Wallender

[poliphilo]

I seem to be writing a lot about TV right now. Two reasons. 1. It's winter and a lot of new shows are coming on line. 2. It's winter and I'm not getting out much. Oh look! It's just started to snow.

Last night's new show was Wallender, starring Kenneth Branagh. Wallender is the hero of a series of Swedish detective novels written by Ingmar Bergman's son-in-law. I wasn't disappointed. I've not always been a fan of Branagh's screen acting; he can be too assertive, too stagey, but this performance was pitched just right-  muted, frequently on the brink of tears- with the odd, brief, crinkly smile. He's a damn good actor. The story was generic- involving a serial killer and a paedophile ring- and I spotted the killer a little before I would have done if this had been Agatha Christie, but no matter; it was as much about wayward fathers as crime. Wallender's own father- a stuckist painter in the first stages of Altzheimers- was played by David Warner- once the greatest Hamlet of his generation, now enjoying an Indian summer after a blighted  mid-career. I love David Warner. The landscapes were bathed in lovely, low-wattage, Swedish light and there was a stunning pre-credits sequence in which a girl set herself on fire in a field of yellow rape. After that you really had no choice but to go on watching.

Comments

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

I didn't get home from Germany until halfway through, so I hope there will be a repeat. I have to say I was first disappointed when I heard what Branagh was doing - I have seen the Wallender series done with Swedes, of course, but he chunked up to be able to be a good Kurt Wallender. No Swedish actors appeared to have been used, which is rather strange as there are so many good ones who speak perfectly clear English, but perhaps that would have pointed out that Branagh himself was not a Swede, I don't know. I look forward to seeing next Sunday's offering all the way through. I have been a great fan of the books.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think the use of an entirely English cast is at least consistent. No-one attempts an accent- thank goodness! I haven't read the books, so I have no point of comparison, but this is- on its a own terms- a pretty classy show. Branagh says in interview that this is the high point of his TV career. I think he's probably right.

[clindau.livejournal.com]

David Warner- once the greatest Hamlet of his generation, now enjoying an Indian summer after a blighted mid-career

What a wonderful image.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I actually saw him play Hamlet. I believe the year was 1968. He played him as a moody student radical...

[mamadar.livejournal.com]

I love both Branagh and Warner. Branagh seems to have lost all his prettiness, but there's no denying he has the craft.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I believe he put himself on a diet of pies to play Wallender.

[nostoi.livejournal.com]

Kenneth Branagh playing a TV detective.

I'm still struggling with this concept; it just doesn't go...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Seeing is believing.

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

I've always admired Branagh (his Frankenstein aside)and, though I have neither read the books, thought Wallander very good. I thought the camera work really added to the mood - almost shot like a European film.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I like some of Branagh's work- and I certainly like this. I'm glad he didn't choose to direct it himself. I rate him less highly as a director than as an actor.

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

I agree that his talents as a director fluctuate - Henry V, Much Ado, In The Bleak Mid-Winter I really admired - there are other works I would rather not dwell upon. I would like to see him on the stage - it is my regret that I never got to see Peter O'Toole in Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think he's to be commended for trying so many different things. I suspect Henry V is his best film, but I haven't seen everything. I thought Much Ado ran the gamut from exhilaratingly good to excruciatingly bad. It led me to believe that he doesn't entirely get Shakespeare. I thought Dead Again was terrible.

He's onstage with Ivanov at the moment. Apparently it's a great performance.

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

Interesting that you don't think he 'gets' Shakespeare. I'd be very interested to know your thoughts.
Yes, Dead Again was embarrassing (poor Derek Jacobi having a stutter this time instead of Claudius' stammer!).

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Exhibit "A" is Michael Keaton's indescribably bad performance as Dogberry in Much Ado. It's as if Branagh, as director, hadn't a clue how the role should be played, so just let Keaton do his thing.

Exhibit "B" would be his own over-busy performance as Benedick in the same movie. He doesn't trust Shakespeare to deliver the laughs, so tries to force them- with seriously unfunny results.

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

Certainly agree regarding Michael Keaton - what the hell was he doing?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've no idea. That wasn't the character Shakespeare wrote. In fact it didn't resemble anything human.

A Clerihew

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

Kenneth Branagh
and his erstwhile wife Emma
after all their on-screen huffin' and puffin'
agreed it was much ado about nothing.

Re: A Clerihew

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Nice one.

I do love me a good Clerihew.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

I hope they syndicate the show to PBS in the States. I admire most of Branagh's work, and would really enjoy seeing this side of him.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Surely they will. Branagh is a very bankable name in the States.

BBC4 Tonight 21.00

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

Programme on Wallander followed by Swedish adaptation - thought you may be interested if you we not already aware.
Cheers.