[Falling Down]

C4 ran a surprise trailer last night for Red Riding 

It looks like they have quietly and secretly filmed all four of David Peace's 'Red Riding Quartet' of novels set in Leeds in 1974, 1977, 1980 and 1983.  By a long chalk these novels are the most morally ambiguous and unremittingly bleak crime novels I've ever read and God knows how they've committed them to a TV format.  Have a search in the Books thread if you're interested for more details as I'm sure I've written a more detailed review in there.

If they've done them justice, this could be better TV than The Wire and set in Yorkshire.. 

[Jaspersharpe]

http://redriding.channel4.com/

 

Pretty good cast........!

http://www.tvscoop.tv/2009/01/channel_4_launc.html

[moose]

I wonder how / where they filmed it? It's hard to reconcile the incredible bleakness of the Leeds in the books with the current city.  There are passages replete with paranoid-loathing, dripping and blackness that refer to streets now within eyeshot of the Harvey Nicks.  Mind you some would say that that's just a different type of horror! 

With the film version of the Damned United coming out soonish it looks the Leeds tourist board is going to have its work cut-out refuting all those grim-up-north cliches!

[Falling Down]

I'm sure they just shot it in Carlise/Hartlepool/Halifax (insert grim Northern town of choice).

Jasper - good casting indeed. Go and read the books now before it comes on the Tele.

[Jaspersharpe]

I fear I wont have time.

Have you read GB84 too? Looks amazing and very relevant to those of us who grew up with Thatcher and the threat of nuclear war etc.

[Falling Down]

More updates to the http://redriding.channel4.com/ website. Teasers & trailers...

[Zods Beard]

With the film version of the Damned United coming out soonish it looks the Leeds tourist board is going to have its work cut-out refuting all those grim-up-north cliches!

  I know, so apologies, but only just read this. Any details Moose? Who's playing the big guy, I remember someone playing big ead on the stage, apparently he was pretty good, is it him? I assume you've read the book, awesome innit.

[moose]

Michael Sheen is playing Cloughie - which could be good as he generally does a fine job of playing/impersonating real-life figures (he was superb in Frost/Nixon, The Deal and The Queen).  Timothy Spall is Peter Taylor.  Possibly even better news is that the novel is being adapted by Peter Morgan who did the business with Frost/Nixon and Last King of Scotland.

Full cast list here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226271/

A trailer is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2009/feb/19/trailer-the-damned-united

and an unimpressed feature on the trailer is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/jan/29/leedsunited-derbycounty

Aye, I agree that the book is great.  Have you read "provided you don't kiss me" ?  Despite the twee title it's an even-handed and very intimate portrait of Clough who's shown as a gifted, entertaining, but frequently unbearable man.  One who'd flit between generosity and fury without reason or warning and who declined in very sad and public manner.  I finished it admiring Clough more than ever... but very grateful that I never had to personally deal with him. Utterly fascinating if you've any interest in football - worth reading just for the anecdotes and quotes, even without the insight into his psyche.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Provided-You-Dont-Kiss-Me/dp/0007247117/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235333339&sr=1-1

[Jaspersharpe]

Yeah I've read that. Excellent book.

[SA Chris]

Don't fergit. C4, tonight, 9pm.

[GCW]

It's on in less than an hour.  just a reminder.

[tommytwotone]

Jesus. I that went from twisty to twisted excellently. I could barely watch once Paula wasn't at her house any more.

Good shout FD.

[SA Chris]

On the digibox for tonight's viewing, as it was past my beddybyes time. Looking forward to it.

[Jaspersharpe]

Likewise. The Mrs was out last night so we've got it on the Sky+ to watch this evening. I got an OMG! style text from my mate who was watching it...........

[slackline]

Damn forgot to get my other half to record this as I was out.  Hopefully its on playback.

[Jaspersharpe]

http://www.channel4.com/video/brandless-catchup.jsp?vodBrand=red-riding-1974

[Jim]

watched this last night, very good I thought. Very well shot

[slackline]

http://www.channel4.com/video/brandless-catchup.jsp?vodBrand=red-riding-1974

Sweet, going to see if its on Virgin's 4OD too as I can then record and burn to DVD for posterity if its as good as the hype (which it is by the sounds of it).

[Jim]

now on torrents
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1823454/7607188/

[Bubba]

I quite like the sound of this - should I read the books or watch the series?

[SA Chris]

Enjoyed it, some great acting, good story and great attention to 70s detail.

[Pantontino]

"This is the north - we do what the fuck we want!"

Brilliant, sinister depiction of Yorkshire. I woke up the next morning thinking about it. Can't wait for next one.

[SA Chris]

Paddy Considine in the next one - top actor.

[chillax]

Really enjoyed this, looking forward to the next one.

Cheers to FD for the tip off!

[Falling Down]

I quite like the sound of this - should I read the books or watch the series?

Both.. the books are good and as with any adaptation, there's a lot that doesn't make it to screen.  I thought the TV adaptation on Thursday was really good although Sean Bean was as wooden as a railway sleeper.

[Jaspersharpe]

Hmmm. I seem to just be going around disagreeing with everyone today. Not to worry!

Finally got round to watching the first part last night. Quite good I thought. Very well shot and acted (I thought Bean was pretty good) and refreshingly uncompromising but the plot seemed a bit obvious and basic.

There also didn't seem to me to be enough depth to the characters. Not because of the performances but because there wasn't enough scene setting (for want of a better expression). I can see why as there was obviously a lot to cram in in a relatively short time but I felt like I was skimming the surface of most of the characters.

Having not read the books I can only assume that both of these issues are not issues in the original format as (from what I gather) the brilliance of them is in the description of both characters and places, thus the plot is secondary anyway. Writing this down just proves to me that I probably should have read the books first (as I knew really) and why I don't watch a lot of tv.

Anyway, only a minor moan and I did like the overall feel of it. The grimness of "The North" and the constant drinking and smoking by everyone, everywhere etc was captured really well and the second part looks like it will be better still. I will certainly be watching it anyway.

[moose]

I really enjoyed it; the best compliment I can pay is that it didn't feel overlong - which is unusual with me for 2hr telly dramas.  I've never understood why, when all of the resources of Hollywood generally can't sustain interest for more than 100 minutes, tv people think that 2 hours is the right length for a routine drama.  It left me with a few unresolved questions, but I guess ambiguity is the nature of these things.

I thought Sean Bean was pretty good too, not so much what he said but because of his sheer physical presence.  He seemed to radiate an incredible malevolent solidity - as though he'd been hewn from the evil equivalent of a neutron star (must be those tight polo neck sweaters).  Although if Yorkshire really was that grim I'm amazed that my parents could bear to raise a child!  I kept thinking "Bloody 'ell, it were grim up North in the 70s.  Thank God I never lived there... wait a minute... I did!"

[GCW]

Part 2 on tonight, in an hour in fact.