Talking Heads

[lotusbell]

Anyone remember the original and will you be watching the new one? I studied it at A Level and still have my copy with all my notes in.

[Saucery]

Not mad keen on A Woman Of Letters. Bizarrely, Imelda Staunton reminded me more of Julie Walters than anything else.
There was a sense of someone who never really grew up with Patricia Routledge ‘s performance. Her petty, unthinking maliciousness went hand in hand with the girlish joy she exhibits in prison. All cleverly cloaked in that outward, gossipy facade. You found yourself wondering about her Mother and her upbringing.
An absolute pleasure to hear that dialogue zing along, though!

[CaptainMyCaptain]

I think Jodie Comer's accent was meant to be like that. Her natural accent is Liverpudlian, I thought she was supposed to be speaking 'posh' but her Liverpudlian came through at moments of excitement or tension (like my mum did). Jodie Comer is excellent at accents, it must have been deliberate.

[MissFlite]

I thought Lesley Manville did a great job of 'Bed Among the Lentils' but Maggie Smith was sublime and not sure anyone could better that!

Shame they didn't remake 'Waiting for the Telegram' - that was wonderful.

[rumred]

I enjoyed the imelda Staunton one, then the Sarah Lancashire one was awful. I couldn't decide if it was his writing or the treatment of the subject matter. A man fetishising his daughter would not be OK. So reverse the genders and we have similar. We'll acted, clever writing but vile subject matter, dealt with carelessly

[southeastdweller]

I wasn't crazy about Imelda in A Lady of Letters. I didn't like she emphasised much of the same words as Patricia Routledge (and I watched the original a week ago so it's all fresh in my memory). Maybe she was directed to do that, though. I thought her accent was weird as well. But the way her face crumbled when she told us the 'kiddie' died of leukaemia was masterful. I thought Irene was a pretty hateful character and think the casting of Imelda and P.R was genius in respect of making the viewer cast doubt on the seriousness of Miss Ruddock's crimes but the actuality is that she deserved to be imprisoned.

[iklboo]

An Ordinary Woman was a difficult watch but still very good. We were only getting her version of conversations which might have been 'misremembered' or skewed by her to try to justify herself in her own mind. She did seem at first to be quietly horrified with herself, but then it went downhill like a landslide for her. She was clearly unhappy and became mentally unwell. Obsession is like that. Yes, if the roles were reversed it may have caused more outcry - but it's because the roles were reversed that made it so different / shocking. We've all heard the stories of father / daughter abuse. But a woman & her son? Who would have thought, eh?

I can forgive 'Maureen'. They could be from Irish heritage, named after a relative etc. I've got friends who've given their children 'old lady' names.

Martin Freeman was surprisingly brilliant in A Chip In The Sugar. Very understated and believable.

Loved Imelda Staunton in A Lady Of Letters. Her changes of expression, mood, body language were so good. Strange how being in prison was her release from her 'outside' life where she was free but still somehow incarcerated by the shadow of her mother.

Going to watch a few more later with a drink or two.

[BradleyCooperwillbemine]

Although the SL was incredibly uncomfortable to watch, it was probably my favourite as it was acted so well, in my opinion. Also, I was pleasantly surprised by Martin Freeman. Probably the best thing I have seen him in. I have found them all uncomfortable to watch, and thought about switching them off part way through, as they are just so so sad, but still quite mesmerising.

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

I thought Lesley Manville did a great job of 'Bed Among the Lentils' but Maggie Smith was sublime and not sure anyone could better that!

Agree with this.

But they seem to have updated the script for this, too (because didn't Mr Ramesh's wife(or was she originally his fiancee?) get her visa to come to Britain and so he thought it wouldn't be right to continue his relationship with "Mrs Vicar"?

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

I loved Martin Freeman's performance - it was incredibly touching in places. I'm not usually a fan of his, but I really thought he did a good job.

[The80sweregreat]

I'm not a fan of Martin Freeman either ( apart from the Office) but he was so compelling in his monologue.

[MissFlite]

I also thought Martin Freeman was excellent.

His characters always seem a bit samey to me, but he was compelling, as the PP said.

There has definitely been a few tweaks to the scripts.

[Escapinginthecar]

These monologues are beautifully written and acted, pure class.
I haven't seen them all yet but enjoying Kristin Scott Thomas and Maxine Peake - so subtle and sad and funny all rolled into one.

[Stellakent]

I watched Harriet Walter last night and it made me cry. Brilliant acting. I can't bear Martin Freeman but based on the comments here I'm now looking forward to it.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

They are all very sad. The park keeper seemed a pleasant enough guy... Until we found out otherwise.

Soldiering On was one I remembered from last time, poor woman, she obviously had no idea what was going on and what a shit her son turned out to be.

The whole series is a catalogue of sad lives.

[notacooldad]

I've havent watched them all yet but even though the subjects can be dark, the acting and writing is great. Being a northerner I can relate to a lot of the way language is used and know the places that are referred to well.
The mannerism and timings are great.
I got a bit bored by the bed amongst the lentils one.
The park keeper drew me in, I knew something wasn't right early on ( well apart from the fact it's an Alan Bennett story!!) because of the time in getting his clearance but the guy was charming and kind and nice, like the last person you would expect to be a paedophile.
Marine Freeman was great.
I liked- in a dark way- the one whose husband was a killer.
I feel like i 'know' people like this in real life. The mum with MH issues who gets obsessive, the nosy neighbour who is bored and makes other peoples business her business , the deluded mother of adult children and so on.
Characters like this are in all walks of life.

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

I liked- in a dark way- the one whose husband was a killer.

It was engrossing - the Peter Sutcliffe story, really. Brilliantly imagined by AB.

On a different note - I can't believe how many of us can't stand Martin Freemen, yet found him excellent in this series.

I'm up to "Nights in the Gardens of Spain". I can remember weeping at this one when Penelope Wilton took the role - I've watched part of it with Tamsin Grieg, and I'm enjoying it, but it's nothing as good as the original.

[Stellakent]

I've just watched Martin Freeman, who I normally loathe. He was absolutely terrific - his voice, his mannerisms. Outstandingly good.

[Fungster]

I don’t think I will tbh. The originals are the best, no matter how good the actors are for the reboots. Maybe I’m being too much of a traditionalist!

I feel the same way. You can't improve on perfection.

[southeastdweller]

I never watched the second series of Talking Heads, back in 1998, so I'm catching up now on DVD. That version of Playing Sandwiches was really chilling - "She knew what she was doing" - and David Haig's performance as the pathetic Wilfred was sublime. The reboot was much less successful - Lucian Msamati was lacking conviction, there was about five minutes removed of the original monologue, and I hated the sentimental ending (new for this reboot). The original is well worth seeking out.

[Escapinginthecar]

Just watched Harriet Waters, my last one having not watched in order. Her lovely face, so lively when she smiles. And the last few words she says at the end, endearing.

[SabrinaThwaite]

I wonder if Martin Freeman was better because he had to learn the lines and not rely on autocue?

[1066vegan]

I'm surprised by how many people on here don't normally like Martin Freeman. I think he's lovely.



I wonder if it's because people have mostly seen him do the same thing. Because he was initially well known for playing Tim in The Office, he has been cast in a lot of similar roles as a decent, everyman character but whenever he's played against type, he's been really good.

[CurtainWitcher]

I thought Sarah Lancashire was very weak and the writing was poor. I'm not convinced that anyone would describe themselves as "An ordinary woman" either. Much more likely to just say "I'm ordinary". 'Maureen', vicar making jam - it was like a Poundland version of an Alan Bennett script.

[Clawdy]

CurtainWitcher I agree with everything you said.

[YouAndMeAreGoingToFallOut]

@southeastdweller

I never watched the second series of Talking Heads, back in 1998, so I'm catching up now on DVD. That version of Playing Sandwiches was really chilling - "She knew what she was doing" - and David Haig's performance as the pathetic Wilfred was sublime. The reboot was much less successful - Lucian Msamati was lacking conviction, there was about five minutes removed of the original monologue, and I hated the sentimental ending (new for this reboot). The original is well worth seeking out.

I agree the David Haig version was far better. It's ages since I've seen it though so can't remember all the details - what was different about the ending?