Towards Zero

I love a good Agatha Christie mystery. Years ago when young I reread the books over and over. I was excited about this adaptation, willing to give it a try because I like Angelica Huston and Mathew Rhys. Unfortunately this version had to muck with a really good Agatha Christie "who-dun-it" mystery. This version has changed characters, omitted some characters, overcomplicated their motivations for murder and switched who got murdered first, changing the plot line which dulls the mystery. Even the detective is swapped from Inspector Battle to Leach which is ironic because the name switch symbolises how the story has been dulled down from dramatic to boring. Leach is drowning in alcoholism and is suicidal which makes him overly dark and not compelling to watch. Angelica Huston is too passive, not dominating or caustic enough to murder, only rich. It's dark, not the plot, but rather the filtering chosen for filming is dark & grimy in a weak ploy to create mystery. It's simply annoying as the character's faces are difficult to see in the dark. Dialogue & plot should create the mystery rather than cinematic filters. Sex scenes are used also to create drama which is another by-product of a weak plot line. Christie employed flirtatious characters, but true to her era didn't use overt sex to tell a story, instead Christie always produced a good plot line with witty dialogue. Worst of all, the story is very slow. Christie skilfully wrote Towards Zero with a delayed murder, but this version can't pull that off and when they change the order of the murder plot lines, it jumbles the mystery right out of the story. The few positives are that the setting & costumes are period-rich with details that make the show nice to view.. But even this is dulled by the overused dark filters chosen for this version. Unfortunately setting & costumes can't trump the importance of plot & dialogue for drama. With weak story telling, this version isn't worthy of Dame Agatha Christie. Her descendants promote this film, as it's a money-making legacy for the corporation Christie has become, but I think Agatha the writer would be disappointed.

Neville Strange, a celebrated tennis player goes through a messy divorce with his wife Audrey, who has legitimate grounds after Neville had an affair with the glamorous Kay. Neville takes his new wife to visit his wealthy Aunt, Lady Tresillian, it just so happens that Audrey has been invited as well.

I was truly looking forward to this, as I do with any Agatha Christie adaptation, but in recent years it's been a case of approach with caution.

There are lots of changes, let's be clear, it's altered from the book, with several characters perhaps very different, that said the core essence is still here.

The best element has to be the visuals, it is a stunning looking production, an area where The BBC still thrives, expect stunning clothes, great sets, and as it's set at Burgh Island, expect a terrific location, one Agatha Christie fans will know very well.

The issue I had, the pacing, it is very slow to get going, it takes the best part of two episodes to see an actual murder, they spend an age introducing the characters and building the murder, heading Towards Zero.

I wish they'd put this on over Christmas, it may have added an extra bit of sparkle, putting it on at the start of March felt a little odd, this was a big production.

Not as bold as some of the more recent Agatha Christie adaptations, I don't think it held a candle to the stunning adaptation of And then there were none, in comparison it felt a little bit flat, but all in all it's a good adaptation, and the feel of the book is captured well.

Anjelica Huston steals it as Lady Tresillian, but there are good performances all round, Jack Farthing in particular was excellent.

7/10.

Extremely poorly scripted. Dialoges are actually a pain to listen to. An orgy of commonplaces. Acting is uneven at best.

I wouldn't mind if the story is a reinterpretation of Christie's original (not all of her works are equally great anyway) but this one is just a mess. Everything feels artificial. Emotional outbreaks

The only good thing about it is the occasional jazz songs. (Not enough though to balance out the many shortcomings.) Other than that only the costumes do even give a try to set the 1930's vibe. (Not a very strong one, but a try anyway.) Everything else is just painfully out-of-time and out-of-place.

First the good news: wardrobe and locations are exquisite. The actors are very good, especially Anjelica Huston as the matriarch of a despicable family. Now for the bad stuff: why oh why add absolutely unnecessary characters into one of the finest plots Agatha Christie ever wrote. The dialogues are stilted and absolutely boring. The language, contrary to the setting, is much too modern and sometimes very crude. For the life of me, I don't understand the importance of a cunnilingus scene on the stairs. It just makes no sense. And last, but not least: it's way too long. The whole story could've been told in 90 minutes, it's much too thin for three hours.

Why do the writers always take a perfectly crafted plot from the queen of suspense and trample it to death?

Enjoyable tosh I'd say. Love seeing the mega-rich come unstuck. Love Agatha Christie too so this was a must-see. Looks great, lovely photography.

Reviewer kristhebass mentions the Black barrister played by the excellent Clarke Peters, as if this was an anachronism. This reviewer may be interested to know (but probably won't want to know) that the first Black barrister to practice in the UK was in 1884. No, Agatha Christie probably didn't mention any character's ethnic background so basically anyone could be cast. It's not as if it's 'unhistorical' in this instance. Oh and I think the 'maid' is more of a lady's companion, as she quite clearly states in the first episode.