Film And Television

I've taken in a fair old slew of televisual stuff recently, much of it really quite good.

Netflix and the various catch-up services dominate our viewing so you will forgive me if it has taken several light years to catch on to particular programmes. Most notable in that category would be Doc Martin, the sort of (so I thought) schlock it would not occur to me to watch. Well, it may very well be schlock, in fact it is, but it's reliably well-done and, from Martin Clunes, features a beguiling title performance. Has he won any awards for it? Probably not, in fact definitely not according to the miracle of Google. The plot structure is dependably similar each time but the central conceit can bear the weight of predictability.

convincing curmudgeon

As the man used to say, now for something completely different. Collateral  has a stellar cast, presumably because the assembled glitterati were wooed by the prospect of a David Hare script. Well the script (on the evidence of the first episode) is the problem. The actors are splendid but the script tries too hard and is weighted with outbursts of preachiness. I will, however, be watching the rest, so Hare may think job done.

Mais oui monsieur j'aime le tv Francais. We have enjoyed Spiral. Tres bien. Je recommende.

Finally, a film. Will Smith is superb in Seven Pounds. The picture is not quite as enigmatic as it would like to be but it does get you thinking. Which is good. 7/10.