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Gavin And Stacey : Complete BBC Series 1 [2007]

starring: Ruth Jones, James Corden, Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Rob Brydon

October 29, 2007
Thought I'd have a quick peep when it dropped on my doormat, ended up watching all six episodes in the same day! Can't wait to watch the second series.

A great series that thankfully doesn't fall into the obvious sit com scenarios that you think it's going to.

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Shaun Of The Dead [2004]

starring: Simon Pegg, Rob Brydon, Dylan Moran, Martin Freeman, Lucy Davis
directed by: Edgar Wright

September 06, 2004
This is so nearly a great film but just misses the mark ever so slightly.

Bad points: Some of the dialogue is a bit laboured ("Shaun, you've got red on you") and the plot's skeleton can be seen through some of the thinner parts of the story.

The tone of the ending feels bizarrely jarring with the preceding 90mins and the wooden/dull lead actress really is an odd choice, considering the excellent Jessica Stephenson was on hand.

Good points: A British film the not made by Richard Curtis which the UK can be proud of. Genuinely laugh-out-loud funny with excellent performances from Simon Pegg and (best of all) Nick Frost.

By the time the same team made Hot Fuzz, they'd really hit their stride.

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Little Britain - Series 1-3

starring: Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Rob Brydon, Estelle Harris, Tony Head
directed by: Steve Bendelack

November 13, 2006
The first time we meet the various characters and situations created by Walliams and Lucas there is some humour and originality. The first couple of episodes are pretty funny, shocking and outrageous. And then.... every scene is just repeated. So it's the same jokes, the same catchphrases and after a while it dawns on you that these guys are not original and clever they are just crude and have no scruples regarding the offense they will cause. The first time we see someone piss themselves, or ask for "bitty" or say "yer but no" or jump out of a wheelchair it shocks and sometimes causes humour. But by the 20th time?
Watch 2 or 3 episodes and then don't bother.

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The Way We Live Now [2001]

starring: David Suchet, Cillian Murphy, Matthew MacFadyen, Paloma Baeza, Shirley Henderson

October 02, 2006
I don't understand the poor reviews. I've read the novel many times (it's one I'd take to my desert island), and yes, a lot has been left out, but the performances of David Suchet and Shirley Henderson alone make this a 5* in my opinion. Outstanding, both of them, and Matthew McFadyen was also excellent as Sir Felix.

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Marion And Geoff - Series 2 [2000]

starring: Rob Brydon, Tim Wylton, Mike Hayward, Shirley King, Mary Healey
directed by: Hugo Blick

June 14, 2004
Am I really the only member of the general public who can see Rob Brydon for what he really is? (i.e. the poor man's Steve Coogan - just as Keith Barrett is the poor man's Alan Partridge). I mean, come on, the man can’t even have his ideas - he has to copy!

I mean sure, during a 30 minute episode of any show featuring Brydon I'll manage to force out a laugh or two (if I'm very lucky & feeling generous! - hence the second star), but basically he just isn’t funny.

It’s a real shame that Steve Coogan is doing very little television these days, especially when he’s being replaced with non-entities like Rob Brydon. These are really sad, sorry days for British television when this tripe is considered ... Read More:

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Heroes and Villains

starring: Brian McCardie, Nadia Boussetta, Jamie Foreman, Kevin Eldon, Nicholas Boultan
directed by: Andrew Grieve, Nick Murphy, Nick Green, Tim Dunn, Gareth Edwards

March 24, 2008
Very high production values in a series that was woefully under-publicised. Some unusual choices of historical figure and a treat for the history or costume drama fan. Inexplicable scheduling by the BBC who seem to have turned their back on dramatised documentaries. A treat to see them on DVD.

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Human Remains - Series 1 [2000]

starring: Rob Brydon, Julia Davis
directed by: Matt Lipsey

September 29, 2003
One particular episode I had to watch in three different parts because it was so depressing.

When you think you're low, this one shows you that there is still way to go

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The Anthony Trollope Collection (6 Disc BBC Box Set)

starring: Laura Fraser, Bill Nighy, Miranda Otto, Cillian Murphy, Rob Brydon

October 02, 2006
One particular episode I had to watch in three different parts because it was so depressing.

When you think you're low, this one shows you that there is still way to go

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Mirrormask [2005]

starring: Stephanie Leonidas, Dora Bryan, Gina McKee, Rob Brydon, Andy Hamilton
directed by: Dave McKean

June 05, 2006
Well, I managed about 30 minutes and then had to turn it off. A fairytale with no magic, visuals with no sense of wonder, murky and multi layered sfx, leadenly scripted and so uninvolving it leaves one bewildered. Even worse is that the visual language and pace of the film adamantly refuses you access in an attempt to be different and radical. The berserk music score also annoys. On the plus side the female lead is very good, but then so what? Quite possibly one of the worst films ever made. Zero stars.

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Oliver Twist (BBC) [2007]

starring: Timothy Spall, Rob Brydon, Gregor Fisher, Edward Fox, Tom Hardy

March 10, 2008
It always makes my heart sink when I watch the "behind the scenes" documentaries of TV adaptations of books, and the focus is on how they've changed things, tried to make it "relevant to the modern age" and, by implication, improved upon the original. This is an enjoyable story, but it isn't "Oliver Twist." Now, I'm not a purist. I've just finished acting in a local version of the musical, Oliver! which also strays far from Dickens' original. But this one just isn't quite right. The characters keep the same names, but are not the same people. My particular gripe is with the way the Artful Dodger is portrayed. Dodger is a boy who thinks he's a man, cynical, arrogant and a joy to read about or watch. Yet here, he is yet another sulky, stroppy teenager. Oliver, on the other hand, the writers ... Read More: