A Shrinking Translation

Film versions of successful television shows often fail to expand into the big screen. For no reason of personal preference (I was with my Mum who had just had a cataract operation) I last week watched the second Downton movie - we ignored the first which was hidden behind a pay-wall. Downton Abbey: a New Era was in no manner displeasing but Julian Fellowes had obviously mailed it in. For those who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they will like. Of no note in cinema history. 50/100.

And wouldn't you know it, just like London buses, no sooner had one spin-off crossed my screen than along came another. We chose to view Luther: the Fallen Sun for the very good reason that the Luther television series had been one of the best things on the box in the past decade - dark, gory and carried by two central performers (Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson) from the top drawer. Instead of expanding Elba's character into the corners of cinematic possibility, the film shrinks into cliche and wild improbability. It perhaps best serves as Elba's screen-test to be the next Bond (a development I would not find unjustified). A missed opportunity. 51/100.