reyizain

Firstly, the problem with critics is they seem to confuse their love of TV & film with actual knowledge of subject matter. Let's get this clear, they are NOT train engineers and do not understand the workings of the Rail Network - I daresay British Rail barely understand their own network. This leads me to my next point. Some jump to quick conclusions based on their limited knowledge. I am not going to make claims about any actual knowledge...I have none when it concerns rail travel.

With this in mind it is best to just watch Nightsleeper for the action and enjoy it. Is it a little contrived? Yes. Is the acting brilliant from all the characters? No. But it wasn't in Die Hard or Under Seige. This is just an action series piece of escapism that is fun to watch as well as annoying at times. The writers have included too many twists and mechanisms and it most certainly isn't realistic to life (none of our trains are this reliable with a driver let alone without one) but it is ultimately good predictable fun. Did anyone expect John McClane to die in Die Hard? No. It is just fun. This series is in that ilk, the accidental hero in the wrong place at the wrong time racing to right wrongs because that's the type of character the hero is.

My main criticism would be that the writers put too many situations together thinking they were giving characters depth but they definitely fail with this...it is a particularly unnecessary bit of overkill thrown in to keep the red herrings fed for each episode. That said, dismiss all requirements for TV to marry with actual reality and you might find yourself enjoying this short series.

The best thing you can do before watching this is to dismiss the notion of all historical accuracy. It is an entertainment piece that takes the usual Austen narrative of stories motivated by perspectives, as well as perspectives that clash. And to be honest you can feel the feminine touch of Emma Holly Jones pressed firmly on the ideas of a time when women were chattel but unlike most property, they actively sought to impose themselves upon the romantic whims of men. I like the notion that revenge is used but it does not mark out the film from numerous better examples that came out of Hollywood in the nineties and noughties. Consequently, we end up with a very ordinary story that is lavish to look at but little else. It had me wondering whether the acting was bad...but it wasn't. I knew all of the main actors and have enjoyed their work when in other guises. Was the script bad? Not really. It wasn't extraordinary but it was an okay script. What was it then? Well, I'm left with the thought that it was badly cast. Sope Dirusu would have been a better Captain Henry Ossory & Theo James a better Mr Jeremy Malcolm but even this change would have done little to rectify the lack of chemistry we see on the screen. I hope that Emma Holly Jones displays a bit more bravery in future to make us engage with her characters because she has a gold cinematic eye but she needs to engage with the emotional aspects of a film a little more. In all honesty, I spent a period of time during the period piece hoping all the characters would just die. I need the characters to live up to their build-up and then draw me in through my emotional engagement. This didn't manage to do that although it was splendid if only okay watch.

...And I have to say that my low expectations were not low enough. Maybe, it's a girlie film intended for a different audience but my life is poorer for having had to endure it.