It was definitely "a cosy crime", with an amazing cast list. Being set in an OAP home, or more accurately "an upmarket seniors' retirement community" there were many older actors both in leading roles and cameos. Oh, and David Tennant, who seems to pop up in almost everything lately.
As well as the Fab Four [Mirren, Imrie, Kingsley and Brosnan] look out for
- Jonathan Pryce [the best actor in the recent Count of Monte Cristo we thought]
- Richard E Grant [at 68, one of the younger OAPs in the cast]
- Paul Freeman - I prefer him without his beard. He was Molly's urbane suitor in one series of Monarch of the Glen
- Richenda Carey - Also in MotG* playing Kilwillie's snooty sister Lady Dorothy
- Ruth Sheen - the longsuffering office secretary in Strike [new series due this autumn] No relation to Martin, or Michael
*our family referred to that favourite Sunday evening viewing as Monica. [As in "busy tonight, catching up with Monica Theglen"]
The filming was done in various Home Counties properties and villages, mainly Englefield House near Reading. The London Street through which HM drives at speed is actually Chatham Dockyard. And whilst Englefield House conveniently has an adjacent church, the cemetery opposite was specially constructed for the film,. With polystyrene gravestones!
For me the best laugh-out-loud line in the entire film was when Pryce says to his wife who is just going out sleuthing "You look just like the Queen". Same initials HM, and Ms Mirren has played HerMaj twice [ film, The Queen 2006, and stage, The Audience 2013-2015] And she does it so well. You have to look twice to be sure who is who.
Have you seen it, what did you think?
I enjoyed the book; although the BBC audiobook abridged version, which I heard before I read it was better, in my view (they cut several subplots). I'll look forward to the film if it comes to tv.
ReplyDeleteDidn't realise the audio book had been so abridged!
DeleteWe watched it on Netflix and enjoyed it. Nick had read the book, which he thought was better, but I hadn't. We thought it a bit overly cosy and the characters too stereotyped but that’s the genre. However, the cast was amazing. The "Queen" line was definitely the best! 9/10.
ReplyDeleteI think the genre is getting "overly cosy". I watch scandi crime drama, and the theme tunes are dark, haunting melodies. So much UK stuff is introduced by jolly little folk tunes [eg Beyond Paradise, Whitstable Pearl] which are just too flippant for gory murders imho
DeleteI think the genre is getting "overly cosy". I watch scandi crime drama, and the theme tunes are dark, haunting melodies. So much UK stuff is introduced by jolly little folk tunes [eg Beyond Paradise, Whitstable Pearl] which are just too flippant for gory murders imho
DeleteI haven't watched it yet, but I love the books and am definitely going to watch it soon.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy, Anon
DeleteHaven't seen it yet but Pierce Brosnan can do no wrong in my eyes! Richard Osman's doing really well for himself!
ReplyDeleteNot so keen on PB, myself. But RO must be laughing all the way to the bank
DeleteI've STILL not read it! Better soon...
ReplyDeleteYou should!
DeleteI would love to see it as I've read all the books in the series. Alas, not a single cinema within a thirty mile radius is showing it. And there are four cinemas in my town alone. Grrrr.
ReplyDeleteIt is on Netflix. Can't you find a friend and watch on her TV (if you're in Norfolk, drop by)
DeleteI haven't seen it, I'm afraid, nor have I read the book.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it's one you'd enjoy, to be honest, Bless!
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