A Day In the Lifer

'Lifers' (Channel 4) was grim viewing. The programme makers spent time with some of the prisoners in for 'Life' in Gartree Prison; most were in for murder and all of the crimes described were disturbing and shocking; it made the abstract very real. Yet this 'Cutting Edge' documentary was quite dispassionate when it came to the offenders who didn't appear to feel remorse and compassionate towards those who did. There was a particularly bleak outlook for the inmates sentenced to die in prison; of course most of them have committed terrible crimes but for there to be no prospect of rehabilitation made for depressing telly. One of the contributors (yes, they had a choice on whether to participate or not) wryly observed that his stodgy Christmas Dinner was not what the 'Daily Mail' would have referred to as a 'slap-up meal'. We saw the Probation Board at work and the sterling work of the prison psychologists; a prisoner rightly called the latter the 'gatekeepers' in the system, with the power to recommend that a person be let go to an open prison, set free or kept in jail. There were lighter moments, the production and confiscation of 'hooch' (illegally brewed alcohol, more like rocket fuel) for example, but these were few and far between. Yes these men have done appalling things, but 'Lifers' never lost sight of their humanity and eschewed the 'zoo-like' angle of many American prison progs (which 'thetvreviewguy' will admit to watching also). Chilling but informative; worth doing time with.

Duty Bound To Watch This

'Line of Duty' (BBC2) is one of the best things 'thetvreviewguy' has seen all year. Set in a Police Force which is obviously the Met, the plot is compelling.  The opening almost explicitly mirrors the de Menezes shooting and sets up the premise of the series; DS Steve Arnott, (Martin Compston shining as the naive young copper) alienated from his colleagues after telling the truth, gets re-assigned to fight police corruption with AC-1. They target a charismatic black police officer, Tony Gates (played brilliantly by Lennie James) who they suspect of doctoring his clear -up rate. His mistress, (Gina McKee, superb in the role) is responsible for a fatal hit-and-run which Gates gets sucked into. There's an undercover operation directed by a Superintendent Ted Hastings, a figure whom Gates calls a 'zealot' (Adrian Dunbar has rarely been better, with his character bearing all the scars one would expect from a Catholic, ex-RUC Officer). 'Line of Duty' has a remarkable ensemble cast; from Vicky McClure as DC Kate Fleming (ambitious and highly-motivated) to Neil Morrissey. The dialogue is crisp, the pacing is spot-on and Jed Mercurio has produced an excellent piece of scriptwriting which had 'thetvreviewguy' rhooked after five minutes of the first episode. BBC 'score', this TV Cop Drama at its best; 'Line of Duty' is a short, sharp, shock of a series that promises much for the remaining episodes.

Nearly Everything Else is Funnier

'A Short History of Everything Else' (Channel 4) is yet another comedy quiz show; 'thetvreviewguy' can barely turn on the telly without seeing a bunch of celebs/comedians sparring in a panel game. The criteria for success, apart from viewership, aren't that many; can you be vaguely original and make the audience laugh? Despite the efforts of host Griff Rhys Jones, warhorse of the British Comedy scene, the prog fails to present any sort of unique selling point apart from a look back at old news clips instead of contemporary ones. Marcus Brigstocke and Charlie Baker make decent efforts but the show just looks messy; a 'What's My Line?' mystery guest who had news value once only adds to the, er, high concept nature of the programme. Now it doesn't completely suck; it's not a Mrs B****'s B*** or the (un) like. It just never takes off and is like an awkward first meeting up of a Stag Weekend Party; awkward, testing the waters, with the promise of more humour down the road. Channel 4 commissioning editors take note; TV doesn't always have to re-invent the wheel but comedy shouldn't be production line either - just re-design the wheel now and again. 'A short History of Everything Else' is a good gig for those taking part but not such a good one for the viewers; a distinct 'meh' with a shoulder shrug thrown in.

London, You're a Lady

 

 

Charles Booth knew his London. The 19th Century social reformer colour-coded this great city by wealth and then, as now, there were striking contrasts. The Caledonian Road and surrounding streets were described as a 'depressing district' and for much of the last century, it remained this. But in the excellent 'Secret History of our Streets' (BBC2), we saw how a community fought off British Rail's attempts to bulldoze their homes into rubble and successfully reclaimed their neighbourhood. We enjoyed hearing from Eileen, of Irish-Jamaican descent, and how she dismissed a couple of hoodies that tried to hijack her film ('twats' she called them) and also the way she ran the 'Prince' pub with a great sense of style. Less likeable was Andrew Panayi, a Cypriot landlord with an, er, imaginative view to local planning laws; 'as long as the cow has milk, milk it' and we got a glimpse of how he'd built underground flats that even the local carefree Anzac travellers seemed embarrassed to be living in. Much of the seediness is gone from the Kings Cross end and Caledonian Road still has some Two Million Pound houses nearby. But for 'thetvreviewguy', what was particularly interesting about this programme was the way it showed all human life, from the hangman in Pentonville Prison to spivs in the Caledonian Market, to neighbours, well, being good neighbours. Produced by the Open University, ‘Secret History of our Streets’ is well worth walking down.

Peake Performance

'Silk' (BBC1), portraying life at a fictional criminal chambers, presents 'thetvreviewguy' with a slight conundrum. Should he enjoy the plot twists and characterisations, even though both of which veer on, and on many occasions, teeter over the ludicrous? Should he switch off and appreciate the fine acting from the likes of Maxine Peake (formerly 'Shameless' and cornering the market in brassy and sassy Northern Lasses), Neil Stuke as the Chief Clerk Billy, who wields an amount of power most Senior Partners could only dream of and the ever-appealing Frances Barber? Does it behove 'thetvreviewguy' be critical of the bonkers glamourisation of the legal world (it really isn't THAT interesting)? In answer to these rhetorical questions, M'Lud, the answer is 'Yes' and 'No'. While undoubtedly, 'Silk' features some fine pacing and enjoyable plot twists, there just wasn't enough to to make it any better than what it is; a passable effort at Barrister drama (written by a former lawyer, Peter Moffatt). Indeed, the series author has some fine writing credits, including Kavanagh QC, but this particular series struggles to reach the standard of proof required by this reviewer. However, in interests the impartial administration of justice, and the public need for greater escapist programming during a recession, he is prepared to suspend his judgment pending the viewing of further episodes; he accordingly orders that the matter be sent for re-trial and a repeated viewing is called for. The court will rise.

Seven Ages of Man

'Give me the Child till Seven and I will Give you the Man' intones the original 'Seven Up!' programme, following the lives of children through life up to the present. '56 Up' is an incredible, awesome (in the original meaning of that word) series that renews faith in television as a serious medium. Director Michael Apted has mapped the lives of 20 children in their journey through life and it has been a deeply moving experience for the viewer to see how life has developed for the participants. Life is all too short and it takes a project like this to remind us that we are not trapped by destiny but that class is still a major determination of wealth, status, health and ultimately length of life; however, as we can see from the families that have grown up around the subjects of the show, wealth isn't required to be happy (although, it sure can help). There were many amazing stories, John, now a wealthy, highly privileged Barrister, who reflected on how fortunate he'd been in life, and he has what most would say, lived up to his destiny to be a comfortable member of the Upper Middle Class. Then there was Bruce, shy, and very English, a father in his forties and a Maths teacher who represented the best of Englishness; wry, likeable, dependable. Apted finished his review with Tony, the working class boy made good, who has a holiday home in Spain and, curiously, predicted the Economic Crash in '49Up'. Participants have dropped in and out of the series over the last 49 years, but it is a tribute to them, to Apted and to the power of an astonishing documentary project that will never be topped that the viewer is so compelled and moved by the lives of others. Stunning 'Reality' TV.

Better Late Than Never

'The Late Review' (BBC2) has been knocking around in various forms for over two decades. It's one of 'thetvreviewguy's favourite, if not regrettably oft-watched programmes, as it makes him feel smart. A mixum-gatherum arts review show, ably alternately hosted by the multi-talented Kirsty Wark and Martha Kearney - Current Affairs and Arty, 'thetvreviewguy''s kinda gals, it chugs along nicely and does exactly what it says on the tin. Last night's discussion covered the worlds of film, literature, museums, live music, drama and, ahem, television all over 45 minutes and we got the some insightful contributions, particular from Economist columnist Anne McElvoy. 'The Late Review' may not have the stand up arguers that were a feature of the show's predecessor, 'The Late Show,' like Tom Paulin or Tony Parsons (contributors in the 1990s version) but the successor has critics that allow for constructive and excoriating criticism where and when required. The most in depth, and for 'thetvreviewguy', the best part of last night's programme was the overview of '56 Up', which has followed the lives of its participants since they were 7...now that's documentary making. The panellists observed that in today's age of looking for the instant pay-off and pat story line, such a series is unlikely to have been commissioned if we were starting from today's viewpoint. 'The Late Review' has still got it.