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 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!
DeleteI haven't got Netflix but this is almost tempting me. What a cast!
ReplyDeleteIm not sure it justifies a Netflix subscription. Ask a friend to let you watch it at their house
DeleteWe’ve watched it twice to pick up all the little bits we missed on the first viewing. Jonathan Pry e played Prince Phillip in The Crown (which I have never seen), and the Aston Martin sequence is straight out of the Bond film where Daniel Craig takes his Aston out of the lockup and he and Judi Dench roar through London. I thought Daniel Mays (in his fat suit) and Naomi Ackie were good as the police officers. I find PB totally wooden and his accent excruciating, and David Tennant and Tom Ellis seemed suited to their roles. I had read the book but enjoyed this as a bit of silliness to be enjoyed of an evening. Apparently it cost a lot of money to make so it will be interesting to see if there are any more. Roll on Downton in two weeks-the costumes look fabulous. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten the DC/JD car chase. Bob's not at all keen on Downton, have asked a friend from church if she would like to come to the cinema with me
DeleteEnjoyed the books ( but suspect that without the success of
ReplyDeleteCountdown they would not have been
published ), but thought the
film a dreadful waste of cast , particularly Celia Imrie - and I didn’t like what they did to the ending
Jenny
Yes Celia was under used I thought
DeleteI haven't seen it yet, but it's definitely on my list of things to be watched. There have been a lot of good reviews and the cast is amazing.
ReplyDelete👍 enjoy
Deletethat's on our too watch list hopefully later on this week. We are getting it on Netflix here in Canada
ReplyDeleteEnjoy 👍
DeleteI'll watch it eventually, but we don't have Netflix. I enjoyed the book, lightweight but fun.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Picked up the sequel in a CS. Will see how I get on with that
DeleteThought it was a bit twee.
ReplyDeleteIn parts, yes, very twee
DeleteI read the 1st book and really enjoyed it, didn't like the 2nd. We don't have Netflix but daughter does, so may take ourselves over one afternoon and watch it, they have said we could do that. Xx
ReplyDeleteOften the 2nd book is a disappointment
DeleteI would have said a solid two stars, I'm afraid. Really wanted to love it - I love everyone in it, but apart from a few bits and pieces (Jonathan Pryce, etc.), not so much. Also, where is that OAP home? Talk about palatial.
ReplyDeleteThat kitchen where Celia was baking her cakes was like one in a National Trust property!
DeleteI have read three of the books so far and enjoyed them all. We saw the film a few days ago and enjoyed that too. For his birthday, my husband was also given the first book in the latest series Richard Osman has written.
ReplyDeleteYou are well ahead with your reading there
DeleteIt sounds entertaining. We don't have Netflix but maybe eventually it will show up as a DVD in the library.
ReplyDeleteIt will, I'm sure
Delete