Without doubt, William Boyd's most successful adaptation (Restless and Sword of Honour are other worthy contestants), a story of overwhelming brilliance, charting a fictional character through real characters and events (Will claims the Harry Oakes story as told is as he thinks it happened for real - was even going to publish a non-fiction book about it) - we did laugh indeed when 'Nat Tate' turned up at the art gallery!
It's almost Roegian in places, with its impressionistic sequences and flash forwards and backs. The montage about Logan's suicide attempt is out of this world, and the oddly filmed scene where he rushes up to find his son dead equally stunning.
What is remarkable is how little subsequent success the parties involved seem to have head - discounting the author. Samuels hasn't made anything else of note, nor has Dan Jones (won BAFTA) composed anything half as good - it's literally one of those film scores you could buy and listen to independently of the film. Wojciech Sepel's cinematography is outstanding, particularly when viewed on Blu-Ray - he, Jones and Samuels reunited on this year's The Windermere Children. Tim Murrell edited, Patrick Melrose his last good credit - he also cut the Endeavour episode 'Ride', and the author's Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth. Stevie Herbert is the production designer (many of the locations abroad were filmed near Barcelona).
Shall we mention the cast? It's Matthew Macfadyen's finest hour or five, and as I think I've mentioned before, I love the way Jim Broadbent 'becomes' him (Sam Claflin is the younger version). Will thinks people are more than one person through their lifetimes - that's (partly) why Logan is played by four different people (if you include Conor Nealon - and why shouldn't we?), though the others are simply aged. Hayley Attwell, Ed Stoppard (Ben), Samuel West (Peter), Julian Ovenden (Hemingway), Ken Bones and Flaminia Cinque (Logan's parents), Emerald Fennell (Lottie), Gillian Anderson and Tom Hollander, Kim Cattrall, Holliday Grainger, Hugh Skinner (from W1A), Stéphane Dausse (Cyprien), Yolanda Vazquez (Encarnacion), Rupert Vansittart (Earl), Freddie Fox and James Musgrave (younger Peter and Ben), Kulvinder Ghir (London neighbour), Tobias Menzies (Fleming), Richard Schiff (from The West Wing), Skye Bennett (Gail), Rosie Cavaliero (nurse), Charity Wakefield (Land), Julian Rhind-Tutt, Stuart McQuarrie, Lydia Wilson (Monday), MyAnna Buring (Ingeborg).
One of those films where at certain moments, the sound vanishes, for special effect. Also the moment Freya is bombed is terrifically well done.
It's just amazing. Also very moving and very funny. As you get older you appreciate it more and more.
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