Stephen Poliakoff's "Dancing on the edge."

[Nick Armstrong]

<doh> Yes, of course I did, when I heard it was a new Poliakoff I suddenly thought of his poor Prince John, hidden away .... (I do recommend it if it is ever repeated) I now read that it was whilst doing research for Prince John he came across certain letters concerning the PoW which inspired him to write Dancing on the Edge.
Edit: The other Poliakoff I was glued to was Shooting the Past, which is ages old.

(only saw Shooting the Past relatively lately - haunting stuff, I thought)

[Ian Thumwood]

Anna's assessment is exactly how I feel about this programme and I agree that the conclusion of last night's episode did seem to suggest that this programme is going to take a very different tone. I would suggest that it will prove to be more about John Goodman's character's link with the young man and some pretty unsavory violence towards women as well as taking a more of a political line suggested by the journalist and his anti-establishment cartoon characters employed within his musical magazine. Granted the pace is slow, yet it seems quite compelling. Curious to see that there is now a CD out by the "Louis Lester" band.

I'm enjoying the music and was curious just how far Poliakoff's familiarity with jazz is. Obviously the bandleader's name is a composite of Armstrong and Young's christian names could have been picked up with little or no research but the reference to MKCP is intriguing.

I agree with Calum about "I've loved you so long" which is a great film but I generally enjoy Kristen Scott Thomas anyway. She made another film in French shortly afterwards called "Leaving" which is terrible!

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

This F'arkoff product trashed in Private Eye today for, amongst other things, being er, Dennis Potter.

BN.

[Anna]

This Farkoff product trashed in Private Eye today for amongst other things, being Dennis Potter.BN.

Have you a link? I confess one or two DP's I have not enjoyed but never would I put Poliakoff against him, DP being, I believe genius.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Anna, I think their point is that he is over indulged by the BBC as Potter was at the end.

(I also like a lot of Potter's earlier stuff...and the final attack on Murdoch)

BN.

[eighthobstruction]

....>>"over indulged"<<....

That's exactly my point....Frederick Raphaelsit is another....

[aeolium]

I'd like to challenge others to post examples of better UK drama productions currently available on the major channels??

Globaltruth, I did just that in my post attacking the Poliakoff drama. I think C4's Utopia is a lot better in almost every way, having a good if convoluted (and slightly bizarre) plot, excellent acting - including good child actors - and an interesting, disorientating look to the whole. It is unpredictable not just in events but in people's interaction in a way that the Poliakoff really isn't. Imo I just don't think Poliakoff has anything interesting to say, and says it very glossily and expensively.

[Globaltruth]

Globaltruth, I did just that in my post attacking the Poliakoff drama. I think C4's Utopia is a lot better in almost every way, having a good if convoluted (and slightly bizarre) plot, excellent acting - including good child actors - and an interesting, disorientating look to the whole. It is unpredictable not just in events but in people's interaction in a way that the Poliakoff really isn't. Imo I just don't think Poliakoff has anything interesting to say, and says it very glossily and expensively.

Thanks for the recommendation & apologies for missing your post.I also missed the first episode of Utopia so haven't watched; I'll try & watch it via the app so I can make a comparison, someone else has also recommended it...is glossy & expensive automatically bad then? I'm not sure what Poliakoff is saying yet, although I've seen observations on class, race, convention and privilege which seemed moderately valid.

That's still only a total of 1 offered so far

[Stephen Whitaker]

....>>"over indulged"<<....

That's exactly my point....Frederick Raphaelsit is another....

As the man in question has not had a TV series on our screens for over twenty years , I can't imagine how you think he's over indulged.
His books have hardly figured in the press either.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Oh bring back Play for Today with kitchen sinks, Ken Loach and heroic Lib Dem politicians fighting the system.

BN.

[Dave2002]

Dancing on the Edge part 1 is on again tonight - Feb 9th, if anyone wants to try it.

I watched bits of this a week or so back, and recorded part 2 - just in case I decided to watch it. Is it worth watching right through, or should I erase the file from my drive, and not record part 1 tonight?

What I saw looked quite interesting and quite well done, but rather slow, and perhaps would take up too much time. Depends if I've got anything better to do, of course.

[Ian Thumwood]

Dave

Parts 1 and 2 were a bit slow but the conclusion of the last episode suggested the story was going to take a darker tone.

ian

[Nick Armstrong]

Dancing on the Edge part 1 is on again tonight - Feb 9th, if anyone wants to try it.

I watched bits of this a week or so back, and recorded part 2 - just in case I decided to watch it. Is it worth watching right through, or should I erase the file from my drive, and not record part 1 tonight?

What I saw looked quite interesting and quite well done, but rather slow, and perhaps would take up too much time. Depends if I've got anything better to do, of course.

I'd give it a try. I was posting on here during a couple of the longueurs in Ep. 1 but the second half perks up; looking forward to my recorded Ep. 2 this weekend

[eighthobstruction]

As the man in question has not had a TV series on our screens for over twenty years , I can't imagine how you think he's over indulged.
His books have hardly figured in the press either.

He had a dreadful .....dreadful, indulgent, misjudged load of bourgeois codswallop ( A 3 part serial of plays on R4 about 2-3 years ago)....did I say dreadful.....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

er they may just not be anything much better than SP on the telly in terms of UK drama .... that is the problem in general .... and in particular this emperor's new clothes effort seeking to persuade us that UK drama on our TV is special or good because it is by SP ....

... nothing at all UK produced can live with The Wire or The Bridge ....bring back FU!