nlgood Reviews

A Very Peculiar Practice (1986–1988)

Repeated at last, hurray.

[1 January 2004]

One of the very best of 1980s TV. Spot on scripts satirising Thatcher's Britain. Excellent cast too: Peter Davidson & Barbara Flynn of course, but also a young Hugh Grant making an appearance in #1.2 as a Scottish lay-preacher.

In the UK, Series 1 was shown on BBC4 recently (at close to midnight) as part of an Andrew Davies season. Hopefully we'll get series 2 again as well at some point.

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Adequate but over-rated

[1/10 · 11 April 2002]

When a film wins 4 major Oscars, I feel I have to go and see it. But the most impressive thing about the film was Russell Crowe, the non-Oscar winner.

Jennifer Connolley was adequate - she looked well but the part gave her nothing much to do except to be the stereotypical supportive spouse and the role lacked depth.

On the face of it the presentation of schizophrenia in the film was intriguing and quite well done. But then there has been considerable press about the liberties with the facts taken by the filmmakers in presenting the story of John Nash and this made me wonder how realistic this presentation of schizophrenia was and whether, in fact, we were receiving Hollywood's view of the disease.

Not a bad film - but not a particularly good one either.