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DVD Description
Johnny Worricker (Bill Nighy) is a long-serving MI5 officer. His boss and best friend Benedict Baron (Michael Gambon) dies suddenly, leaving behind a contentious file whose explosive contents threaten the stability of the organisation. Meanwhile, a seemingly chance encounter with Johnny's striking next-door neighbour and political activist Nancy Pierpan (Rachel Weisz) seems too good to be true. Johnny is forced to walk out of his job, and then out of his identity to find the truth.
Bonus Features:
Interviews with cast and crew
Bonus Features:
Interviews with cast and crew
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
66 of 71 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you're after a spy story with running and shouting, violence and high-tech trickery then try Spooks. `Page Eight' is a much more thoughtful, contemplative drama reminiscent of early Le Carre (`The Spy Who Came In From The Cold' era) or the wonderful but short-lived series The Sandbaggers - Series 1 [1978] [DVD].
`Page Eight' covers some of the same ground as `The Ghost Writer' by Robert Harris in that it uncovers dastardly behaviour on the part of the British Prime Minister (an entirely undisguised interpretation of Tony Blair) who's found to be complicit, and maybe worse, when it comes to gathering intelligence by torture.
However, PE tells its tale in a very different way, from the perspective of a life-long intelligence analyst at MI5. Bill Nighy constructs a fascinating, old-school character in what might be one of his finest performances. Every line is crammed with hidden meaning; every raised eyebrow suggests the unspeakable. The interaction between Nighy and Michael Gambon is magnificent - as are Nighy's confused relationships with the various women in his life. The supporting cast is wonderful too, with superb turns from Alice Krige and Rafe Feinnes.
However, it is the neatly constructed plot, delicate dialogue and tight direction which deliver so much from `Page Eight'. On one level this is a very small story about an old spy at the end of his career, making a choice to prioritise his service and his country over his family for one last time. On the grander scale, the plot of `Page Eight' threatens to bring down the established security service and/or the Prime Minister and the special relationship with the USA. Like all the best spy stories, one tiny shuffle of a pawn has the potential to bring down an empire...
It's not entirely flawless. A couple of the jumps in the plot are a little hard to follow which made me wonder if a longer version had been trimmed down for British TV. But if any production company wanted to spin off this single film into an ongoing series (it's crying out for a prequel, at least) then I'd be glued to it.
8/10
`Page Eight' covers some of the same ground as `The Ghost Writer' by Robert Harris in that it uncovers dastardly behaviour on the part of the British Prime Minister (an entirely undisguised interpretation of Tony Blair) who's found to be complicit, and maybe worse, when it comes to gathering intelligence by torture.
However, PE tells its tale in a very different way, from the perspective of a life-long intelligence analyst at MI5. Bill Nighy constructs a fascinating, old-school character in what might be one of his finest performances. Every line is crammed with hidden meaning; every raised eyebrow suggests the unspeakable. The interaction between Nighy and Michael Gambon is magnificent - as are Nighy's confused relationships with the various women in his life. The supporting cast is wonderful too, with superb turns from Alice Krige and Rafe Feinnes.
However, it is the neatly constructed plot, delicate dialogue and tight direction which deliver so much from `Page Eight'. On one level this is a very small story about an old spy at the end of his career, making a choice to prioritise his service and his country over his family for one last time. On the grander scale, the plot of `Page Eight' threatens to bring down the established security service and/or the Prime Minister and the special relationship with the USA. Like all the best spy stories, one tiny shuffle of a pawn has the potential to bring down an empire...
It's not entirely flawless. A couple of the jumps in the plot are a little hard to follow which made me wonder if a longer version had been trimmed down for British TV. But if any production company wanted to spin off this single film into an ongoing series (it's crying out for a prequel, at least) then I'd be glued to it.
8/10
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In a long line of excellent plays by David Hare, this television play is as good as the best of them,which is truly extraordinary. It would have to be to attract three of Britain's leading men to share the honors! When does one get to see Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon and Ralph Fiennes performing together in one stunning play? Bill Nighy and Michael Gambon have taken turns as leading man in a David Hare play in the past, but this time they are both starring, and it is a delight to watch them play with and off each other! Not to be missed!
31 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I don't normally review BBC drama but given the comments from the two other I felt I had to add a positive opinion. Hats off to the BBC for producing a great drama from one of our best contemporary playrights and putting it on over a bank holiday weekend when normally the best one can hope for on a sunday evening is a film repeat or an old episode of George Gently (think that comes next week). The cast were a joy to watch and this would seem a good pilot episode. Surely such an interesting character as Johhny Worricker is worth developing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good, classic British spy thriller
Good plot, very good performances from the usual British acting suspects. The plot is not overly complex or unbelievable, and the acting is subtle and polished. Read more
Published 5 days ago by G. A. Spence
Tour de force
Superb ensemble performance. Gripping plot with high tension and enough happening in the background to lead to many repeat viewings.
Published 7 days ago by Bowral
Enjoyable
Good TV programme, intelligent viewing and a good cast. Bill Nighy is outstanding - please let him be the "hero" in Le Carre's Honourable Schoolboy. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. P. Howard
Great British atmosphere
This is a cracking BBC British spy movie with a superb cast. It is heavy on atmosphere, great character portrayal and clever dialogue rather than violence which is happily absent. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Valerie J.
Carried high on Bill Nighy's shoulders.
This rather sedate TV play has good dialogue and performances but to be honest it would work just as well as a radio play... Read more
Published 5 months ago by A London Fan
Politics In A Moral Vacuum
In our world, the head of some Political parties have their own secret service division that answers to him, only. Read more
Published 6 months ago by prisrob
Bill Nighy: the Lord of Laid Back
I love anything with Bill Nighy in the cast. Suave and sophisticated, he is the master of the pithy understatement. Read more
Published 6 months ago by F. S. L'hoir
Wonderful
The brits just dont get it - here we have the british morgan freeman or gene hackman we need more of this man.
Published 7 months ago by Michael F. Mc Grath
Intrigue
E
Excellent film and gripping drama with star players Bill Nighy and Michael Gambon.Definately on a par with John Le Carre.
Excellent film and gripping drama with star players Bill Nighy and Michael Gambon.Definately on a par with John Le Carre.
Published 7 months ago by Mary E. Mackenzie
page eight
Saw it on TV and thought it was a great script and that i would want my friends to see it also.
Published 8 months ago by Mr. Stephen Giffard
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