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This is a sprawling, epic, yet very personal story centering on four friends from Newcastle, from the 1960s until 1995. It has a great deal to commend it, and little to complain about. (Unless one is bothered by a close look at Labour Party politics of the period.) The four principals--Daniel Craig, Mark Strong, Christopher Eccleston, and the elegant Gina McKee--give very strong performances whilst aging 30 years, and are supported by a wealth of excellent character actors, embodying the grit of North East England. Craig went on to become James Bond, and Eccleston to bring Doctor Who back in 2005. One quibble is that there are almost too many story lines playing out, even given the 10 hours of running time. The circumstances are often grim but there is always some light around the edges. I had heard of this series in the past, but only got around to viewing it now, 25 years after it was made. It deserves wider viewership on this side of the Atlantic.
score 10/10
swerdloc-1 11 July 2020
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw5899122/ |
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