A while back — a long while back, actually — I promised to blog my viewing of the 1998 miniseries of Our Mutual Friend. I've finally begun that viewing, and here are a few scattered thoughts on the first installment . . .
So far I'm finding the high society scenes a little more convincing than the slum and river scenes (aside from the jail, which is fittingly creepy). The former seem to have been shot with more care and attention to detail, and brilliant use of color. By contrast, the opening river scene has an almost soundstagey feel about it. And Gaffer Hexam is a little too subdued for my taste. Lizzie, on the other hand, is excellent.
I like the way Mortimer and Eugene's dialogue is set against the backdrop of the party. It makes a nice running commentary, even though it eventually strays into information-dump territory (and things aren't helped by Lady Tippins's habit of yelling awkward questions to the company). And oh, by the way, Mortimer is CUTE. Majorly cute, despite a pair of sideburns that look like they're trying to eat his face. Eugene is a bit too hangdog in appearance, but Paul McGann has the lackadaisical attitude down pat. But with a streak of bitterness as well, which I didn't pick up quite so much from the book. Interesting how he draws a parallel between Bella's situation and his own.
Goodness, look at those blond curls! Apparently Lizzie's brother is Bo Duke. Who knew?
WHOA, I so did not need that shot of the corpse. Even for a veteran watcher of murder mysteries, that was pretty grisly. No wonder poor John was thrown for a loop.
Nice intercutting in the courtroom scene. Bella's little impatient exclamation was so very Bella-like. Anna Friel is going to be as enjoyable as everyone says, I can tell; her face is quite expressive. But I'm not sure I like their having her think some of her observations about money, instead of speaking them. It's not like Bella to think for long stretches without voicing her thoughts, especially when money is involved!
Mr. Boffin is quite the charmer. He's just as twinkly-eyed and jolly as Dickens could have wished. And quite adorable when he's looking in the bookstore window.
They take a while to dig into the Wilfer family relationships, but when they get there, they do a good job. The scene with Bella and her father by the fire is quite lovely, and their relationship is nicely (and hilariously) countered by Mrs. Wilfer's sharp little jabs as she crosses in front of them.
The first scene between Mr. Venus and Wegg was beautifully played. Timothy Spall is a magnificent Mr. Venus. He's got a dreamy quality that adds to his air of creepiness. With that plus the bones, you'd think at first he was one of the greatest villains Dickens ever wrote. (Of course, it doesn't hurt that we recently saw him as Fagin!)
The Lammles are really good. But they shouldn't have gone with the big mustache for him; at first glance, I wondered why Eugene
was fighting with Sophronia Lammle, before I realized it wasn't Eugene
at all. And she appears to have taken hairstyling tips from Padme
Amidala.
That little scene between Mr. and Mrs. Boffin, when she told him about the faces, was sweet. They are so dear together. No wonder you guys put them into the finals in the Best Couples competition!
They're making Lizzie cry too much, and unfortunately, good as she is in other respects, Keeley Hawes is not a convincing crier. I suppose they decided they'd rather have crying than fainting, but it's not an improvement.
McGann's performance intrigues me. He seems to have cut out most of Eugene's whimsical side (and let me tell you, I'm missing it sorely) and ratcheted up the gloom and intensity. Is it an attempt to win audience sympathy and make Eugene's future course of action seem more justified? I wonder . . .
Eugene crossed himself? While it was a nice gesture, and while I always like to see gleams of faith in a character, it doesn't feel appropriate for this character . . . at least, not yet.
Whoops, did Anthony Calf's name just go by in the credits? It did! Anthony Calf as Alfred Lammle! I'll be darned. I watched him all that time as Pip and never recognized him here. Either age and a mustache can really change a guy, or my eye for faces is even worse than I thought it was.
And that's it for Episode 1.
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