Harry's Game

I was over in Belfast not long after this film came out & although it was filmed in Leeds, it is so close to looking like Belfast that it always brings back memories -- good & bad. The acting is excellent, most of the accents authentic, the immorality of the bosses on both sides well shown, & the plot totally believable. There now seems a real chance of peace in NI but if ever the 'troubles' resume, this should be used to prepare anyone posted over there. Thoroughly recommended.

Easily the best thriller set in Belfast, taken from Gerald Seymour's excellent novel. The film benefits from a degree of accuracy you will never find in 'The Devil's Own,' 'Patriot Games' or any of the other Hollywood nonsense. A good cast with many Belfast actors adds realism and the story is fast-paced and believable. The opening sequence is shocking, but again very detailed and the use of the IRA CO as a voice-over is pretty clever. The tension as the IRA close in on Harry is palpable as is his feeling of isolation and all the characters are three-dimensional. Leeds was used for some filming, but it feels like Belfast and there is good use of Belfast locations as well, especially during the climax. 'It was well done, Billy...'

I read the Seymour novel in the eighties and really enjoyed it then. It was remarkably potent and pithy, with immensely satisfying characters, plot and subplots all so well developed. Finding a copy of the DVD of the miniseries was an opportunity too good to miss. It's great television, and actually gains from the lack of big names, and from the austerity of the production and performances. Credible portrayals in the vein of "the professionals", and even "edge of darkness". To their credit the actors all give a degree of subtle authenticity to their roles that's commendable, and combined with the great plot, HG makes for evocative if nostalgic viewing, especially for enthusiasts of the genre, period or subject matter. Not flashy, but rewarding.

A British agent tries to infiltrate the IRA to find an assassin and capture him before he himself is found out. I keep trying to get people to watch this film. This is the best treatment I have seen about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the causes and the futility. Both the British and the IRA are intelligent, and we see the reasons each side does what it does. The tension is very well handled. The film PATRIOT GAMES pays tribute by borrowing some of the music, but it does not match the quality of the storytelling.

Yes, this is a bleak portrait of the Troubles. Yes, it has wonderful music and a theme tune that strike you. But no, this isn't a masterpiece. It is a flawed masterpiece on its own accord. The accents spoken by some of its actors are a joke whilst some of its characters aren't well-presented in an acceptable manner. Plus, this plot needs more strength than ingenuity.

Without giving too much away, here are some questions for you...

1. If Harry, who is disguised as an Irish citizen, enters the Ardoyne area of Belfast, how come the Catholic taxi driver recognises an Army-type suitcase in the back without raising the alarm?

2. If Billy was supposed to run as far as his home with a wounded arm, would he really make it in time to see his wife?

3. If the British Army knew one of their military agents was going to get Harry, how on earth did they not know who the killer was in the first place?

Think before you leap is what I suggest when it comes to this overrated piece of TV history.