MovieChat Forums > Jamaica Inn (2015) Discussion > Highly Recommended

Highly Recommended

posted 10 years ago by annlevtex
20 replies | jump to latest

This isn't for everyone, obviously. But if you like a vaguely Gothic period drama with a strong female heroine, you should enjoy it. Very good acting, haunting music, and wonderful cinematography. Jessica Brown Findlay is very convincing and beautiful as always. Her character is prickly and difficult, which I like. I've never seen her play that type before.

She also nails the physical side of the role.. It is a surprisingly physical role for a period drama, for a female character anyway. She is a natural in that department.

And her chemistry with Matthew McNulty is promising. He is terrific.

[–] catpetal-1 10 years ago

I am enjoying the ambiguity in the characters, all apparently forced into the situation and coping as best they can emotionally, physically and morally. That's down to Du Maurier, of course, but it's still putting an unsettling and modern edge on the Gothicism.

The scene in which Joss hangs his friend because he has to was especially well done, I thought. Joss' horror at having to do it was palpable.

[–] journalist1 10 years ago

"Very good acting"?
You have to be kidding me!!
The pace was glacial, the performances monotonous and dialogue incomprehensible.

[–] annlevtex 10 years ago

Sorry, I thought the acting was good. And the pace was no trouble for me either. I don't need to it race along.

The guy playing Jem is dishy.

[–] catpetal-1 10 years ago

I agree - and you can certainly feel the chemistry between Mary and Jem. Even old Joss has something about him to explain Patience's love, even if he is mostly drunk, violent and a bully.

[–] annlevtex 10 years ago

Well, I don't know if I agree with that. I thought he was over-acting at first, he was so excessively menacing and taciturn. He acted like a caveman!

But I like the scene where the other guy attacked her in the inn and Joss came to her rescue. That was well-done.

He's a good actor but I just find his performance a bit OTT. I prefer the actress playing patience, Brown-Findlay and McNulty.

[–] randommovies2002 10 years ago

That's Joanne Whalley playing Patience. I didn't think Joss was ott (I've seen the earlier BBC series and read the novel years ago).

[–] annlevtex 10 years ago

I haven't read the book so you're right, I shouldn't judge. Maybe his muttering is just making me inclined to go hard on him.

[–] anniebrodie 10 years ago

Sadly, the whole atmosphere and glorious visuals of this piece have been totally spoiled by having to use the subtitles because of the abysmal sound quality.

[–] annlevtex 10 years ago

That is a terrible shame and I feel badly for all the people who worked so hard on it. I even feel sorry for the sound people, because most of the blame is being laid at their feet. That;s has to sting.

[–] catpetal-1 10 years ago

This completely misrepresents the case.

I don't know if the sound has been altered, but I haven't missed a single word tonight, nor needed to use the subtitles.

As for subtitles totally spoiling the visuals - no, they didn't for the recent Nordic films, and, if you have to use them, they're not spoiling this either.

Storm in a teacup. Everyone jumping on the bandwagon - and I'm sure I could think of other sayings that would apply, too.

[–] annlevtex 10 years ago

I think the media coverage has been ridiculous. Apparently it was on the FRONT page of the Telegraph? Really? They don't have more important things to cover? And those couple of celebs who tweeted snarky stuff about the sound that was repeated all over the place by supposedly serious news sources?

There was a lot more to the show than just the sound. Like you, I had no trouble hearing it. Most people I have talked to had no trouble either. Not the ones I know anyway.

I find it baffling. It's entertainment news. It doesn't belong on the front page of a major newspaper. Jeez.

[–] catpetal-1 10 years ago

I agree - it's absolutely ridiculous, the way people respond to something which was barely a problem in the first place. And sadly, people will turn off the programme, and miss the truly creepy, terrifying wrecking scene, when the actors battle the waves and you can hear every word. The cold horror of that scene is as well done as anything I've ever watched.

[–] WishfulDreamer 10 years ago

I'm glad others liked it. I thoroughly enjoyed the series. I also had no problems hearing the dialogue and I'm not even English. It wasn't difficult for me to understand what the characters were saying.

I also found the soundtrack to be great, particularly the main theme. Sadly, I saw people were even complaining about the music. I'm glad I gave it a try despite all of the negative hype.

[–] Marlburian 10 years ago

I resorted to sub-titles, which at first I found a bit large and intrusive - more so than when added to foreign-language films, but I soon got used to them. I thought the first episode dragged, the second was a bit better and the third OK, though I wasn't convinced by the way the scenes on the rocky outcrop played out. The heroine lacked charisma and I wasn't too bothered what happened to her, and none of the other characters really appealed.

The latter scenes of the last episode reminded me of many formulaic Westerns: the heroine at the mercy of the villain, the hero coming to her rescue (and didn't he get there quickly from the vicarage), a shoot-out, then a man and woman who barely knew each other riding off together.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] annlevtex 10 years ago

I assume the 4 million viewers who stuck with it feel the same way. The episodes improved each night IMO. The first one was slow, I admit, but it picked up and last night was excellent. Very tense!

Unfortunately I imagine some viewers who might have tuned in to the second two episodes might have not bothered because of the screaming headlines about sound and diction problems,which is apparently now a BBC-wide scandal and major news story.

[–] Abbalish 10 years ago

I'll watch anything starring McNulty.

'Barba needs a pimp cane...'

[–] annlevtex 10 years ago

The Mary/Jem story was the best part of the show. The only parts I have watched twice.

[–] Jenn25 10 years ago

I really enjoyed this one too!
Loved the chemistry between Jem and Mary. I have such a crush on Matthew McNulty now! I watched him for 2 seasons in The Paradise and never really took much notice of him but in this role he made me swoon!

I also thought Sean Harris was excellent... he was such a brute but showed a real vulnerability to his character as well. It was very well done. I was used to his raspy voice after seeing him The Borgia's so I wasn't bothered by his "mumbling" as many have complained.
All in all I really enjoyed this adaptation!

[–] movie80 9 years ago

I am watching the DVD. I like the location.
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/pictures/636xAny/2/7/9/1195279_Jamaica-Inn_BTS_b.jpg
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/pictures/636xAny/6/5/5/1194655_Jamaica-Inn_BTS_c.jpg
http://i2.examiner.co.uk/incoming/article6199333.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/zz161013jamaica-1.jpg