Displaying items by tag: Tom Burke

THE INK BLACK HEART

UK, 2024, 4X 60 minutes, Colour.

Tom Burke, Holliday Grainger, Ruth Sheen, Jack Greenlessirren, Stephen Hagan, Kevin Bishop, Mirren Mack,.

Directed by Susan Tully.

The Ink Black Heart is based on a novel by Robert K. Galbraith, a.k.a. J.A.Rowling. It features her detective, Cormorant Strike, played in all episodes by Tom Burke, and his assistant, then partner, Robin Ellicott, played in all episodes by Holliday Grainger. This is the sixth in the series.

The book has around 900 pages which means a difficult task in adapting it for a television series with four hour-long episodes. However, the series does keep all the key elements of the novel, but some of the background to Cormorant and his relationship with Robert, indicated sometimes by a very brief phone call, allowing the audience to develop aspects in their imagination.

The Ink Black Heart is an animated program for television, and plans for a film version. The key issues concern creativity behind the idea, various claims, murder of one of the originators, a range of suspicions. In the novel, there were pages and pages of transcripts of online conversations, especially from a sinister character called Enemy and another anonymous player in the online games. In the series, these conversations are presented verbally.

One of the creators approaches Robin but the company is too busy – and then she is killed. Robin feels to blame, becomes more involved, studies The Ink Black Heart, becomes more involved in the online chats, experiences the threats of And on me, follows quite a number of leads an interesting potential suspects, enrolling in an art class to gain more knowledge of the suspects. There is also a sympathetic police officer to whom she is attracted.

In the background, there is her birthday celebration and Strikes moved to kiss her and her shocked reaction which puts a great stress on the relationship. There are the other employees of the agency, and presided over by veteran Ruth Sheen.

For audiences who have read the novel, they will be able to fill in a lot of the background – especially the identity of the ultimate killer, the variety of subterfuge is and ability to disguise the sinister presence. Audiences who have not read the novel will have to pay constant attention, especially because of the range of characters and potential suspects.

As with the other episodes in the series, fans of JK Galbraith will not be disappointed.

1. The title, intriguing, the sketches, the origins of the program, the episodes, the animation, the characters? And the flow onto the computer games?
2. The London settings, Strike and’s office, the sabotage and destruction? Strike and Robin as partners? The other detectors and their tasks, surveillance, the characters? Presided over by Pat? Her opening the bomb package, saving the day?
3. Strike and Robin, the work of surveillance, the long hours, Robin and her various disguises, especially going to the art class and her identity, her investigations, her disguise to interview the writer of the book, at the fair? Strike, his disguises, especially the character at the fair?
4. ED lead will, her visit, anxieties, the film too busy, the news her death, Robin going to her agents, the uncle, issues of rights, authorship, the rivals, her relationship with Josh, the attack in the cemetery, his being in hospital?
5. The establishing of various suspects, the boyfriend and his wanting to further develop the partnership, the film? The uncle and the discussions about the film? The role of Josh?
6. The range of women suspects, relationships, the writer of the book, the nervy woman and her mother?
7. The range of men, at the arts Centre, the eccentric manager, the model, his attraction to Robin? Wally and his involvement?
8. The political background, the extreme right, using the cartoon, online, targeting Edie?
9. This is to the up court family, the wife and her involvement as agent and adviser, the father and his medical background, sinister behaviour, moods and relationships? Flavia, her age, put down by her mother? Ghosts, the music, computers, in the background, his final emergence?
10. Visit to Oxford, the professor, his participation and identity, his death?
11. The young sister, Robin and the interviews, her contribution to the mystery?
12. The attack on, and, his injuries? The ups and downs of his relationship with Robin? Pat and her interventions?
13. Strike and, the background of his relationship with Charlotte, her coming to the office, wanting the help, the divorce issue, scandals, the brutality of the husband towards his daughters, the confrontation, power over him?
14. The combination, the visit to the Upcotts, the revelation of the truth about Gus, about Anomie, motivations?

BLACK BAG

US, 2025, 93 minutes, Colour.

Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Tom Burke, Marisa Abela, Rege-Jean Paege, Naomi Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Gustaf Skarsgaard.

Directed by Steven Soderberg.

Black Bag is a film from Steven Soderberg, now a veteran director, early on the scene at a young age, winning at Cannes, 1989, with Sex, Lies and Videotape. He won an Oscar for Best Director in 2004 Traffic. Now, 35 years later, that title does describe key elements in this 21^st-century story of bureaucratic spies, agents, secrets, lies, 21^st-century surveillance technology.

Soderberg is a very hands-on filmmaker and with most of his films, as here, he uses the pseudonym, Peter Andrews, for his role as cinematographer and Mary Ann Bernard (his mother’s actual name) for his role as editor.

The writer of this film is also a veteran, David Koepp, with a range of films from Jurassic Park to Spiderman and, for Soderberg in recent years, Kimi and the ghost story, Presence.

In many ways, this film could be described as intellectual. The setting is London, the key characters generally behind the scenes in their agency. The setting is London, the screenplay takes place over a week, each day indicated. There is very little on screen action (a drone exploding a car on a Polish road), with more talk, discussion, testing, polygraph sequences, cant-and-mouse games and an eruption of truth at the end.

At the centre is top intelligence agent, George, played precisely by Michael Fassbender, meticulous in manner and order (sometimes looking like OCD touches), informed that there is a traitor, the disappearance of information which could trigger explosive results, his quest to find the traitor. And, his link indicates that that could include his wife, Katherine a surface-assured agent, Cate Blanchett. He invites for over collaborators to a dinner, playing a game to try to determine who with a traitor could be. And the game is rather intelligence intriguing, each guest voicing a resolution for the future for the person sitting to their right. Of course, quite a number of secrets and lies, and a dramatic plunging of a knife into the hand of one of the guests.

As the week goes on, we are introduced to the top administrator, played by a silver haired Pierce Brosnan. We get to know the other dinner guests will, bread, a bluff agent played by Tom Burke (Cormorant Strike from the Robert K Galbraith stories and television series), Clarissa, his partner, by Marisa Abela (TVs industry in a striking performance as Amy Winehouse in Back to Black), Bridgeton’s Rege-Jean Page as James, a Colonel and Naomie Harris, veteran of many films from Moonlighting to being Miss Moneypenny and the Daniel Craig bond films) as Zoe, the in-house psychologist.

And so the week continues, Katherine going to Zürich for a contact, George using Clarissa for deep surveillance on her meeting. There are also counselling sessions with Zoe for Katherine and Steve, more secrets and lies.

Then George tests the dinner guests with the polygraph and then organises another dinner, more games and revelations, placing a gun on the table – and, with the pressures of the discussion, the decision that whoever lunges for the game is the traitor. Yes.

So, an espionage story but an exploration of motives and actions rather than non-stop activity – no, there is quite an unexpected shootout!

1. The world of security, agents, spies? The code of secrecy, lies, cover-ups, the symbol of the black bag?
2. A story of spies rather than a thriller? Secrets, plans, betrayals, testing, unmasking? Not an action spy thriller?
3. The London setting, interiors, the home and the dinner, the official officers, meeting rooms? Zürich, the airport, the square, the road through Poland, the fishing? The atmospheric score?
4. The work of Steven Soderberg, for 35 years, the title of sex, lies and video tapes, and the reprisal of equivalent themes in the 21^st-century? His photography, his editing?
5. The introduction to George, serious, meticulous, the camera following him in the street, the club, the contact, the issue of a traitor, his commission to find the truth? His relationship with Katherine, with her on the list? At home, no lying, each prepared to life of the other, kill for the other? His cooking, detailed, the stain on the shirt, changing his clothes, the touch of OCD?
6. The arrival of the guests, the spiking of the drinks, ready and Clarissa, the initial impressions, James and Sally, the relationship? Their meeting at the cafe, Freddie late, bringing the drinks, suspects? The conversation during the meal, George playing the game, each making the resolution for the other, truth and denials, Clarissa and her anger, Freddie and his affairs and denials, the knife in his hand, the relationship between Zoe and James? The end of the dinner?
7. The structure of the film, the indication of day by day?
8. The character of Freddy, passed over, the lies about his relationships, meetings with Zoe? Yet the relationship with Clarissa? Her background, family, their skills in espionage?
9. The character of James, the relationship with Zoe, her breaking it, his anger, Zoe and her psychology role, the meeting with Katherine, their exchanges, their attitudes towards each other?
10. George, going fishing, the meal? At home with Katherine, her going to Zürich? George and the office, Clarissa and the technology to home in on Katherine, her meeting, the issues, sales, the Russian? The supervisor glancing at the screen? Katherine and her return?
11. Suspicions of James, George taking him fishing, the gun, the conversation?
12. Stiglitz, in charge, the issue of Cerberus, disappearance, sale, money? The capabilities of each character? Suspicions on Stiglitz? His manner?
13. The lie detector, the questionnaire each of the suspects, truth and lies, covers?
14. Katherine, the connection with the CIA and information?
15. The murder of Philip Meacham, Georges contact, his death, suspicions?
16. The meeting for the final game, revelations, the gun on the table, the exposes, Clarissa not lying, James grabbing the gun, his being identified as the traitor, the story of the money, the deals, the CIA and the killing of the Russian and his contact? Katherine shooting him? The disposal of the body?
17. George and Catherine, working together, Katherine and her confrontation with Stiglitz and challenging him?
18. In espionage film of words rather than action?

TROUBLED BLOOD

UK, 2023, 4 x 60 minutes, Colour.

Tom Burke, Holliday Grainger, Sophie Ward, Ian Redford, Linda Bassett, Fionulla Flanagan, Anna Calder Marshall, Cherie Lunghi, Kenneth Cranham, Robin Asquith, Michael Byrne, Ruth Sheen.

Directed by Susan Tully.

This is the film television series based on Robert Galbraith’s novels (a.k.a. J.K.Rowling). They have been a star vehicle for Tom Burke who embodies the central Detective, Cormoran Strike, and made the character his own. As does Holliday Grainger with her portrayal of Robin, his assistant and then his Detective agency partner.

The Galbraith novels are very long and writer, Tom Edge, has been able to reduce the core mystery and detection to 4 episodes. This is the fourth novel adapted by Edge. Many of the characters in the novel do not appear in the series, Edge has the ability to make very short sequences which introduce quite a number of the minor characters very effectively.

There is also a difficulty in Burke’s interpretation of Strike, the writing cutting back on a lot of his background as well has his leg injury so that he is not as distinct from other detectives as he might be. However, it is always interesting to see how he operates, interviews, deductions, contrasting with the liveliness of Robin and her ability to take on different characters, different names, different appearances.

One of the values of this series is that so many veteran British actors have significant roles, including Sophie Ward, Linda Bassett, Fionulla Flanagan, Cherie Lunghi, Ruth Sheen as well as Robin Asquith and Kenneth Cranham. Most interesting is the appearance of Anna Calder Marshall, especially in a final telling sequence, because she is, in fact, Tom Burke’s mother.

The series is a treat for fans of Robert Galbraith (Rowling).

1. The popularity of the Cormoran Strike and novels, the work of JK Rowling? The adaptation of large novels, keeping the key detection line, personal aspects of the characters? Readers, the omission of characters?
2. The personality of Cormoran Strike, background, rock ‘n’ roll singer father, seeing his son as a mistake, the flighty mother, Joan and Ted looking after Cormoran and Lucy? His Detective agency, skills and reputation? Working with Robin? The use of collaboration, partners, the staff? Cormoran and his methods, interrogations, interviews, backup connections, the police?
3. The personality of Robin, her background, the family scenes of Christmas, relationship with Matthew, his deception, the scenes with the lawyers, her defiance, the divorce? Her love for her work, working with Cormoran, her skills of detection, her taking different personalities, identities, clothing, accents…?
4. The basic investigation here, Anna and her partner approaching Cormoran, 50 years since the disappearance of her mother, the background story? The use of flashbacks of the 1970s to dramatise various aspects of story from the witnesses? Intercut with the investigation? Margot, mother and wife, with Oona at the club, her marriage to the respectable doctor, Cynthia as the nanny for her daughter, her practice, the other doctors, the staff? Her disappearance? Various possibilities, the serial killer Dennis Creed, the witness seeing two people struggling in the rain and the phone box, the clients at the surgery, the London gangsters seen at the Christmas party, the film of the violent attack on the woman, the ring, the later identification with the gangster, in the aged care home, his vicious relative?
5. The personal story, Cormoran going to Cornwall, Joan and her dying, Ted and his grief, the effect on Cormoran? Sadness? His sister, her insistence, demands on him? His brother trying to reconciling with his father? Phone calls from his father? His refusal?
6. The lead with the mother and son, the house, the limitations, the talk about magic and the death of Margot, social worker? The investigation leading back to their house, the truth of what happened, the body dragged there, the cement, burying of Margot, the burial place covered, the drugging of the family, the killing of the father, keeping the mother and son at the house?
7. Robin going to the aged care home, the gangster senile, encountering the nephew, his threats, using her wits?
8. The story of the young man, going to the doctor for help, his illness, running away, changing his name, the dead women associated with him? Cormoran and Robin finding him, the interviews, his angry wife, suspicions, and the revelation that he was a victim?
9. Brian Tucker, the grieving father, 50 years against Dennis Creed, Creed in his van, abducting, killing, his presence in the mental institution? Tucker supplying clues? In the background of the inspector who retired, probed all the cult connections – and the later vindication? Cormoran going to visit Creed, the games, the investigation about Margot, Creed giving the information about Louise Tucker,, defying him?
10. The author of the book, the meeting in the pub, his arrogance? The lead for Cormoran to go to visit Janice?
11. The interview with the doctor, his supplying the film, some happy scenes of Margot with her daughter, part of the happy ending?
12. Searching down Gloria Conti, her return to England, the story of the gangsters, the violence, Margot helping her, the significance of her witness about the chocolates? Her being willing to testify against the gangsters?
13. Tracking down Irene and Janice, the discussions, revisiting Janice, her information and stories? Cormoran eventually realising the inconsistencies, the return of the confrontation, her attempt to poison him, the truth, her personality, her satisfaction, the killings, the long talk and her explanation of all that she had done, her motivations?
14. The ending, the preparation for June’s funeral?
15. And the audience anticipating the continuation of the series?

FURIOUSA

Australia, 2024, 148 minutes, Colour.

Anya Taylor Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, George Shevtsov, Lachy Hulme, John Howard, Angus Sampson, Elsa Pataki, David Field.

Directed by George Miller.

Back in 1979, Dr George Miller surprised Australian audiences with his small-budget futuristic action film, Mad Max. Two years later he surprised the world with the sequel, Mad Max two, The Road Warrior. Then Beyond Thunderdome, quite a heritage. But, there was to be more. 2015, Academy Awards, Fury Road. And, here we are in 2024, 45 years later, enormous expectations for Furiousa.

For most audiences, expectations fulfilled – and then some!

We are back in the Wasteland, the vast deserts (Broken Hill locations), once again a post-apocalyptic world, a glimpse of a world of green and fruit, by and large welcoming territory, by contrast, communities of bikie gangs, the remnants of industry and fuel with Gastown, and an attempt at some kind of “civilisation” in a regime, The Citadel. At times, the visuals of the vast Citadel are overwhelming.

But, we met Furiousa in the form of Charlize Theron in Fury Road. This is her origin story. At first she is played, quite tellingly by very young actress, Alyla Browne, then, as the young adult, by Anya Taylor Joy. The oasis is infiltrated by some bikies, conflict, abduction of young Furiousa, her determined mother in full pursuit, and the beginning of the many, many battles.

The young Furiousa is brought by her captives to a weird bikie community lorded over (rather than ruled or governed) by a kind of Aussie Viking, whose utterances are a mixture of classic literature and banality, aptly named Dementus, and played with relish by Chris Hemsworth. But, for this reviewer, at times played in over the top cartoonish style. And, as with the other films, some of the warriors, one eyed, maimed, disfigured, rogue caricatures. But, Dementus, with a sense of the classics has a vehicle designed like a Roman chariot. And, in attendance, he has his sage, The History Man, tattooed with words and learning, played by George Sheftsov as a kind of Gandalf figure.

But, there are over two hours of action to go. Dementus has territorial ambitions. There are sieges of Gastown. Dementus challenges the leadership of The Citadel. No lack of opportunities for continued battles, it confrontations…

Furiousa herself confronts Dementus and finds a home and a haven in The Citadel, grows up, becomes involved in the defence.

The latter part of the film dramatises the conflict between the three communities, convoys of food to be transferred to Gastown in return for fuel. Which offers the opportunity, of course, for the huge trucks to cross the desert, pursued on land, and even from the air. The driver is played by Tom Burke and bonds with Furiousa. Yes, shet has to fulfil her dynasty, confront Dementus, a visualising of all the ways in which she could destroy him but we could not imagine his strange, ultimate fate.

There have been some critics who found that this was too much, over and over. And they lamented that George Miller has relied on CGI whereas, in the past, he showed he did not need them. But, for audiences, there is never too much and the CGI produces, of course, extraordinary effects.

George Miller will be 80 in 2025 but has let the world know that he has a sequel in mind..

1. 45 years of Mad Max? The origins,, small-budget,, successful, the sequels, years passing, Fury Road, acclaim and awards? Now the prequel?
2. George Miller, writing and directing, in Australia, in the US, this film in his 70s? His writing, flair and directing, budgets, locations, action and special effects? Musical score?
3. Audiences for Fury Road, the character of Furiosa, her origins, the world and the wasteland in which she lived and grew up?
4. The importance of the locations, Broken Hill, Hay, New South Wales? The range of sequences, desert, mountains, dunes? Vastness? The communities, initial prospering community, the threats from the wandering bikies, the visualising of Gastown? The visualising of the Citadel, vast? The detail?
5. Costumes, the tradition of the Mad Max films, bikies, masks, uniforms, primitive, designed? For each of the communities? The visual impact?
6. The action sequences, ever more spectacular, and exclusions, noise, audience response?
7. The opening, Furiosa and her sister, the fruit, the bikies, interfering with the bikes, the attack and Chase, the capture of Furiousa, her mother’s response, the other women, the determined pursuit, bikes the visuals of the dunes, the tracks, the young girl, mother shooting, deaths, getting the bike, continuing the pursuit?
8. The bikies entering their centre, disputes, rivalries, the thugs look, fights? The introduction of Dementus, visually, his presence, Chris Hemsworth, the look, the voice? The blend of educated and ignorant? In command, his Roman chariot-like vehicle? The History Man looking and sounding like Gandalf? Dementus and his reaction, response to Furious, her mother, the attack, captured, tied tortured, her doing to watching? The motivation for revenge?
9. Dementus and his cohort, on the attack, and Gastown, those in charge, the petroleum, the need for fresh food? Finding the wanderer from The Citadel, his information, Dementus and his group, confrontation, the visuals of those in charge, the high towers, the walkways, ropes and communications, the challenge, the man falling?
10. Response to the leaders of The Citadel, the leader, his mask, his aggressive sons, paintings and his heart, The People Eater in his suit, his advice? The combat?
11. Furiousa, masked, captured, observing, her escape, the authorities of the Citadel questioning her, her telling the truth about Dementus and her mother, refuge in The Citadel? Time passing, the transition, her motivation, not speaking, her escape, disguising herself as male, relied on in the work?
12. The years passing, the establishing of the three centres, the rivalries, the ambitions? The various attacks – and the narrative of film interspersed with the battles in combat?
13. The arrangement for the transition of food from The Citadel to the other centres, to Gastown in return for fuel?
14. The introduction of Praetorian Jack, the driver, his skills, the visualising of the attacks, the bikes, the cars, trucks, the use of smoke, red and green, the aerial attack?
15. Furious, and the convoy, revealing herself, her work with Jack, the battles and her skills? The motivations? The further journeys, talking with Jack, her having the map from the stars on her arm, the seed and hope? Jack urging her to freedom?
16. Convoys, the visit to Gastown, the upset, not getting the fuel, the return, the decisions of the authorities of The Citadel?
17. Dementus, his ambitions, his attack on Gastown, planned attack on The Citadel? Burning Gastown? The authorities at The Citadel, some wanting to attack, the fire and decoy?
18. Dementus, the attack, the fights? The convoy, Furiosa in the back vehicle? The siege, the fight, the shooting? The eventual taking of Jack and Furiousa? Jack and his being dragged behind the vehicle? Furiosa watching? Her defiance of Dementus? The escape to the car, the pursuit?
19. The buildup to the confrontation between Dementus and Furiosa, in the desert, his escape, the tent, her capturing him? The verbal conflict? Dementus and his attitudes, his death? The visualising of the possibilities for his death? Yet the final reality, the seed planted in him, the tree growing from him, the taking of the apple reminiscent of the opening?
20. Furiosa, near ready for the action seen in Fury Road?