Pearced Blinders.
3 Episodes. Starring: Guy Pearce, Stephen Graham, Charlotte Riley, Joe Alwyn, Vinette Robinson, Jason Flemyng & Andy Serkis. Director: Nick Murphy.
Peak through your blinders this Christmas at this Guy and the amazing, atmospheric aesthetic of the latest BBC period production in FX is a firework like Fawkes of brooding brimstone in this soot and smog soaked Big Smoke. I ain't saying Bah Humbug at this adaptation of Charles Dickens timeless, classic Christmas story, 1843 novella that's been redone more times than coal in the bottom of your stocking. From Albert Finney, to the 'Scrooged' Bill Murray Christmas and of course...who could forget, The Muppets Sir Michael Caine? But who better to compellingly capture the dark and dank somber setting of someone who doesn't even like Christmas (forget stop believing in it, like you right before you hit your teens like acne), than the team behind the flat caps and lice shaved scalp numbers of the prolific 'Peaky Blinders' Birmingham mobsters fresh off their latest, greatest season in the slums? From 'Locke' writer Steven Knight and the 'Taboo' feeling of executive producer Tom Hardy-joined by the legendary producer of that series Ridley Scott too-who made his surprise, grand return to the blinding, peaked 'Peaky' season this Autumn (Tom that is...not Scott). And as the brown leaves fall frozen like pine who better to pierce into the black heart of this lost soul than your friendly 'Neighbours' star turned 'L.A. Confidential' and 'Memento' actor Guy Pearce? Not to mention the hardest working man in the line of duty this year from 'Rocketman' to 'The Irishman' and so much more this calender and before in Stephen Graham, 'Blinders' own Charlotte Riley and the motion cap, cinematic circus act of Gollum and Caesar, Andy Serkis all dressed up as himself. Like crowds of choirs in chorus standing on your porch outside your door this year, this 'Christmas Carol' will make you sing.
Even if it begins on a bad note. As 'The Awakening' and 'Blood' director awakens this chilling one with all the usual Scrooge hallmarks...humbug and all. No faith. No charity. He won't even give the two coins he took off his passed friends eyes for passage to some beggars...but then again that would be pretty low, even for Ebenezer. And dubbins is dubbins after all. Just ask the motion captured Jim Carrey for the last notable work the night before. He won't even give his best and only employee the afternoon off or the chance to go home early for Christmas. And don't let this Tim get you started on the hard luck of the Tiny one...although he's played perfectly here. In a fall where the British Broadcasting Corporation is bringing all the vintage, classic books back to the small screen with cinematic direction like H.G. Wells' classic 'War Of The Worlds' without Tom Cruise or Jeff Wayne's musical invasion or the new blood of New Year's 'Dracula' to stoke your Stoker fires. Firing on all raw cylinders of realism in foggy old London town, like this one does all the way to the spirited haunting of all the ghosts from Christmas past, present and future with a modern homage that's ahead of its time. This Dickens in this dreamscape landscape is a tense and terrifying tale of two cities, one that outer is a realm, raising world of imagination and the other that is the emotional depths of a man's inner psyche. The fog and frost in the Big Smoke is so chillingly palpable you could even see it hands held out in front of the fireplace and when it comes to the dark dream depths or antagonising protagonist has to trial go through, this series set-up just keeps adding logs. But as the smoke clears on your holiday of buying and wrapping presents after you've finished the late shift invest in this Christmas eve night of a holy trinity of ghosts. And after this night Scrooge is going to believe in ghosts if he likes it, or believes in Christmas not. Telling his trusty hand Bob Cratchit that December 25th is a farce and it's the only day on the calender were people are nice. Being naughty to each other the other 364. Asking why it can't be the other way round like some 'Purge'. You know what I hate to get all Thanos on you but he kind of has a point. But then again people are nice all festive season, or not at all. You know how the holidays can be. The season of giving or not giving a f###. Humbug indeed.
Pearce is perfect as Ebenezer. Giving us the most personal and profound Scrooge yet in a subtle Yuletide story that is powerful in nature and prolific in its timeless power each and every year like coming together around the table like the turkey, joining hands and pulling crackers as we bow our heads. With reptilian hair slicked back and sallow skin in need of something this season can't provide he looks the part, cravat tied in traditional regalia, grubbed out to the grime. This is his best, staring down the barrel of fickle future fates, gypsy or ghost, let this be a warning since his underrated gem of a New Mexico trailer by 'First Snow' (no not also a a Christmas movie, despite the name). He hasn't been this cruelly callous and ugly since his abhorrent and awful 'Lawless' bad. So much so like Adrien Brody he could even play a 'Peaky's' villain...stay tuned, you never know. One guy who for sure could is 'Boardwalk Empire', 'Public Enemies' and 'The Irishman' character actor star Stephen Graham, who from the BBC's 'Line Of Duty', to Channel 4's 'The Virtue' is having the year of his already incredible, hardest working life. And that's before we even get to the movies. And here in iconic chains as the two coins of a jaw dropping Jacob Marley he is a marvel...and even some sarcastic, much needed comic relief. The 'Wuthering Heights' of 'Peaky Blinders' star and Tom Hardy partner Charlotte Riley is legacy making a Lottie too, the gifted actor present this Christmas. And down the hoof cobbled streets of a timeless, time gone by that is even more Downing Street timely these days there's even more talents lurking in the gargoyled shadows. From 'The Favourite' Joe Alwyn as a cracking Cratchit, to the heartfelt, wedded bruised soul of 'Black Mirror' and 'Sherlock' star Vinette Robinson, who was a revelation as Rosa Parks in 'Doctor Who' and her sister. But its a tale of two butlers, 'Mirror', 'The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen', 'Jamestown' and 'Pennyworth' actor of atmospheric character Jason Flemyng and forthcoming Alfred in 'The Batman' legend Andy Serkis that really bring a gold standard under gaslight to this side of the street that is the closest flickering light to hold a candle to Dickens. The latter adding more legacy to the legend of his virtuoso versatility. What a time just shy of the eve of entering the roaring twenties again to take it right back to almost two centuries past. From the cradle of our own ignorance, to a grave moment today were we shouldn't ask forgiveness in a time that demands it...but earn its genuine redemption instead. And by the coals of this fireplace, these ticking hands crawl spine shudderingly sinisterly. All the way down to the ominous chimes of the midnight hour were the shadows and echos stir. And on this, twas a night before Christmas conclusion, with not a creature stirring...not even a mouse thrown out a window, we say happy holidays to you and yours. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. Don't let the ghosts of Christmas past like the cold bite. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Peaky Blinders', 'Taboo', 'Scrooge'.
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