Displaying items by tag: Ruth Sheen

THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB 

UK, 2025, 118 minutes, Colour.

Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imre, Naomi Acte, Daniel Mays, Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Tom Ellis, Geoff Bell, Paul Freeman, Richard E. Grant, Ruth Sheen.

Directed by Chris Columbus.

For several years now, this reviewer included, many readers have been exhilarated by the series of novels about The Thursday Murder Club. They have been written by television personality, Richard Osman, familiar from earlier seasons of the British television quiz program, Pointless, and from his own show, House of Games. In his writings, Osman is a great creator of characters, bringing them alive, especially with eccentricities, is able to develop intricate murder mysteries and their solutions, and has a witty way with words and topical references to politics, media, which can always bring a smile.

And he has created this group of foUr elderly residents of an aged care community in Kent who meet in the common room every Thursday morning to explore and try to solve cold cases. And, for the film version, American director, Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire), brings his genial touch to a screenplay by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote which has done a wonderful job of gathering all the key elements of the novel for a two-hour drama. (Within 24 hours of its appearance on Netflix, the IMDb registered a high number of bloggers, many delighted, some with various quibbles as expected, and then, for this reviewer, unexpectedly, bloggers who seemed unable to wait to share their misery of disappointment and judgements of failure in the adaptation – and one wonders why this judgemental haste. But, on with this review of enthusiasm…).

Helen Mirren has no trouble in being Elizabeth with her espionage background. Ben Kingsley perfectly embodies the gentlemanly psychotherapist. It was hard, while reading, to imagine Pierce Brosnan as old union activist, Ron, but he rises to the occasion, obviously enjoying himself in the role. In the novel, former nurse, now widow, Joyce, is often more than daffy. Celia Imre is wonderful in the role although, perhaps, she has been written a little less daffy than in the novels. But, it all works.

And, there is a wonderful supporting cast of British character actors, Jonathan Pryce standing out as Elizabeth’s husband, a good man with developing dementia. David Tennant enjoys himself as the main villain but Richard E. Grant is unexpected as a sinister florist towards the end of the film.

The film opens with an example of the Thursday Murder Club in action, a cold case in connection with a former member who is now lying in coma, her sad husband in attendance. And, while this might have served as an introduction to the club’s activities and remained as that, it actually becomes quite integral to the development of the plot and the finale.

But, there are two other deaths which have to be investigated, especially in connection with the possible sale of the aged care home by a ruthless developer.

And, then there are the two representatives of the local police, the alert at Donna (Noemi Ackie who played Whitney Houston in the film biography recently) and the rather overweight, sweets-eating, less on the ball Hudson, played engagingly by Daniel Mays. (And the laugh out loud scene in the novel where the club cram him on the couch to pressure him is happily incorporated into the film!).

So far Richard Osman has written five of these novels, and the film then provides faces and mannerisms of the stars for those who continue to read the novels, making them come alive most enjoyably.

1. The popularity of Richard Osman’s books, characters and setting, murder mysteries and solutions, witty writing? The popular audience for this kind of storytelling? And the strong cast?
2. The setting, the aged care home, rooms, meeting places? The outside sequences, atmosphere? Police stations? The village streets? The cemetery, the demonstrations in the street…? The musical score?
3. The title, popularity of murder mysteries, the Agatha Christie tradition? The miss Marple tradition? The club, the members, the meetings, Elizabeth and her espionage background, Ron and his union background, Ebrahim and his psychotherapy, Joyce and her nursing background? Penn, police background, the cold case, her illness and coma, John caring for her? Elizabeth’s visits?
4. The initial case, the woman stabbed and thrown out the window, the alleged intruder, the boyfriend, the investigation, the police believing the boyfriend, his disappearance? The photos, the meeting, moves towards solutions? Joyce responding to the photo, the blood, they’re asking her opinion? Her becoming a member of the club? The complication with the discovery of the Bones in the cemetery, the identification, confrontation with John, the murdering of the boyfriend, disposing of his bones? Admission of the truth, John killing Penn, suicide, Abraham and his eulogy at the cemetery?
5. The situation with the home, bent, his character, divorce proceedings, his wife’s affair with Jason, ownership of the property, with Tony Curran? His plans for demolition, rebuilding flats, entertainment centre? Tony Curran and his Art board, the clash? Tony Curran, at home, the confrontation, his death, the investigation?
6. Vent, his relationship with Bogdan, putting him as the boss, to dig in the cemetery during the protest, the discovery of the Bones, the meeting with Elizabeth, his Polish background, his mother, Elizabeth listening questions, her finding him at home, playing with Stephen, chess? The friendship? Stephen, his shrewdness, that Bogdan had killed Tony Curran? Elizabeth discovering the racquet about passports, hurrying back home, U of Stephen being poisoned, the police, the revelation of the truth, bogged down and is later friendship with Stephen?
7. The discovery of the third owner, Elizabeth with the documents, Joyce and her relationship with her daughter, Joanna haughty, but examining the documents, giving the information about the ownership of the property? The mysterious identity, aunt Maud and the bouquet, the initials? The bouquet for Elizabeth, warning her off, her identifying the florist, the identity of the criminal, his savage reputation, disappearing? Elizabeth and the discovery of the passport racket, Tony Curran’s involvement, the truth about bogged down? Her deal with the criminal?
8. The police station, Donna, her background in London, race, the meeting with the club, her lecture, the case, serving coffee to the male police, Elizabeth and her visit to the police, the information, the deal? Hudson, his manner, overweight, heating? Discussions with Elizabeth, the deals, wedging him on the couch, plying him with cake…? Donna and her position, driving, the interrogations, the collaboration with the club?
9. The protest, vent and his visit to the elderly, the 10 minute consultation, Father Mackie and his protest, the crowds at the cemetery gate, man-to-man his arrogance, his collapse, his death? The post-mortem, poisoned?
10. The role of each of the members in the investigation, Abraham and his analysis, his notes, calm presence? Ron, the union background, protests, two wives, relationship with Jason, Jason and his boxing in the past, doing jobs for vent, television, admired, his statue and the photo, the ice-skating? The affair? Ron and his posing as bewildered, then his suit and posing as his son’s lawyer…? Joyce, skill as a nurse, at home, the touch of the Daffy, cakes? And Elizabeth in control?
11. Elizabeth, her relationship with Stephen, his going dementia, the tablets, playing chess, yet alert?
12. The resolving of the mystery of vent’s death? Penn and John? The funeral?
13. The finale, the audience enjoying the investigation, the quiet British style, the elderly, shrewdness, each playing their part?

THE INK BLACK HEART

UK, 2024, 4X 60 minutes, Colour.

Tom Burke, Holliday Grainger, Ruth Sheen, Jack Greenlessirren, Stephen Hagan, Kevin Bishop, Mirren Mack,.

Directed by Susan Tully.

The Ink Black Heart is based on a novel by Robert K. Galbraith, a.k.a. J.A.Rowling. It features her detective, Cormorant Strike, played in all episodes by Tom Burke, and his assistant, then partner, Robin Ellicott, played in all episodes by Holliday Grainger. This is the sixth in the series.

The book has around 900 pages which means a difficult task in adapting it for a television series with four hour-long episodes. However, the series does keep all the key elements of the novel, but some of the background to Cormorant and his relationship with Robert, indicated sometimes by a very brief phone call, allowing the audience to develop aspects in their imagination.

The Ink Black Heart is an animated program for television, and plans for a film version. The key issues concern creativity behind the idea, various claims, murder of one of the originators, a range of suspicions. In the novel, there were pages and pages of transcripts of online conversations, especially from a sinister character called Enemy and another anonymous player in the online games. In the series, these conversations are presented verbally.

One of the creators approaches Robin but the company is too busy – and then she is killed. Robin feels to blame, becomes more involved, studies The Ink Black Heart, becomes more involved in the online chats, experiences the threats of And on me, follows quite a number of leads an interesting potential suspects, enrolling in an art class to gain more knowledge of the suspects. There is also a sympathetic police officer to whom she is attracted.

In the background, there is her birthday celebration and Strikes moved to kiss her and her shocked reaction which puts a great stress on the relationship. There are the other employees of the agency, and presided over by veteran Ruth Sheen.

For audiences who have read the novel, they will be able to fill in a lot of the background – especially the identity of the ultimate killer, the variety of subterfuge is and ability to disguise the sinister presence. Audiences who have not read the novel will have to pay constant attention, especially because of the range of characters and potential suspects.

As with the other episodes in the series, fans of JK Galbraith will not be disappointed.

1. The title, intriguing, the sketches, the origins of the program, the episodes, the animation, the characters? And the flow onto the computer games?
2. The London settings, Strike and’s office, the sabotage and destruction? Strike and Robin as partners? The other detectors and their tasks, surveillance, the characters? Presided over by Pat? Her opening the bomb package, saving the day?
3. Strike and Robin, the work of surveillance, the long hours, Robin and her various disguises, especially going to the art class and her identity, her investigations, her disguise to interview the writer of the book, at the fair? Strike, his disguises, especially the character at the fair?
4. ED lead will, her visit, anxieties, the film too busy, the news her death, Robin going to her agents, the uncle, issues of rights, authorship, the rivals, her relationship with Josh, the attack in the cemetery, his being in hospital?
5. The establishing of various suspects, the boyfriend and his wanting to further develop the partnership, the film? The uncle and the discussions about the film? The role of Josh?
6. The range of women suspects, relationships, the writer of the book, the nervy woman and her mother?
7. The range of men, at the arts Centre, the eccentric manager, the model, his attraction to Robin? Wally and his involvement?
8. The political background, the extreme right, using the cartoon, online, targeting Edie?
9. This is to the up court family, the wife and her involvement as agent and adviser, the father and his medical background, sinister behaviour, moods and relationships? Flavia, her age, put down by her mother? Ghosts, the music, computers, in the background, his final emergence?
10. Visit to Oxford, the professor, his participation and identity, his death?
11. The young sister, Robin and the interviews, her contribution to the mystery?
12. The attack on, and, his injuries? The ups and downs of his relationship with Robin? Pat and her interventions?
13. Strike and, the background of his relationship with Charlotte, her coming to the office, wanting the help, the divorce issue, scandals, the brutality of the husband towards his daughters, the confrontation, power over him?
14. The combination, the visit to the Upcotts, the revelation of the truth about Gus, about Anomie, motivations?