jamie-50817
Joined Dec 2017
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Reviews30
jamie-50817's rating
Baby Reindeer is one of the most compelling, thought provoking and genuinely insightful pieces of TV I have seen. But it's also really entertaining.
Creator and actor Richard Gadd pulls no punches in dissecting his own autobiographical story, going warts and all into some very dark and challenging places. But he also tells it in a way that remains upbeat, often funny and consistently engaging.
It's rare that a male character is allowed to be as psychologically stripped bare as Donny is. But it's unique to see a man dealing with abuse, sexuality, masculinity and self-doubt in a way that is not preachy, depressing, patronising or fake.
The cast are all excellent. Jessica Gunning, who plays Martha, is a complete revelation. I hope we get to see a lot more of her in future shows. Nava Mau really glows in her role, and her contribution to the story is so well done.
This is a series that will stay with me for a long time. So happy to have seen it.
I am amused by those reviewers asking for a second season though. What more do you want this poor guy to go through?
Creator and actor Richard Gadd pulls no punches in dissecting his own autobiographical story, going warts and all into some very dark and challenging places. But he also tells it in a way that remains upbeat, often funny and consistently engaging.
It's rare that a male character is allowed to be as psychologically stripped bare as Donny is. But it's unique to see a man dealing with abuse, sexuality, masculinity and self-doubt in a way that is not preachy, depressing, patronising or fake.
The cast are all excellent. Jessica Gunning, who plays Martha, is a complete revelation. I hope we get to see a lot more of her in future shows. Nava Mau really glows in her role, and her contribution to the story is so well done.
This is a series that will stay with me for a long time. So happy to have seen it.
I am amused by those reviewers asking for a second season though. What more do you want this poor guy to go through?
Richard Armitage plays a doctor who's accused of commiting a murder in Beijing. He escapes back to the UK, but he's immediately extradited back to China at the airport. On the plane he is accompanied by a British police officer, played by Jing Lusi. During the flight, things start getting complicated.
The cast are universally good. The production values are decent.
For the script, there's a number of "suspend belief" moments. Lots of people have brought up the unlikely extradition of a British citizen from Heathrow to China with no lawyers or due process. But hey, it's a popcorn spy thriller. I didn't have a high expectation for realism. If you hate that, there's much worse to come in the series, believe me!
Regularly characters behave in dumb ways to let the plot progress (especially the bad guys). And there's plenty of unlikely coincidences to keep it moving.
Also, I know China is the new go-to propaganda boogieman, but jeez - this one is pretty relentless in it's xenophobia of mainland Chinese people. Clearly the writers haven't spent any time there.
However biggest problem for me was the pacing. The series spans 6 episodes, each 1 hour long. There's a lot of padding, and often it moves too slowly and takes itself much too seriously. Far better and more complicated stories have been told in a 1.5 to 2 hour movie. Had it been sharper, faster and less brooding, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
It's ok. Put it on in the background when you're doing something else and it's entertaining enough. Don't think about it too much though, and certainly don't think you're going to learn anything about the world!
The cast are universally good. The production values are decent.
For the script, there's a number of "suspend belief" moments. Lots of people have brought up the unlikely extradition of a British citizen from Heathrow to China with no lawyers or due process. But hey, it's a popcorn spy thriller. I didn't have a high expectation for realism. If you hate that, there's much worse to come in the series, believe me!
Regularly characters behave in dumb ways to let the plot progress (especially the bad guys). And there's plenty of unlikely coincidences to keep it moving.
Also, I know China is the new go-to propaganda boogieman, but jeez - this one is pretty relentless in it's xenophobia of mainland Chinese people. Clearly the writers haven't spent any time there.
However biggest problem for me was the pacing. The series spans 6 episodes, each 1 hour long. There's a lot of padding, and often it moves too slowly and takes itself much too seriously. Far better and more complicated stories have been told in a 1.5 to 2 hour movie. Had it been sharper, faster and less brooding, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
It's ok. Put it on in the background when you're doing something else and it's entertaining enough. Don't think about it too much though, and certainly don't think you're going to learn anything about the world!
It took me a long time to pluck up the courage to see this, as I am a huge fan of the film it's based on, Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru, and I was fairly sure they'd ruin it with modern storytelling.
Thankfully, they didn't. It's almost a scene-for-scene retelling of the original. They modernised some parts - splitting some dialog that was previously in one long scene into a few different scenes for example - but not in a way that diminished their impact or importance.
Bill Nighy was really great, which was a relief as I find him a little repetitive in some of his roles. He still gets his trademark smirk in here a couple of times, but he also fully embodies the main character. I find it hard to imagine many other actors pulling it off in the way he did.
Writer Kazuo Ishiguro did a fantastic job of transposing the movie from Japan to 1950's England. The time period is both repressed and also vibrant, and completely convincing. I adored The Remains of the Day (which Ishiguro also wrote) and once again here he brings his unique perspective on old England vividly to life.
And most importantly, the emotional impact of the original movie is left in tact. It's a hugely moving, beautiful and inspiring story - one that leaves me with a love of life and of living - and I still felt that magic in this retelling.
If you're up for watching a black and white 1952 movie in Japanese with subtitles then I thoroughly recommend Ikiru. It's undoubtedly still better than this, and it's so beautiful to look at. But I am aware that's not everyone's cup of tea, and I am delighted that this faithful remake exists to bring the beauty of the story to a new audience.
Thankfully, they didn't. It's almost a scene-for-scene retelling of the original. They modernised some parts - splitting some dialog that was previously in one long scene into a few different scenes for example - but not in a way that diminished their impact or importance.
Bill Nighy was really great, which was a relief as I find him a little repetitive in some of his roles. He still gets his trademark smirk in here a couple of times, but he also fully embodies the main character. I find it hard to imagine many other actors pulling it off in the way he did.
Writer Kazuo Ishiguro did a fantastic job of transposing the movie from Japan to 1950's England. The time period is both repressed and also vibrant, and completely convincing. I adored The Remains of the Day (which Ishiguro also wrote) and once again here he brings his unique perspective on old England vividly to life.
And most importantly, the emotional impact of the original movie is left in tact. It's a hugely moving, beautiful and inspiring story - one that leaves me with a love of life and of living - and I still felt that magic in this retelling.
If you're up for watching a black and white 1952 movie in Japanese with subtitles then I thoroughly recommend Ikiru. It's undoubtedly still better than this, and it's so beautiful to look at. But I am aware that's not everyone's cup of tea, and I am delighted that this faithful remake exists to bring the beauty of the story to a new audience.