Forgot to say, earlier, I've now seen the first film, in a while, actually on the Big Screen... And it's one that most people will only see on Netflix (or beyond), as it had a
limited Cinema release, in the UK, one venue just happening to be quite near where me and someone else happened to be with a couple of hours in hand... (So, yes, you can probably assume I was near one of no more than thirty possible locations over the weekend. But bear in mind that there was also a lot of driving involved, for other purposes!)
The Thursday Murder Club - original book(s) by Richard Osman, adapted to full-screen with the help of some newcomer to the business called... Steven Spielberg. I wish him well in all future endeavours! And some lesser known actors with names such as Brosnan, Mirren, etc, who may have great careers in front of them if they play their cards right.
Of particular note, to fans of Doctor Who, you've got a real treat, with Ingrid Oliver, who played the Osgoods, human and otherwise! Of course, you thought I was going to mention someone who actually played
two different Doctors! Well, he's in this too. And also another guy. David... Renting? Leaseholder? Something like that... it'll come to me later.
Have you read the book(s)? Then you know it's (in some ways) a 'cosy crime procedural', by plot, British through and through, and you'll be interested to see how well it got adapted. I think you'll find it on the positive side of that particular swingometer, from both my own assessment and overheard discussions between those who also saw my particular screening. Not all positive, but definitely net-positive.
For those who haven't experienced the source material, bear this "cosy" bit in mind (and Britishness, though shall we say a notch or two down from Downton Abbey?) as there's
not much in the way of fast cars and flashing blue lights (though there is some, including from one of the main cast, but of course yet another one drives... shall we say... sedately?). And it has to set up the story components and characters in a way that a bit of author's-eye-view (and even writing directly inside the minds of characters) can do a lot subtler. It still keeps it low impact, mostly, so be prepared for a little plodding through. And watch out for someone being told what "C.I.D." stands for, in
an actual policing context, was clearly there for the international audience (in leiu of renaming them the Murder Squad or Homocide Unit, which it could quite easily have been in different screenplay hands).
Faithfulness to the source material was quite good. Haven't reread it recently (not since just after learning it was "on the cards"), and not going to have chance to dive back in for maybe another week, but it hit the general plotline well. One
possibly major change, that could effect any sequel movies, but too spoilery to really discuss (plus I need to check the book, anyway, on what it changed
from, exactly). Some other rejiggles, I suspect for the sake of a better film, but Osman knows the small-screen business well, so I suspect that the core prose was written not far from what Netflix and the screenplay-writers would be happy to follow (except for the Joycian Asides, of course).
One element of characterisation was given a trivial hint/forward reference near the start and a slightly less subtle one at the end (non-verbally), which was only properly revealed in the fourth novel. But doesn't affect the plot much, I think it was a throw-it-in for the existing fans. Or maybe in anticipation of when that story gets filmed, too, so it doesn't look like any sudden change in the cinematic TMC-verse.
They downplayed the main hate-sink character's hatesinkfulness a tad, though. For example, he clearly parks in a "VIP" spot, rather than the book's Establishing Character Moment of him parking carelessly/unconsiderately (and risking the wrath of the Parking Committee, which only now happens to someone else - and I think downplayed her adaptability). Still a Karmic/Asshole Victim, but not the same. Another (named) character got downplayed from "angry, with a secret" to just "angry", and so we lost a different thread of reader-suspicion. And they messed about with a financial decision (who makes it, though who does it may well be the same).
I'm sure a readthrough, this viewing being fresh in my mind, will reveal a few more things. But none of the ones I did see seemed to be a problem. If you watch this (Netflix/beyond, when you'll probably have the leisure to effectively pause, rewind and entirely rewatch,
anyway) probably best to consider this a
relaxing whodunnit, a few on-screen moments of action and urgency aside. Or watch it for the All-Star Cast and "didn't I see him/her in..?" moments. Perhaps more so from a British perspective, as (the genuine and certified Hollwood Luvvies aside) some are probably more locally-appreciated "character" faces.
(I mean, Celia Imrie may have been in a Star Wars film, Highlander
and was a Who villain, but I probably think of her most either as the reader of the early Witches novels, for the Discworld audio books,
or for her Acorn Antiques/Dinnerladies collaboration with Victoria Wood. Anyway, I think she does her character justice in this film too.)
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Topic: The Movie Discussion Thread! (Read 202102 times)