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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
High-class, low-key espionage drama,
By
This review is from: Page Eight [DVD] (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
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best yet!,
By Frances K Alston (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Page Eight [DVD] (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!
29 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Engrossing,
By Penny Deane (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Page Eight [DVD] (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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