pacificsite

It is perhaps inevitable, given the modesty of this remarkable woman, that I had never heard of Orin O'Brien. But having seen the film, I don't think I'll now ever forget her. The first woman appointed as a full-time player with the New York Philharmonic, she remained as a double-bassist with them for the next 55 years. Her talent, modesty, and total dedication shine through in this film made by her niece Molly O'Brien. A fitting tribute to a wonderful life.

This is a great series, that I first watched nearly a decade ago when it was first released. I've always admired David Tennant greatly, and he was made for his role in this. He has played a couple of really dark roles more recently, and done them very well, but this sort of flawed hero seems to me to suit him best. It was one of the first times I had really seen a lot of Olivia Colman, and I felt she really stole this show. Nowadays one sees her everywhere, with mixed suitability I feel, but at her best as here, she really is very, very good. I hadn't seen a great deal of Jodi Whitaker before this series, either, and she too came across very powerfully. I feel she was woefully mis-cast more recently as Doctor Who, totally in contrast to David Tennant who was my favourite ever in that role (which I have watched since Episode 1, Series 1). But as the grieving mother in Broadchurch, she showed a fine range of acting ability and really tugged on the heartstrings. The best other role of hers before this was, I think, the very vulnerable girl in Venus. Again, a heart-tugger.

Broadchurch is not a revved-up fast-moving thriller, but it draws you along inexorably, and will, I am sure, be a classic that people will watch again and again for decades.

The Brits do this sort of film so well. Setting a thriller on a sub is not particularly unusual, we've seen a lot of submarine-based movies and series, including the outstanding Das Boot. But this is different in that it brings a reluctant heroine in the form of DI Amy Silva, who is totally out of her comfort zone being helicoptered aboard a British nuclear sub to investigate a suspicious death. We've seen Suranne Jones as a cop before, and she is always good. She manages to convey real toughness while remaining very feminine. Rose Leslie, as her onshore support DS Longacre, does a fine job too. She was good in Game of Thrones but I think is better still here. The series moves right along, it is about one episode longer than I would have preferred but at no time did I feel bored, so maybe they are right and I'm wrong. Anyway, I have already recommended the series to others and will do so again here. Certainly a good eight out of ten, maybe nudging nine.