Towards Zero
- Episode aired Aug 3, 2008
- TV-PG
- 1h 25m
A wealthy woman holds a party at her Devon estate for family and friends. When a solicitor and the hostess herself are both murdered, Miss Marple tries to find a clever killer with a devious... Read allA wealthy woman holds a party at her Devon estate for family and friends. When a solicitor and the hostess herself are both murdered, Miss Marple tries to find a clever killer with a devious plan.A wealthy woman holds a party at her Devon estate for family and friends. When a solicitor and the hostess herself are both murdered, Miss Marple tries to find a clever killer with a devious plan.
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- Directors
- David Grindley(uncredited)
- Nicolas Winding Refn(uncredited)
- Writers
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- Quotes
Frederick Treves: Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, a murder evolves over years, with all the causes and events bringing certain people to a certain place at a certain time. All... oh, what's the word?
Miss Marple: Converging, Mister Treves?
Frederick Treves: That's it! Converging. Converging towards a given spot and then it comes, wallop!, the zero hour, all converging, converging...
Miss Marple: ...towards zero?
Frederick Treves: Yes. Bulls-eye! Towards zero.
- ConnectionsVersion of Innocent Lies (1995)
I have not always been a massive fan of the Marple films and indeed I have been quite harsh about some of them. It is not that I am particularly in love with the older BBC version either, just that some of the ITV ones are awful with terrible hammy acting trying to cover up the lack of substance and interest in the actual plot. I'm not that fussed if they play with the source material either only that it works (which it normally doesn't) and really all I'm looking for is something that works and entertains me. In this case, I was encouraged by some positive reviews for this in the various weekend papers and decided to give it another shot and I'm glad I did because it is one of the better examples of the ITV series. The plot is as usual a b*stardised version of a Christie novel (in this case not a Miss Marple one) but, of more importance to me, it works well as a mystery with a nice gradual pace and plenty to think about that is of relevance. Previous films have felt fleshed out with pointless characters and touches but, while not the tightest film you'll ever see, does pretty much keep its eye on the prize and delivers a solid story where I was kept interested in the characters via what was happening.
The tone is still quite "light-entertainment" and "fun" but again I have no issue with this at all since ultimately it is about my entertainment and not something that needs a lot of reverence necessarily. On this occasion it works though because it does not dominate the piece an aspect of this production that can be seen in the cast. While they are all lively and light, nobody really hams it up and they manage to maintain a certain amount of seriousness without it becoming dry and heavy. Although her character is not officially part of the story, McEwan works quite well here not being too annoying nor too light-hearted. The support cast features the usual so-so faces but mostly they work even the dread Julian Sands. Burrows is good in her way not as cold as she can be but still not free and easy. Conversely Tapper has an easier role but plays it well and with colour. Wise is engaging, Atkins is a grumpy delight and Baker is a strange but simple find. Alan Davies is also a good bit of casting and seems to understand how his character should work within a Marple film. Nicholls and Sands are not great but they are prevented from playing up too much or making their presence a negative instead of the neutral that it is.
Towards Zero will not win over those that are appalled by any change to the source material, nor is it a brilliant film but it does work for what it is light entertainment. The solid plot engages and it doesn't feel like it is padded or hammy even though it is quite light and undemanding and the cast manage to play it mostly right. One of the more easily enjoyable of the ITV Marple films.
- bob the moo
- Aug 10, 2008
Details
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1