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Amazon.co.uk Review
This acclaimed BBC adaptation of Crime and Punishment remains faithful to Fyodor Dostoevsky's classic novel. Set in St Petersburg in the second half of the 19th century, the psychological thriller tells of a desperate young murderer caught in a web of his own guilt. Rodya Raskolnikov is a poverty-stricken student living among the fetid alleyways and crumbling tenements of St Petersburg. Intense and highly intelligent, Raskolnikov believes he is among a class of men destined for greatness and as such is permitted to breach 'normal' moral values. He decides to test his courage and integrity by killing a pawnbroker, a mean old woman whom he is sure nobody will miss. The murder, however, only serves to draw Raskolnikov into a nightmare world in which he is dogged by guilt, paranoia and alienation. Faced with the wily investigator Porfiry, who sets up a complex series of traps, encounters and onversations, can Raskolnikov escape his own conscience or the seemingly inevitable punishment? Simm’s Raskolnikov is a "truly startling, genuinely mature performance" --The Guardian RTS awards (2002), winner: Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Tape and Film Editing. Extras
Audio commentary with John Simm, screenwriter Tony Marchant, director Julian Jarrold & producer David Snodin.
Audio commentary with John Simm, screenwriter Tony Marchant, director Julian Jarrold & producer David Snodin.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: John Simm stars in this adaptation of Dostoyevsky's tragic masterpiece - a profound drama of redemption and a thrilling detective story of the soul. ...Crime and Punishment (2002)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Let's face it, it's a daunting task attempting to dramatise this extraordinary and complex novel. And this is not a bad attempt. It's not a great attempt either. It looks low budget. I'd love to see a big budget production.
Raskolnikov's crime is graphically illustrated in all its gory awfulness. It really 'looks' shocking. More shocking than in the novel.
Real violence is always disgusting and the scene of the axe murders made me turn my head away. I couldn't watch it. The victims, particularly the pathetic Lizaveta, look vulnerable and pathetic. Authentic but sickening reality.
Simm is a good actor and he is convincing but he is never the Heathcliffesque character I envisaged from the book. He is somehow not brooding or even brutally handsome enough.
Porfiry Petrovitch is masterfully acted by Iain McDiarmid. It is not an easy role. Dounia and Sonia are weakly portrayed, but it might be said they are weak, unconvincing characters by Dostoevsky's standards. Perhaps that is too harsh. The long suffering Sonia reminds me of Mary Magdalene to Raskolnikov's anti-Christ.
But for me the revelation was Svidrigailov, played by Nigel Terry. Here we see the contrast between the high thinking 'good' man, Raskolnikov, who brutally murders in cold blood for a notion of greatness; and the morally corrupt, nefarious low man, Svidrigailov, who is willing to sacrifice himself just to be loved. The good man shuns love and kills; the bad man kills himself for love. The good man gives charity to imagine himself great and powerful, the bad man gives away his fortune to poor orphans and seeks no reward and no thanks. It precisely begs the question: 'who is good and who is bad? and who are we to judge so readily?'
And the immoral man, Svidgailov, has the courage to commit suicide for his transgressions, but the 'extraordinary' and 'great' man, Raskolnikov, does not.
Interestingly the ending differs from the book. In the novel R gets a ludicrously light sentence, 7 years in Siberia, and converts to Christianity. In this adaptation he does not find God.
I always thought an alternative ending might be for a fellow prisoner to give R the chop! The conclusion is unsatisfactory on so many levels, but I presume the author was displaying his belief that a repentant sinner should be forgiven. Dostoevsky was ultimately a religious man.
The whole production does look like it was made on the cheap but saying that it was realistic and redolent of 1866 with all the concomitant horrors of disease and poverty.
And the acting is, by and large, excellent.
Well worth watching.
JP :)
Raskolnikov's crime is graphically illustrated in all its gory awfulness. It really 'looks' shocking. More shocking than in the novel.
Real violence is always disgusting and the scene of the axe murders made me turn my head away. I couldn't watch it. The victims, particularly the pathetic Lizaveta, look vulnerable and pathetic. Authentic but sickening reality.
Simm is a good actor and he is convincing but he is never the Heathcliffesque character I envisaged from the book. He is somehow not brooding or even brutally handsome enough.
Porfiry Petrovitch is masterfully acted by Iain McDiarmid. It is not an easy role. Dounia and Sonia are weakly portrayed, but it might be said they are weak, unconvincing characters by Dostoevsky's standards. Perhaps that is too harsh. The long suffering Sonia reminds me of Mary Magdalene to Raskolnikov's anti-Christ.
But for me the revelation was Svidrigailov, played by Nigel Terry. Here we see the contrast between the high thinking 'good' man, Raskolnikov, who brutally murders in cold blood for a notion of greatness; and the morally corrupt, nefarious low man, Svidrigailov, who is willing to sacrifice himself just to be loved. The good man shuns love and kills; the bad man kills himself for love. The good man gives charity to imagine himself great and powerful, the bad man gives away his fortune to poor orphans and seeks no reward and no thanks. It precisely begs the question: 'who is good and who is bad? and who are we to judge so readily?'
And the immoral man, Svidgailov, has the courage to commit suicide for his transgressions, but the 'extraordinary' and 'great' man, Raskolnikov, does not.
Interestingly the ending differs from the book. In the novel R gets a ludicrously light sentence, 7 years in Siberia, and converts to Christianity. In this adaptation he does not find God.
I always thought an alternative ending might be for a fellow prisoner to give R the chop! The conclusion is unsatisfactory on so many levels, but I presume the author was displaying his belief that a repentant sinner should be forgiven. Dostoevsky was ultimately a religious man.
The whole production does look like it was made on the cheap but saying that it was realistic and redolent of 1866 with all the concomitant horrors of disease and poverty.
And the acting is, by and large, excellent.
Well worth watching.
JP :)
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Stunning photography and stellar perfomances combine to make this a real treat for drama lovers. It's rather dreamy and surreal but also succeeds in both horrifying and enthralling you as you find yourself rooting for an increasingly unstable double murderer. John Simm does his usual outstanding job of looking tortured and confused, while the supporting cast, particularly Kate Ashfield (I think?) as Sonja, put in such strong performances that even the mighty Simm doesn't just blow them off the screen. Of course, as a Dostoevsky adaptation, as thrilling as this is, it's still pretty 'heavyweight' and won't appeal to everyone, but for those who are happy to think as they view, it's a real and unusual treat. A gorgeous score and panoramic views of St Petersburg are just added extras. Really, really good.
16 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The conscience and the soul-searching of the book is hard to find in this swinging-camera, music-videoclip style adaption. Narrative (actual or visual) and dialogue are sparse and they seem rather to share the facts than the essence of the story.
Maybe it would work as an illustration of the book, but as an adaption it is a long-winding array stylish, yet empty images.
Maybe it would work as an illustration of the book, but as an adaption it is a long-winding array stylish, yet empty images.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
crime&punishment
excellent bbc production captures the atmosphere of the time,very watchable dvd,great acting,bbc should do more of Dostoevsky short storys and others of this great russian period
Published 3 months ago by William Campbell
crime and punishment fantastic
I have been waiting to see this for years after missing most of it when it was televised and I was not disappointed.
set in St. Petersburg the scenery is so fantastic.
set in St. Petersburg the scenery is so fantastic.
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by Mrs. C. Smith
Crime and Punishment
Received the DVD quickly and in perfect condition. Liked the movie tremendously. I've been waiting for this movie to be released for a long time. Thank you, Maggie
Published on 1 Jun 2009 by Margaret A. Garfield
Confusing At Times But Very Good.
I am a John Simm fan and like his work so when I came across this, I had to see it. Based on a book, it's about a young man going mad after killing a pawnbroker and her sister out... Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2008 by Ms. J. F. Gilby
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