Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

r-angle Holliday Grainger lights up the screen. She is one of the best actors I have ever seen. She conveys so many moods and emotions with slightest glance. Also, I enjoy the story. It is my cup of tea.

tomsview During the 150th rerun of the "Counter Culture Blues" episode of "Lewis" on Foxtel, it seemed there wouldn't be anything fresh to take the place of those British detective mystery series I loved: "Morse", "Lewis", "Vera", "Shetland" etc.Then along came "C.B. Strike". It has a slightly different vibe but it has the basic ingredients that made those older series work so well. Cormoran Strike (Tom Burke) is a private investigator. He's ex-British army and has lost a leg in Afghanistan. There is pain, physically and emotionally. However, no training for Invictus for him, he often ties one on at his local pub, smokes and has a haphazard diet rich in saturated fats. He crashes in his office, which looks so rank you automatically reach for the Air Wick. Burke is not unlike Stacy Keach, an actor who always had edge. As he walks through chilly streets, collar of his coat turned up and hands in pockets, he conjures up the iconic image of James Dean or even Sam Spade transposed to London. J. K. Rowland and the filmmakers have hit on things that elevate the great detective series from the ordinary. The main character must have empathy. They don't have to be particularly articulate, but you need to feel their innate understanding of the human condition. Strike is a man of few words, but he is a good listener. We sense wisdom gained through adversity. Strike joins characters like George Gently, Vera Stanhope, Tom Mathias and even Bogie's Sam Spade - all graduates of the school of hard knocks. "Strike" ticks another box: the Butch and Sundance one - the buddy at your back. But again there's a difference, Robin Ellacott (Holliday Grainger) starts out as a temp in Strike's messy office, organises it, becomes his girl Friday and then partner. At episode five, it's still not a romance, she's engaged to someone else anyway, but the rapport is strong, she likes the work and she's smart. The stories so far have been good even if "The Cuckoo's Calling" was possibly stretched out one episode too long. However the second one, "The Silkworm", is tighter.There are only three novels so far (another on the way), but like the stories of Ann Cleeves ("Vera", "Shetland"), there is room for whole seasons based on the original characters. Here's hoping.

bjane-61915 Really thought this series was going to be worth watching but I am not enjoying it. It has an interesting hero in Strike played by a good actor in Thom Burke and I thought it would turn into a gripping murder mystery. It doesn't at all, its become a romantic drama with the crimes as a sort of backdrop. It didn't need all the clichéd stuff and its disappointing because it looked like it was going to be a bit quirky and different. Its ok to have romance in the story, but it cant BE the story and still be a crime series. Great theme tune though

zarakian From the poor casting to the mediocre acting, from the bad script to the poor plot. Whats to like. I realize JK is untouchable to her fans who would love anything she writes but this is just mediocre, the books are little better and she is still just a really ordinary author. Her predilection for writing stories about characters who are risibly named and poorly thought out remind me of something written by a not very talented 14 year old. Still as with H Potter the fans will lap it up, Sad really!