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 may have to watch it a The fourth time. .. I’m sure there’s still stuff I missed
DeleteI like the way you put this together.
ReplyDeletebmg
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.
DeleteI read that he’s written about it, but I’m not sure where… If anybody finds that please post the link
DeleteOsman was part of the team that turned it into a movie. I feel fairly confident he has a plan for future installments. Fingers crossed.
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.
I hope you’re right about Bogden. I’m guessing you are because he’s quite intertwined with the plots of the future books.
DeleteI like that thought, Brenda! #JfB
DeleteFun 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!
ReplyDeleteAnd the neighbors are killers!
DeleteOh, those apartments! And they so perfectly illustrate the characters.
Deleteam 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?
ReplyDeleteInteresting Hank. You are such a fast reader and the film will be on Netflix for a long time. Hmm.
DeleteI have only read the first book and don't think I will reread it before I watch the film. I might not remember all that much from the story, but as Hallie says, it was complicated because all the characters were pretty busy throughout.
I read the first book in the series Hank, and tried a few others. I just bought the most recently published book and tried to get into it but for some reason I just can't. I love British crime, the voices of the sleuths, the setting, etc. But for some reason I just can't get interested in the plots.
DeleteHank, you are just a tad busy, but they will be worth your time. <3. My niece connected me to Netflix as "visiting." I did like the movie and its brilliant cast, though of course it's a different experience from reading the books. Now I'm thinking I should watch it again before my temp. privileges expire. ;-)
Delete-- Storyteller Mary
I think having read the book first helped me know who the characters in the movie were and to keep them straight when watching the film.
DeleteHank, I loved the first three, but for some reason just couldn't get through the fourth. I think maybe you should give the first book a try before watching the movie, because while the movie is great fun, the books are much more clever and funny, and it would be a shame to spoil the plot of the first one.
DeleteI did read The Thursday Murder Club but haven't read any sequels. I haven't watched the movie yet but am a fan of the actors so, I guess I can spare a couple hours from my reading to watch TV. I barely remember the plot but might have written about it in my reading journal back at the beginning of the pandemic. Right now, my TBR pile is so high it might fall over, and I have a few reviews to write that can't wait.
ReplyDeleteHank, I’d read the book 1st. I can’t imagine what it’s like to try to get your head around all those characters as quickly as their introduced in the movie. Definitely don’t drink a glass of wine and then try to watch it.
ReplyDeleteThat might be why I need to rewatch it, LOL!
DeleteI actually read book 2 first - got it as a Christmas gift. I found it much easier to understand and helped me with book 1. If I'd read book 1 first, I'm not sure I would have read the others!
DeleteI loved the books, but so far have not seen the movie - we don't have Netflix. My sister said it stunk, but I know that Negative Nellie would not like it just on principle! Maybe in the fall for a month or two we will Netflix... I was disappointed that it did not play in a real theatre as we would have gone to see it. I see Downton Abbey 3 is playing this week, but we have not seen 2 yet, so can't decide whether to go or not. DA2 is on Crave which is another medium that we don't have.
ReplyDeleteI have read all of the books so I'm interested in seeing this. Did I miss the part that said where it is available? In theaters? Streaming? But there are so many streaming platforms and I only have a few.
ReplyDeleteJudi, it's on Netflix.
DeleteThanks, Edith. I should have known. Maybe someday I too will have Netflix.
DeleteAs soon as I saw the promotions for this movie (on Netflix), I read the book. I loved it, but… So relieved to hear I am not alone in the story being challenging. I have the second book at the ready and will watch the movie this week. Would it be possible to feature Osman on Jungle Red one of these days? You all are plenty entertaining and educational on your own, don’t get me wrong. Best, Lois
ReplyDeleteI have not seen it yet, but loved the books and look forward to seeing the movie. But having to watch 3 or 4 times to keep it straight? Yikes.
ReplyDeleteI loved all the books and watched the movie the day it came out. I also love the casting, but can't understand why they put Bogdan in jail. I am in the camp that assumes they will find a way to spring him for the later movies, which will almost certainly come. I also agree that I would have enjoyed it being a series rather than a 2-hour movie. I was so disappointed when it ended that it was done!
ReplyDeleteActually, Hallie, I thought the lushness of the place they lived was true to the original books. It's why all those interesting older people chose it, and why the baddies wanted to take it away from them for more lucrative purposes.
I loved the movie because the actors clearly had so much fun working together. The setting, Englefield House, is an Elizabethan stately home with beautiful gardens used as a location for many movies. I want justice for Bogdan!
ReplyDeleteIn general, we really enjoyed it. I thought the casting was pitch-perfect. I do realize they had to cut stuff (there was a whole plot line with characters from Poland that got axed) for time and I did think the ending was a bit rushed. But overall good.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely in the #JusticeforBogdan camp.
Liz, will your new novel be published today?
DeleteAnonymous - the ebook should release tomorrow. At least, I haven't been told otherwise. Thanks for asking!
DeleteYay! Hope you will have a guest blog here on Jungle Reds tomorrow to talk about your new novel, Liz.
DeleteHaving read all five books (an ARC from NetGalley for The Impossible Fortune), I was a bit worried about the movie. The first two reviews I read said the right actors were in the right roles but seemed like they were phoning it in. Fortunately, I don't agree. Today we are discussing the movie in our Movie Meetup, which is where we discuss selected streaming movies monthly on Zoom, and I'm pretty sure everyone will have enjoyed it. I definitely agree about Bogdan and am hoping that they let him out of jail if there is another movie.
ReplyDeleteI was not thrilled with the movie. It was pleasant enough to watch four great actors but it had some moments that made my hackles rise. Meet me alone in the cemetery? And she goes??? And the criminal and the roses? For me it lacked the brilliant writing and cinematography of Magpie Murders. And who gets an apartment that size in a.retirement home?
ReplyDeleteJustice for Bogdan, for sure! How will they fulfill his role in future installments, if he's in jail? He is crucial to the other books' plots and activity.
ReplyDeleteI loved the books, and I loved the movie, full stop. Novels and films are creative endeavors, and it has never bothered me when the two forms diverge. Instead, I enjoy seeing alternate paths--why should original material never be changed? Look at fanfiction, which rewrites and reimagines stories and character arcs ad infinitum. It makes it more fun, really, to see characters act and react in a whole different way from the book.
The ensemble cast is brilliant, and there are so many tongue-in-cheek sallies and little Easter eggs that it keeps you on your toes. Like Stephen doing a double take when Elizabeth comes in their apartment wearing a headscarf: "For a minute, I thought you were the Queen". When Helen Mirren famously played Queen Elizabeth. Just a little gem inserted for our delight.
I caught that bit with the scarf, Karen, and loved it!
DeleteHa! I missed that bit. Will have to catch it on a rewatch.
DeleteThis is Karen. I meant to say that the book is almost always better than the movie or series. One exception: Last of the Mohicans.
DeleteThis may be the series that gets me to re-subscribe to Netflix.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the books or seen the movie, but now I definitely want to read the books.
ReplyDeleteAs a dyed in the wool “the book was better” person I thought the movie was fun. I did miss Joyce’s journal entries, which brought so much humor to the book. #JusticeforBogdan
ReplyDeleteI read all the books and I loved them. I was hoping that there would be a miniseries coming out of the books, instead of a movie. I haven’t yet seen the movie, but I do plan to.
ReplyDeleteDebRo
I'm definitely in the Justice For Bogdan camp! He's one of the best characters in the books, and I thought the actor who played him was wonderful. The book could certainly have made a series, but perhaps would not have gotten nearly the attention the movie did. Also, I wonder if they could have managed to get all the actors of that caliber to commit to the time involved.
ReplyDeleteOh, just wanted to add, Jonathan Pryce as Stephen was heartbreakingly good.
DeleteI’ve enjoyed “The Thursday Murder Club” books, but not his other series. The second book was better than the first, which got too convoluted. However, it’s the characters, not the plots, that make this series sing. I think the adaptation had a great cast, but the direction and writing weren’t as good and that lead to an uneven story. It couldn’t decide if it was slapstick (many of the supporting cast), a cozy (Joyce), or a too short an adaptation of the book…and that’s on the director and writers. I hope Netflix will renew it, but with a new director and screenwriters.
ReplyDeleteI've had the book on my TBR shelf for months but haven't gotten to it yet. I watched and enjoyed the movie immensely. I have a feeling I couldn't afford that retirement home! Now, my memory stinks and I have already forgotten the many characters - who is Bogdan?
ReplyDelete