Any Human Heart - Boyd adaptation

[swanriver]

I'm missing Downton
This is so tricksy in comparison. All that strange camera work.
And everything is from Logan's point of view.

And so depressing that you know he is going to get old and nostalgic. Don't like the way that everything has already happened ifysim.
But I suppose it is quite good

And I like his furrowed face and the green light of the interiors...And the textures. That all makes Downton look a bit vulgar in its scene setting tbh.

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

I thought it was absolute laughable bollocks.

A middle-class white writer's obsession with losing his virginity, and with women who will drop their pants at the first mention of his book [wish-fulfilment emoticon].

Hated the terrible slooooooowness, and yes it was frustrating seeing him as a sad old man. I can't believe this is going to stretch out for another 3 weeks or so?

[ArcticRoll]

Agree-just seemed terribly predictable and cliched.

[diddl]

It´s really disappointing, isn´t it?

Great cast-but three more weeks?

[FredAboutAFred]

oh iht was slow and dull and whizzy aroundy

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

I watched for nearly an hour looking for Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing addict), surviving by turning down the the volume and doing a sarcastic running commentary over the top. But it was all too much in the end.

SURELY we've all heard enough about the feelings, anxieties, sex lives, and Artistic Imperative of middle-class, male, Oxford-going, white, self-absorbed, straight writers?

[doggiesayswoof]

Yep disappointing. Not sure if I can be bothered watching again.

Do we really need the lords and ladies and earls etc? I find all that stuff so dull.

Now - if you want to do the big sweep of history but seen through "normal" people's eyes, watch Heimat.

I think Matthew McFadyen was miscast. The younger guy playing Logan was much better imo.

[doggiesayswoof]

Hear hear Elephants.
DH commented that there were no gay characters - in those circles, writers/ artists etc, there would have been more diversity.

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

The Ernest Hemingway scene had me in stitches mind you. Along these lines:

Some character: "This is Ernest Hemingway, a Promising Young Writer"

Our Hero: "Goodness Ernest, how wonderful"

SC: "Yes, marvellous, Ernest do read us a poem, there's a good chap."

Ernest Hemingway (for it is he, although strangely sober): "Gee ok"

OH: "How marvellous, did you know I am also a writer?"

EH: "Gee kid that's swell, follow your dreams I am sure you are the second most talented person in the whole universe after me"

OH:

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

(OT - did anyone else see anything of "Pillars of the Earth"? I had to give up when there was a line something like: "They're having a crusade and I'm going to go on it")

[ArentFanny]

The book is fantastic but I really didn't like this and don't think I will be watching it next week.

[ChickensHaveNoMercyForTurkeys]

I started watching it but got distracted by something shiny.

[purits]

Disappointing. Adventures with my penis.
I tried to stick with it but gave up part way through the second hour, I didn't care about any of the characters.

[purits]

ROFL @ E&M. What was that all about!?

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

"Adventures with my penis" - LOL yes, how many programmes could be condensed into that title.

What was what all about?

[purits]

What was what all about: Why did they have to lob in RL people like Hemmingway and PoW? What did it add, what was the point?

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

I don't know, I really don't. It makes it even more hilarious. Isn't there some kind of well known caricature character who constantly name-drops? It was like that.

Did you see he's doing a Q&A - why not ask?

[polyhymnia]

Have it on Sky + so will give it a go tonight despite the above, though doesn't sound encouraging. Sounds like the book perhaps a better bet. Did see some of Pillars of Earth Elephants but had to stop because so ludicrous and cliched that, even as a joke, wore thin. I hope Matthew McFadyen at least has some better lines in AHH than in that.

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

Sorry poly, er...enjoy :)

Was it the same man in that as well? Pillars of the Earth sounded like it should be really good but it was just...rubbish. Maid Marian and Her Merry Men meets Home & Away.

It was such a disappointment because Downton was mainly so good despite ploughing a well-used furrow.

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

Sorry - last line re: AHH.

Mind you I should have known AHH would be dreadful when there was mention of "my first memory is of my tutor's uncircumcised penis" not 2 minutes in.

[purits]

oops. I'd forgotten that WB is doing a Q&A. I hope that they hide this thread from him.

[Poledra]

Yes! Elephants - that line sent my bullshit radar off the scale, I have to say.

Gave up less than an hour in.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

I quite enjoyed it

Land was a brilliant character.

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

Ah sorry SSM. I quite liked Land at first (mainly because she didn't just immediately shag him), but then became able to paraphrase her lines before she said them, which wasn't so good. E.g. "goodness, you have a literary agent? wait while I climb out of my knickers for you darling".

[diddl]

No, have given up.

I don´t like any of the characters & don´t care what happens to them tbh.

I loved loved loved MM in perfect strangers & don´t think I´ve seen him in anything that I´ve enjoyed as much as that.

Was hoping that this would be a similar thing.

Could have taped hours & hours of CSI instead.

[GettinTrimmer]

I enjoyed it, I liked the effect of the elderly Logan talking about being 'different selves' and how he kept 'seeing' his father. It sounded as if much of the dialogue was lifted from the book even though I haven't read it yet.

I missed not having a period drama after Downton finished a couple of weeks ago.