Promising beginning with old 'Independent television' announcement, and proper credits over opening (which incidentally showed the editor after the DP - most interesting). Joe Cole proving winning in Harry Palmer role, old style score appropriate. Our only concern is the director has decided to use a Dutch tilt of various degrees in 50% of the scenes, passing for 'style', which is sort of endearing, up to a point. Presumably it's in reference to The Third Man. Q was unable to accept this past the first two episodes, and quit.
Loved when asked if Dolby is his real name, the way Hollander answers "Yes. (beat) Insofar as anyone has a real name in my business."
One of the Berlin checkpoints looked so familiar we almost expected Cole to pass Spy City's Dominic Cooper coming in the opposite direction.
With Tom Hollander, Lucy Boynton, Tamla Kari, Bashy, David Dencik, Joshua James (also Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, Life), Therese Bradley, Paul Higgins.
Did I hear that Harry's parents were 'Harold and Maude'? Written by John Hodge (Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, The Beach, The Sweeney). Music by Tom Hodge (The Mauritanian) - no relation to writer I think - in a sixties John Barry shade. Gorgeous production design James Price, DP Tim Maurice-Jones, editor Stuart Gazzard (Wild Bill, Burton and Taylor, McMafia - which Watkins directed). London was played by Liverpool and Bolton, Berlin and Beirut by Zagreb and elsewhere in Croatia. More about locations here.
Did notice the name of Hilary and Steven Saltzman as producers - their Dad Harry produced the original (and many of the Bond films).
Found it a bit heavy-going towards the ending, though finale is exciting enough, albeit borrowed rather from The Manchurian Candidate.
No comments:
Post a Comment