HALLIE EPHRON: I had a blast reading Richard Osman's THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB (and its sequels). I love that Osman broke so many of the conventions of the mystery genre. More than 1 murder, more than 1 murderer and a convoluted plot. And a ton of sidekicks.
I've (so far) watched it 3 times with different friends...
It's quite a complicated (convoluted?) story that starts with a cold case, and ends up being about four murders, not all of them connected with one another. There are multiple killers, five sleuths, including four retirees – Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), and Joyce (Celia Imrie) and police officer Donna de Freitas (Naomi Ackie).
And I so appreciate a crime drama that doesn't take itself too seriously. As Elizabeth quips: "I feel like we're in on one of those Sunday Night dramas about two bright-eyed, feisty old lady detectives outsmarting the police at every turn." To which steely Joyce shoots back, “Never use the words bright-eyed, feisty old ladies in my presence again.
What could easily have been six one-hour episodes gets squashed into a two-hour "movie." And honestly, even though I'd read the book it took me three watchings before I really GOT who everyone (sleuths, victims, villains, residents and their relatives) was and what they were up to.
Good thing it's delightfully watchable, hilarious in places, surprising in others. And best of all, the actors seem to be having SO MUCH FUN! I mean, it's worth watching if only to see Pierce Brosnan doing water aerobics with the ladies. I do wish they'd given Ben Kingsley more to do. Helen Mirren is at her regal best.
On the third watching, I was still trying to make sense of how the parts of the story fit together.
I do have some gripes. I really don't like that Bogdan, a suspect who (in the novel) turns out to be a good guy, ends up going to jail in the movie. I'm not alone in my dismay: see the meme #JusticeForBogdan!
And the movie version of the retirement home, Coopers Chase, looks more like summer camp at Downton Abbey than a retirement home.
And what's with the black roses that get delivered mysteriously near the end?
Good thing it's delightfully watchable, hilarious in places, surprising in others. And best of all, the actors seem to be having SO MUCH FUN! I mean, it's worth watching if only to see Pierce Brosnan doing water aerobics with the ladies. I do wish they'd given Ben Kingsley more to do. Helen Mirren is at her regal best.
On the third watching, I was still trying to make sense of how the parts of the story fit together.
I do have some gripes. I really don't like that Bogdan, a suspect who (in the novel) turns out to be a good guy, ends up going to jail in the movie. I'm not alone in my dismay: see the meme #JusticeForBogdan!
And the movie version of the retirement home, Coopers Chase, looks more like summer camp at Downton Abbey than a retirement home.
And what's with the black roses that get delivered mysteriously near the end?
I may need to watch it yet again. I won't mind.
Are you watching it? Did you follow all the plot strands, suss out the murderer(s)? Is the setting too over the top?
Are you with me in the JUSTICE FOR BOGDAN club or are you muttering, Get a life?
Are you watching it? Did you follow all the plot strands, suss out the murderer(s)? Is the setting too over the top?
Are you with me in the JUSTICE FOR BOGDAN club or are you muttering, Get a life?
Now I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie . . . .
ReplyDeleteHALLIE: we loved the movie. I’ve watched the movie twice and plan to watch it again. I’m rereading the book again to see which parts they left out in the movie. So fun to watch Pierce Brosnan in water aerobics class. I thought perfect casting. The actor, who plays Elizabeth’s husband with Alzheimer’s , often plays the movie villain. I was reminded of Helen in another spy movie.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you put this together.
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I enjoyed the movie but not as much as the book. I'm absolutely in the Justice for Bogdan camp! That was so unfair to that fabulous character. I think I do need to watch it again though.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to hear what the author thought about it.
DeleteBeing in the Justice for Bogdan camp caused me to grumble a lot! Enough to turn down the "let's just watch it again" from spouse. The actors are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI’ve enjoyed reading the Thursday Murder Club books and am looking forward to book five, The Impossible Fortune, coming out this month. My favorite character is Joyce.
ReplyDeleteI watched the movie once so far and have seen the cries for Justice for Bogdan. The director and the cast are reported to want to do more films based on the series. Netflix will base its decision on the success of the first. I think the Club members will spring Bogdan out of jail in a sequel so the best way to get #justiceforbogdan is to keep watching this film.
Fun Hallie, yes we saw and enjoyed. John and i were both surprised it wasn't a mini-series rather than a movie. Agree on Justice for Bogdan--I think I read somewhere that Osman isn't pleased with that change either. I adored the setting and that's exactly where I want to be when I retire:). The apartments were to die for!
ReplyDeleteam I the only person in the world who has not read these books ? aWthough I have every single one of them and they are taunting me – – and I have not seen the movie either. I think it is bizarre, knowing what I know, to make it be a movie and not a series. Do you think it will help or hurt to watch the movie without having read the book?
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