toby-266 Reviews

Succession (2018–2023)

Fantastic

[9/10 · 17 September 2018]

This is one of the best written and acted series of recent times and it needs to be watched in its entirety. How on earth did the writer(s) manage to spin 10 episodes without a single sympathetic character? Not one character comes out of it well. You root for no one.

Yet it is compelling television. Remarkable, cringeworthy, appealing to one's darker instincts.

Bravo!

Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

A contrary view

[3/10 · 8 January 2009]

I went to this movie against my better judgement, in the hope that Mike Leigh and his band of luvvies had managed to make something digestible for the general public. And in fact, I don't think this is a bad film, and I am not surprised at the favourable reviews.

But - and that's a big but - while many commentators say they went to this film expecting to be irritated by it, and ended up enjoying it, I found the reverse effect.

Poppy is a happy and optimistic person, uplifting to behold, but also incredibly naive. It is as if her happy personality is sufficient defence against the fact that she tips over the edge half the people around her.

I felt immense sympathy for Scott, played brilliantly by Eddie Marsan, who is one of those disturbed people - with a background and childhood we can only guess at - who are able, just, to live within society. But like a dripping tap, Poppy wilfully pushes him bit by bit, with no understanding of him at all, until he explodes. It's as if the bubble of happiness that she lives in is justification for the hurt she wreaks on others. Scott is not a likable character. But until he met this idiot woman, he was able to function without causing any harm.

Furthermore, Poppy goes into a dark building, again in her happy bubble, to be confronted by a tramp. I sat there thinking, "You stupid woman, why on earth did you go there?". Frankly, if she'd been beaten to a pulp, I would have cheered.