ExiledRoyal

I didn't have high expectations of this, and equally I hadn't read that it's also a comedy. So I was nicely surprised when I was drawn into the story, the characters, and was served up some funny scenes. In fact, I had to check on its writeup when I found myself laughing at odd bits. It's not a masterpiece, the acting and writing aren't Emmy material, but for a Friday night movie after the pub closes it's fine. I watched it as a freeby on Amazon. I'm not sure I'd want to have paid for it, but you can do a whole lot worse. Give it a go. Couple of cans, couple of mates, and some undemanding entertainment.

The first thing I need to complain about is the cinematography. For some reason the film is presented in a letterbox format, so we have black bars above and below the picture. The other thing, certainly in the first episode, is that many of the scenes are made in darkness. Maybe it's intentional, but it really makes it hard to see what's going on. Not well lit.

So far as the acting is concerned, as usual, Michael Sheen inhabits the character of Andrew very well. Not a nice man, we're led to believe.

Emily Maitlis, played by Ruth Wilson, is also believable, though we don't really get an in-depth understanding of her character. She also has adopted a weird kind of accent, a cross between Miranda Hart and Maggie Thatcher.

Really well-put-together thriller/drama, with excellent characterisation and performances. Satisfying multi-stranded stories which connect at the end. But I have to say that the threat of impending danger which permeates the story in the DRC has put me off visiting there. Ever. Who wants a holiday whilst being constantly on the lookout for kidnap, violence, theft and murder? The only possible place that could be worse would be the USA, where they love their guns just as much. But apart from that, this is a binge-worthy drama, and Kate Beckinsale et Al make it work brilliantly. Currently free on Prime.