Displaying items by tag: Steve Pemberton

MISSING YOU

UK, 2024, 5 X 45 minutes, Colour.

Rosalind Eleazar, Ashley Walters, Richard Armitage, Steve Pemberton, Mary Malone, James Nesbitt, Jessica Plummer, Lenny Henry, Charlie Hamblett, Catherine Ayres, Felix Garcia Guyer, Oscar Kennedy, Marc Warren, Lisa Faulkner, Stephen Kunz.

Directed by Nimer Rashed, Isher Sahota

Missing You is a 2014 novel by crime writer, Harlan Coben. In 2010s and in the 2020s, a number of his novels were adapted for streaming, especially for Netflix.

This limited series is shorter than some of the others, situated in a British town, creating an atmosphere of the town, but focusing on police investigations. At the centre is Rosalind Eleazar (Slow Horses), strong-minded, a detective, working with collaborators but also independently, personally affected by the murder of her police father a decade earlier and the disappearance of her fiance.

As with this kind of series, there is the introduction of quite a number of characters spending time on them to make them vivid, flashbacks to Kat’s father, discussions with her mother and her mother’s friends, the police officers with audiences suspicion of them at times, the flashbacks to the missing fiance, the development of that story, as well as investigations concerning number of missing persons.

There is quite some complexity with a dog trainer and dog lover called Titus, played by Steve Pemberton (in exactly the opposite way from his playing Robbie Williams’ father in Better Man). And a young man approaches Kat to find his mother who has disappeared. All these themes come together, a ruthless scam to get money by creating a false dating app, false names and resumes, getting their targets  together, capturing and holding them, forcing them to make transferral from their bank account.

There is an interesting performances throughout the series, Richard Armitage has appeared in for Harlan Coben adaptations. Lenny Henry appears as Kat’s father. Ashley Walters is the fiance who disappeared – and there are two scenes, expertly performed by James Nesbitt as the smooth-talking gangster. The series is directed by a two directors who have considerable television series experience.

1. Crime detection, murder mystery? Harlan Coben’s novel? Adaptation? John Waite’s song and the lyrics during the final credits?
2. The British setting, the English city, homes, police precincts, public buildings, streets, the farm setting, interiors, barns, the countryside? The musical score?
3. The focus on Kat Donovan, the centre of the film, as a policewoman and detective, her personality, determined, her relationship with her mother and her mother’s friends, work in the office, Stagger as her superior, working with Nia, with Charlie and the growing relationship, her skills in detection? The background, her father as a celebrated police officer, the flashbacks with him, happy, her childhood, her apartment? The impact of his death? The further investigations, the killer in hospital, dying of cancer, her visit to him, his denial of killing her father? Stagger and his resistance, putting her off the case? Her friends in confidence, Aqua, communication with her, Stacy and her investigations?
4. The issue of Josh Buchanan, writer, the flashbacks, with Kat, happy, his disappearance, her hurt? The reappearance on the dating app? Further investigations, his articles and the AI for his identification, Aqua seeing him and their past sharing the flat? Stacy seeing him, warning him off, her confession to Kat, apology, further detection?
5. The mystery of the man and his car, visiting the site, his wandering, imprisoned by Titus, the torture, the money issues, £25,000? His attempt at escape, his death, his body in the furnace? The further “assets” and the money scheme? The tracking down of his financial adviser and the information?
6. The introduction to Titus, working with the dogs, the couple and his photo of the wife’s infidelity, the later reporting him to the police? His obsession with dogs, proud of his record, competitions and winds? The farm, his henchmen, ruthlessness, cruelty, the focus on Dana, the ‘assets’ tied up and standing? The money being cut off, tracking down Brendan, abducting him, targeting Kat, the buildup to the climax, Dana and her escape, killing the henchmen, freeing the assets, Titus setting the farm alight, threatening Brendan, threatening Dana, Kat seeing the fire, the final confrontation and killing him?
7. The scam, the technology at the farm, the footage of Vanessa and the using it on the app, the various people succumbing, Brendan and his coming to Kat because of Josh Buchanan’s name, on the app, the story of his mother, Costa Rica, ransacking Kat’s flat, the confrontation, the episode with Aqua attacking him?
8. Charlie, his expertise, computers, getting the information, very quickly, opening up accounts, surveillance the airport, Dana and removing the money, the story of Titus henchmen with the rental cars and his taking the money, Titus shooting him? The discovery of the false identities?
9. Kat, the various investigations, Stagger putting her off, her visit to the dying man in the hospital, continually confronting Stagger? Discoveries about Josh, finding where his payments went, following the grandfather, discovering the daughter, meeting Josh again, the apologies, his reasons for moving out, the revelation about her father’s corruption?
10. Culigan, the gangster, the influence, reputation, his manufacturing his mythology, summoning Kat, the Gallery, his painting, the truth about the background, using Kat’s father, promising to find Parker? Contacting Kat, the address?
11. Police corruption, widespread, the father’s murder? The cover-ups – and the good intentions of protecting Kat? Tracking down Parker, the revelation of her father’s relationship with him, his personality, the experience? The link in blackmailing the father because of his gay relationship?
12. The final revelation, Josh seeing the father with his lover, the chase, the violence, the threat to Aqua, Josh and the knife, the father’s death?
13. The police, suspicions Stagger, his protection of Kat? Kohl, genial, retiring, investigations, the farewell, his wife and the information about corruption? Kat and her confronting her mother, the truth?
14. The end, Josh’s confession, Kats love for him, able to forgive him?

BETTER MAN

Australia/UK, 2024, 134 minutes, Colour.

Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvaney, Damon Herriman, Fraser Hadfield, Raechelle Banno, Tony Budge, Anthony Hayes, John Waters.

Directed by Michael Gracey.

Whether you know all about British singer, Robbie Williams and his extensive and successful career, or whether you know nothing about him, this film is an extraordinary cinema, cinematic, experience.

It is based on the Robbie Williams memoir. And, while this film might be called a portrait or a biopic, it takes a different path from the usual. It is an overview of William’s career (though checking on his initial years in the boy band, Take That, then his solo career, reuniting with Take That, collaborating with many artists, tours, it reveals that there is far far more to his activities and success than the film indicates). But, it might be also described as a portrait of Robbie Williams psyche, his confidence and lack of confidence, his self-image, self-deprecating yet highly assertive, alcohol and drug addiction for many decades, erratic antics and behaviour, exploration of family connections, and massive success and awards which might have been his hopes but more than his expectations.

And, the way to do this? The device of Robbie Williams appearing as a chimpanzee. On paper, this might have sounded too risky. However, in the introductory sequences, Robert as a little boy, bullied, emulating his singing father, concern from his hard-working mother, support from a doting grandmother, he does appear as a chimpanzee and the audience is willing to accept this. And, a tribute to British actor, Jono Davies, who appears for the most part as Williams, the Robbie Williams himself, behind the mask, as himself in his later years. With the chimpanzee prosthetics and CGI effects, Davies is still able to create a credible and complex character, in performance, in song, in his torments.

Much of the film was made in Australia Australian director, Michael Gracey (with a background of visual effects and commercials), who entertained audiences with The Last Show man. There are some British actors like Jono Davies, Steve Pemberton as Pete Conway, Williams ambitious to entertain father, and a pleasing Alison Steadman as the devoted grandmother. But, a great number of the rest of the cast are Australians, led by Damon Herriman as producer, Nigel  Martin Smith, Kate Mulvaney as William’s mother, Anthony Hayes as producer, and even veteran John Waters as Michael Parkinson in an interview.

To describe this portrait as a “warts and all” expose is an enormous understatement!

So, while the device of having Williams appear in monkey form tells us to look at him differently, especially in his depressed moments, seeing hostile chimpanzee variations of himself in the audiences, condemning him, there is a great deal of virtuoso filmmaking, special effects and editing, for instance a huge musical extravaganza sequence in Regent Street in London, the crowds at the Williams concerts and their adulation, contrasting with quiet moments of personal anguish, the sequence of the funeral of his grandmother.

For those who have followed Williams for more than 30 years in his career, the Take That era and his solo career, there is an enormous range of his songs included here. But the whole film is framed by one song that highlights the initial ambitions, the ups and downs of the career, the downs and ups of personal life, the seeking of help, coming through with the lyrics of doing all he could to become a Better Man, the song lyrics for William’s life, especially as he stands on stage singing with his father, enabling his father to take a bow, the Frank Sinatra-gospel affirmation: My Way.

1. Title, Robbie Williams and his song, his ambitions to be a Better Man while doing it “My Way”?
2. Audience knowledge of Robbie Williams, his career, popularity, awards? The boy band, Take That? His solo career? Preparations? Songs and lyrics? Ups and downs? How much does audience knowledge of him affect the response to the film?
3. The film based on Williams’ memoir, his honesty, being candid, warts and all, strengths and failures? His origins, bullied as a boy, love of music, his father and his singing, entertaining, leaving, the separation for long years? His working mother and support? His doting grandmother? Her encouragement, his ability to sing, the enjoyment of the Pirates of Penzance concert, nervousness, showing off, applause?
4. The impact of the device of his appearance as monkey, “less evolved than other people”, the psychological effect for the audience, acceptance, interpretation? His own self-image? The aptness of the monkey facade, appearance? And the audience accepting this throughout the film? The versatility of Jono Davies performance’, acting, singing, stagecraft, but also the brooding and quiet episodes? And the effect of the various images of himself, monkeys, in the audience, criticising and condemning him? And, in the final sequences, Robbie Williams himself?
5. The film as a psychodrama, Robbie Williams commentary on himself, his ambitions and hopes, yet putting himself down, comparisons with his father, bullied at football, the success in the play at school, the joining with the young men of Take That, the role of Nigel Martin Smith, organiser, shrewd, getting performances, rehearsing, songs and lyrics, Gary Bowler as the lead, yet Robbie Martin lead singing, Smith naming him Robbie, the impact and range of performances of the songs?
6. Williams at 16, in his teens, success, the gay clubs, popularity, the concerts for young women and their acclaim? The effect on Williams? Self-image, clashes with the group, spoiling performances, acting like a spoiled brat? Depression sequences, the driving, the oncoming vehicles, swerving into the water, the swarm of fans in the water, his coming to the surface?
7. The possibility of going solo, Chambers changing him, listening to the song, arranging it, the continued collaboration over the years?
8. Success, his father, his entertaining in the small clubs and groups, changing his name, leaving, pride in his son, turning up after many years, trying to make contact? The support of his mother, her presence at the concerts, with his grandmother? The crucial moment of his performance, his mother phoning, the news of his grandmother’s death, the transition to the cemetery, the burial, and his later taking the TV to her grave? (And the very British touches with their watching the two Ronnies – and the image of the two Ronnies towards the end of the film?)
9. Success, reviews, concerts, collaborations, tours? The interview with Michael Parkinson, sitting on his lap, the smart remarks, self-confidence and self-doubt?
10. The significance of the group therapy encounter?
11. The encounter with Nicole Appleton, on the boat, her gradual revelation herself, the communication, the relationship, the significance of Oasis and the comparisons, Liam Gallagher, the drugs? The break with Nicole, at the house, his secluding himself in the bathroom, her shock, leaving him?
12. His ambition to play at Knebville, the discussions, eventually arriving there, the crowds, the performance, the doubts, the surreal image of his fighting the battle with all the images of himself and conquering them?
13. The portrait of the members of Take That, in themselves, their talent, the success, the clashes with Robbie, his leaving, Nigel Martin Smith and his contempt for Robbie, watching him leave? But the later reconciliation with Gary and the others? Performances?
14. The finale, on stage, his father present, the background of their confrontation, Gary lying on the water, his father going into the water, the interchange, Robbie wanting his father support for Robert? His father’s self-awareness, at the concert, on stage, their singing together, his father finally taking a bow having said he was happy just to entertain one person with all that he had?
15. Robbie Williams aged 50 at the time of the release of the film, looking back at his life? And life ahead?