MovieChat Forums > Desperate Romantics (2009) Discussion > the basic story.....

the basic story.....

posted 15 years ago by willrenfiled
15 replies | jump to latest

It is set in the 1800's to a backdrop of punkrock music and lots and lots of gratuitous sex,drug-use and vulgarity.
Basically, Skins for an older generation.
The characters have been moulded into more indie-type rock stars than painters, sort of a 24 hour party people meets Oliver.
However if a cliche soundtrack and indie boys wearing breaches is your thing, you will not be dissapointed.
Bearing in mind these painters were responsible for a very important movement in London...
I tell you what, it just feels like the BBC is once again dumbing down another great story because they think we are too stupid to understand and learn.
Sad really considering the young people today are eager to learn and be educated..

[–] thatsnumberwang 15 years ago

I hope they are not going the anachronistic route viz. clothes, music etc. If the BBC feels they have to inject modern flavors into costume dramas then what is left? Where can a person go to get a good solid (non-revisionist) 19th C. mini?

http://saucybetty.blogspot.com

[–] willrenfiled 15 years ago

Unfortunatly, this is the direction they are going to take, I have seen the script..
It is lewd and trying very hard to 'appeal to the kids'.
I think they feel that putting a Joy Division, The Only Ones and the Damned etc soundtrack, and using every term under the sun to express sex in vulgar terms will endear it to a 'funkier audience'
What they do not realise is that we want to see quality costume drama, not 'Skins' in victorian times!

[–] woodtiger 15 years ago

Isn't there room for both, though? I want to see a quality costume drama as much as anyone, but I also have room for those productions that modernize or otherwise blend non-traditional elements of differing genres. The trick for BBC and Hollywood and whoever else is to not let this sort of genre blending become the norm.

- You're wrong. Sorry to ruin the ending for you.

[–] Marbeque 15 years ago

I really enjoyed Russel T. Davie's Casanova it was quite modern but was refreshingly quirky.

Now showing: thefundamentalthings.blogspot.com

[–] TheNextGlinda 15 years ago

What is the POINT on modernising it it's so stupid!

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] theunderstudy1610 15 years ago

I liked the modernisation.
I think the beeb does it well, they can do decent period drama with a modern twist, like this, as well as doing the old fashioned, traditional stuff (ie. Cranford, Lark Rise, North and South) to a high standard also.
And to be honest, the Pre-Raphalites were wild (for the time), Paxman covered them quite well on his Victorians programme (on BBC1)so I dont really think the BBC thinks we're thick, perhaps they just wanted to put on some escapism?

[–] Harlequin_Girl_251191 15 years ago

I agree with theunderstudy1610, I like the modernisation and I think it suits the story very well.

[–] periodglamour 15 years ago

I'm also down with the "modernisation." I have been fascinated by the PRB for years, love their paintings, and they were revolutionary in their day. As for "lewdness" and what have you, that was part of their life, and John Ruskin did refuse to have sex with his wife because he was revolted by the sight of her pubic hair. Rossetti was a drug addict, etc., these young men were wild for their time...so why not extrapolate from that?

[–] theunderstudy1610 15 years ago

I think sometimes people think that the past was some moral highground, where the flash of an ankle was scandalous - and for some it was, but people did behave lustily, drink, abuse other substances etc. because we're not used to seeing this however we assume when it happens in a drama it's automatically the beeb, itv, whoever trying to be 'down with the kids'
I read an interview with one of the cast (can't remember which, sorry) who said that he liked that the drama showed that young artists have always got drunk and slept around, the PRB doing this is nothing new.
I also heared BBC4 are reshowing their documetntries on the pre-raphalites at some point soon, there well worth a look

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Littlemermaid88 15 years ago

I agree with you on the dumbing down of a great story. The sex, drugs and vulgarity is too much - whilst it did happen, why do they need to focus ONLY on that? It p!sses me off that all great stories get shot to sh!t these days.

Where are the brilliant, intelligent dramas these days like 'Edge of Darkness.'

That did not spoonfeed it's audience and was brilliantly acted by everyone involved.

The actors of DR were clearly chosen for their likeness to the painters, not their talent.

Boo to this rubbish :(

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Littlemermaid88 15 years ago

Bah fair enough, I just think from the first three episodes, it's been pretty poor and cringey.

I don't know about Rossetti though - his portraits portrayed him to be a fine looking man as is the actor in DR. Ha that's pretty funny your comment on Holman Hunt. I stand corrected. :-)

The ONE thing I love about the show is the sheer amount of gorgeous red hair on the women. Something I covet badly and love watching on screen as well as being the subject in art. Beautiful!

If anything, this programme will start a new 'in' for the Pre-Raphaelites.

[–] 15 years ago

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