When I saw Andrew Davies was the screenwriter, I knew it would be good; after all, he did write the script for Pride & Prejudice, my favorite movie and perhaps the BBC's most well- known production.
I really can't say more than the summary title: extraordinary! I loved the camera work (the quick cuts I liked, unlike others). The dark filtering was quite good as well. Anna Maxwell Martin--well, now I cannot imagine another Esther. Gillian Anderson too was just amazing as Lady Deadlock. Absolutely stunning, each word drawn out coldly behind her mask of rank, but her meeting with Esther was magical in a completely different way. I suppose I could praise each character, but that would be dreadfully boring; you'd be much better off delving into the book. Of course, I would suggest reading Bleak House first.
However, I did give this adaptation 9 stars because of two reasons: 1) the lack of humor that was so delightful in the book. Dickens is mercilessly funny and caustic and none of that really translated through to the screen, although I can see the point in keeping it all quite dramatic. 2) The way they portrayed John Jarndyce's relationship with Esther. He seemed much more self-serving in this version, and much more attracted to Esther than I made him out to be in the book. More human, I suppose, than the sweet and perfectly good Guardian of the book. This does not in any way degrade Denis Lawson's performance, which was, I think, actually the standout of the piece. The fact that he also played Wedge Antilles in the best movie trilogy ever also helps in my estimation!
All in all, beautiful, marvelous, a bit too dark, but altogether an extremely good production. But don't forget to read the book first ;)
I really can't say more than the summary title: extraordinary! I loved the camera work (the quick cuts I liked, unlike others). The dark filtering was quite good as well. Anna Maxwell Martin--well, now I cannot imagine another Esther. Gillian Anderson too was just amazing as Lady Deadlock. Absolutely stunning, each word drawn out coldly behind her mask of rank, but her meeting with Esther was magical in a completely different way. I suppose I could praise each character, but that would be dreadfully boring; you'd be much better off delving into the book. Of course, I would suggest reading Bleak House first.
However, I did give this adaptation 9 stars because of two reasons: 1) the lack of humor that was so delightful in the book. Dickens is mercilessly funny and caustic and none of that really translated through to the screen, although I can see the point in keeping it all quite dramatic. 2) The way they portrayed John Jarndyce's relationship with Esther. He seemed much more self-serving in this version, and much more attracted to Esther than I made him out to be in the book. More human, I suppose, than the sweet and perfectly good Guardian of the book. This does not in any way degrade Denis Lawson's performance, which was, I think, actually the standout of the piece. The fact that he also played Wedge Antilles in the best movie trilogy ever also helps in my estimation!
All in all, beautiful, marvelous, a bit too dark, but altogether an extremely good production. But don't forget to read the book first ;)