MovieChat Forums > The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) Discussion > Nicely performed

Nicely performed

posted 12 years ago by austendw
9 replies | jump to latest

Not being at all familiar with what there is of the book, I have no idea how faithful this adaptation is, but the first part was very nicely done.

I particularly liked Freddie Fox's performance: he manages to sail through the problems of Dickensian language brilliantly. Many actors go all theatrical when they have to say things like "dear boy" and other 19th Century idioms, but they just trip off Freddie's tongue easily and therefore sound entirely normal and contemporary. That's a real skill. (Having said this, it is of course possible that the Dickensian dialogue has been ironed out a little by the writer, with the more inaccessible mannerisms discreetly elided... perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I could comment.)

Fox also captures the character extremely well: brimful of character - but without caricature, and so entirely plausible. Again - very skilful.

Call me Ishmael...

[–] alfa-16 12 years ago

I think this is one adaptation that ISN'T going to suffer from endless pejorative comparison with the book.

Freddie Fox does look enough like his dad for a remake of Day of the Jackal. I agree with your assessment and I was rather ticked orf when he made his exit (no, I haven't read it, either). Tamsin Merchant is rather good at La Belle Dame sans Merci. Just enough doubt about her motives to keep you interested. And their relationship, considering we've only had one hour, was satisfyingly full of swings and roundabouts. I liked him at first, then her, then neither . . then him again. Could be old age, I suppose.

It also focussed on the drama and away from sets and props, like Bleak House dud. What was there was accurate, I'm sure but the narrative thread and characterisation is good enough to avoid any distractions about what the producer or director might have been arguing about. A bit more polish on the Indian sub-continent-sub-plot might not have come amiss but I only have the vaguest suspicions about where that's going so it's too early to criticise on that score.

Looking forward to Ep 2 and seeing what they do.

[–] Squeeth2 12 years ago

It was on in the background but I wasn't tempted to pay attention (except to expostulate "Is this an advert!? The COMbbc bastards!" at the end) due to spraining my toe the night before (I never knew that settees could be so dangerous.). I did do an interweb search for a picture of Gillian Anderson done up as Lady Dedlock though.

Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.

[–] minifie-1 12 years ago

Yup,after the abortion that was Grating Expectations this was quite a treat. It differed from the apparent ending Dickens had in mind - the plot and alternative views to the ending are well set out at Wikipedia - but was none the worse for it. From what I could see much of it was actually filmed in Rochester,the basis for Cloisterham,which added a nice touch.

[–] Seymour-Pats 12 years ago

I really liked this. I thought it was very well acted all around. And as a fan of The Tudors, it's nice to see that Tazmin in another role. I think she did a great job, and it was nice to see her play a character so different from Catherine Howard. She showed some range.

[–] WeatherViolet 12 years ago

Yes, I agree with everyone thus far. This contains many nice performances.

Surely, Dickens' The Mystery of Edwin Drood appears downbeat, and so does this adaptation, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" (2012).

But it hardly seems plausible that the plain young lady would be able to resist the charms of Matthew as John throughout the course. That part doesn't work well even though Matthew delivers a compelling performance.

So, I also agree that I would have changed the ending, too, but they're going for downbeat all the way, it would seem.

"Ability is of little account without opportunity." -- Lucille Ball

[–] ApricotLimerickDove 11 years ago

Yes, very true.

The story does not end as well as if Charles Dickens would have finished it, but it's nicely performed and well-acted and directed otherwise.

^°^^°^^°^

[–] lurkylurker 12 years ago

I caught it last night and liked it more than I thought I would. Very well acted. It could have been far better had it been longer than what it was, in order to flesh things out more, but I liked it all the same (even if I wasn't surprised by the "twist" at the end).

[–] thbryn 12 years ago

Any have the last two lines? I replayed it o-over but couldn't pick up on Helena and Rev?

[–] aghinem 12 years ago

No guarantees this is exactly right...

She kissed his hand. He said, in wonderment, "Did I ask you a question?" She replied, "No." Then she gave a small smile and continued, "But I said yes, anyway."