’s as good as the Tudors . The whole Anne of Cleves thing last night took forever to say what I’ve seen a dozen times before done quicker and better . Every time I see Damian Lewis all I can think of is Axe in Billions. And so far not a single memorable shot . It’s been done on the cheap sadly and looks it.

It looks to me as if they threw money at it - or perhaps my TV set makes it look a lot better than it really is!
I completely agree with Barbirollians about the masterly ratcheting up of the tension.

[Ein Heldenleben]

It looks to me as if they threw money at it - or perhaps my TV set makes it look a lot better than it really is!
I completely agree with Barbirollians about the masterly ratcheting up of the tension.

Yes well I know I’m in a minority. Yes they’ve used Hampton Court but trouble is it just doesn’t look right. Sometimes sets work better. Part of my problem is the two leads are so recognisable and the pace is so slow. I’m reading a lot of Shakespeare history plays at the moment . Strikes me they could learn a lot from the master about pacing ,intercutting contrast and oh yes a tiny bit of visual poetry. It’s all so penny plain. TV is a visual medium and these feels like radio . Sorry but there it is .