Wolf Hall

..and why not?
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The Prof
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Wolf Hall

Postby The Prof » 30 Jan 2015, 23:29

It's a bit boring.

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Polishgirl
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Polishgirl » 30 Jan 2015, 23:40

There aren't even any fucking wolves.
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Samoan » 31 Jan 2015, 14:04

It's wonderful. The sheer tension and the mendacity. Ravishing to the eye.
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby yomptepi » 31 Jan 2015, 14:09

Samoan wrote:It's wonderful. The sheer tension and the mendacity. Ravishing to the eye.



Of course it is. It is amazing.
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Chris P Bacon » 31 Jan 2015, 14:30

Polishgirl wrote:There aren't even any fucking wolves.

:lol:
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Polishgirl » 31 Jan 2015, 16:25

Love the books, especially BUTB.

Tried to watch the 1st episode, but couldn't get into it. Tried again, and it was better. Rylance is such a wonderful actor; I thought he was especially affecting when dealing with his loved ones' deaths. Very understated, but quite profound.

Perhaps it seems slow partly because of the structure of the narrative, with the flashbacks and that - it can be difficult to get the tension going - but, myself, I think the novel itself is all scene setting for BUTB. That's when the story really gets some momentum. The beauty in WH is the writing, the exploration of Cromwell's character and mindset, and the positioning of the other major players, like Norfolk. I guess the telly version is also a scene-setter, establishing context and atmosphere.

I've not watched the 2nd episode yet, so I'm perhaps being unfair, but my only real criticism is the casting of Anne Boleyn. I know it's a bit facile to compare WH with The Tudors, the latter essentially being Eastenders in doublet & hose, but I think they cast AB really well - Natalie Dormer plays her as coquettish, sexually assertive and crafty, and you can understand how men become captivated by her. Claire Foy is a bit...well...tame....
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...
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby ... » 31 Jan 2015, 17:00

Can't see how they can manage to squeeze down such a complex book into six hours of TV. As someone once said of trying to create a televsion/film adaptation of a John Le Carre's novel, it's a bit like creating an Oxo cube out of a Rhinoceros.

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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby KeithPratt » 31 Jan 2015, 21:12

We'd HATE Cromwell in this day and age.

Think it's wonderful. Rylance is superb.

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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby HarryIrene » 02 Feb 2015, 12:11

It is very good and Rylance is perfectly cast as Cromwell. Watchful, guarded, inscrutable and understated, just like in the novels. It does work better as a companion piece to the said novels, as the nature of distilling not 1 but 2 very detailed novels into a 6hr TV series means they have to take it on the premise that most of their audience will know the books and history already. That way they can focus on the more pivotal incidents and happenings to move the narrative forward rather than spell it all out in granular detail. It is a long slowmoving tale of deceit, hubris, manipulation and intrigue, and I am enjoying how the screenplay has managed to capture that without eschewing Cromwell's subtle machinations. He was not a man of bluster and big gestures in the book, more quiet manipulation and watchful cunning. I like that this has been transferred to Rylance's wonderfully measured acting and portrayal of the main character.
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby yomptepi » 02 Feb 2015, 20:16

HarryIrene wrote:It is very good and Rylance is perfectly cast as Cromwell. Watchful, guarded, inscrutable and understated, just like in the novels. It does work better as a companion piece to the said novels, as the nature of distilling not 1 but 2 very detailed novels into a 6hr TV series means they have to take it on the premise that most of their audience will know the books and history already. That way they can focus on the more pivotal incidents and happenings to move the narrative forward rather than spell it all out in granular detail. It is a long slowmoving tale of deceit, hubris, manipulation and intrigue, and I am enjoying how the screenplay has managed to capture that without eschewing Cromwell's subtle machinations. He was not a man of bluster and big gestures in the book, more quiet manipulation and watchful cunning. I like that this has been transferred to Rylance's wonderfully measured acting and portrayal of the main character.


Excellent. Well said.
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Insouciant Western People » 10 Feb 2015, 13:51

Toby wrote:Rylance is superb.


Apparently he's bought the film rights to Paul Kingsnorth's excellent novel The Wake, about the English resistance to the Norman invasion centred around the East Anglian Fens, in the years following William's takeover.

I really hope that gets made by him.
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Polishgirl » 10 Feb 2015, 14:04

I'm now up to date with the episodes and continuing to enjoy it, and be amazed by Rylance.

My favourite bit ( and I'd forgotten about it happening in the book ) is the players in the nasty, anti-Wolsey masque taking off their ..ummm...masks, one by one, laughing and crowing, unaware that Cromwell is silently watching them, marking their cards.

Revenge is, after all, a dish best served cold. Chilling and brilliant. Chilliant.
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby mission » 10 Feb 2015, 14:07

Toby wrote:We'd HATE Cromwell in this day and age.

Think it's wonderful. Rylance is superb.


I'd happily slit that cunt from ear to ear. With an adze.
Goodness gracious me.

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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Phil T » 10 Feb 2015, 14:28

Apparently, Mark Rylance prepared for the role by watching Kenneth WIlliams' portrayal of Cromwell in 'Carry On Henry', I kid you not.

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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Insouciant Western People » 10 Feb 2015, 14:32

mission wrote:
Toby wrote:We'd HATE Cromwell in this day and age.

Think it's wonderful. Rylance is superb.


I'd happily slit that cunt from ear to ear. With an adze.


Why?
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby mission » 11 Feb 2015, 00:07

Cromwell's murderous work in Scotland and Ireland was tantamount to genocide. Fuck him and the roundheaded dog he rode in on.

I am not even all that sure who Rylance is, if you thought I was going to take to him with agricultural tools.
Goodness gracious me.

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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Insouciant Western People » 11 Feb 2015, 09:11

mission wrote:Cromwell's murderous work in Scotland and Ireland was tantamount to genocide. Fuck him and the roundheaded dog he rode in on.


The TV drama is about Thomas Cromwell, not Oliver. It's based on Hilary Mantel's novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies.

Mark Rylance is playing the lead role, he's also the artistic director of the Globe Theatre in London. Terrific actor.
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Belle Lettre » 11 Feb 2015, 10:41

Errare humanum est :D
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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Chris P Bacon » 11 Feb 2015, 10:48

We won by not being you. Perhaps even the greatest of prizes.

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Re: Wolf Hall

Postby Insouciant Western People » 11 Feb 2015, 10:51

Belle Lettre wrote:Errare humanum est :D


:D
Jeff K wrote:Nick's still the man! No one has been as consistent as he has been over such a long period of time.


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