jhenchard
Joined Sep 2006
Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Reviews10
jhenchard's rating
Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective, directed in six parts by Jon Amiel, first aired on BBC1 from 16 November to 21 December 1986. I watched it then and just watched a repeat on BBC TV.
This is Dennis Potter's masterpiece and it is a sharp reminder how far Television has fallen in the intervening years.
Extraordinarily moving, as well as bitingly funny in the interactions of patients, nurses, and doctors, The Singing Detective was the climax of Potter's career, the summation of his key themes and use of non-naturalism and of his complex autobiographical investment in his work. He would not touch its heights again in the eight years left to him, prolific though he remained. (The 2003 American film version was a travesty.) It is unequalled in the entire spectrum of British television drama, and there may be no greater depiction of psychoanalysis in any film.
Essential viewing.
This is Dennis Potter's masterpiece and it is a sharp reminder how far Television has fallen in the intervening years.
Extraordinarily moving, as well as bitingly funny in the interactions of patients, nurses, and doctors, The Singing Detective was the climax of Potter's career, the summation of his key themes and use of non-naturalism and of his complex autobiographical investment in his work. He would not touch its heights again in the eight years left to him, prolific though he remained. (The 2003 American film version was a travesty.) It is unequalled in the entire spectrum of British television drama, and there may be no greater depiction of psychoanalysis in any film.
Essential viewing.
Warning - I didn't watch the whole film. In fact I only watched about 15 minutes before having to turn it off because it was so dire. So my review is based on that alone
I'm not sure of the backstory about how this came to be made but after growing up with the delights of Wallace and Grommet, Creatire Comforts, Shaun the Sheep and the first Chicken Run film all with innovative annimation, story lines and quirky British humour this was terrible.
Something has gone drastically wrong in the Aardman camp. Some very young children may find it visually entertaining but most adults are going to be deeply disappointed by this blooper.
I'm not sure of the backstory about how this came to be made but after growing up with the delights of Wallace and Grommet, Creatire Comforts, Shaun the Sheep and the first Chicken Run film all with innovative annimation, story lines and quirky British humour this was terrible.
Something has gone drastically wrong in the Aardman camp. Some very young children may find it visually entertaining but most adults are going to be deeply disappointed by this blooper.
At the time of writing this I am surprised to see this film beeing rated so low.
In my opinion it is a little gem of a film.
A delightful story of the breakdown of a relationship and the ensuing road trip to try and discover wher it went wrong.
Some good acting and nicely paced with some quirky momments. Give it a chance and hopefully if will get more traction than it does at present.
In my opinion it is a little gem of a film.
A delightful story of the breakdown of a relationship and the ensuing road trip to try and discover wher it went wrong.
Some good acting and nicely paced with some quirky momments. Give it a chance and hopefully if will get more traction than it does at present.