The Gentlemen
The Gentlemen was a 2019 movie from Guy Ritchie. From memory, it was good, even though I can’t remember anything in it except for Hugh Grant. Now it has been spun off into an 8-part TV series. While I may not be able to recall this plot in a few years, there is still lots of fun to be had.
Theo James is superb in the lead role playing the newly crowned Duke of Halstead. He discovers his father’s estate is home to a secret underground hothouse growing marijuana. Now he has to deal with an assortment of criminal gangs, not to mention his wacky family, played by Daniel Ings and Joely Richardson.
Guy Ritchie is still doing the same geezer action schtick he started back in 1998 with his first film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. But who cares that he’s repeating himself when The Gentlemen is so hilarious and stylish. Get on board, it’s lots of fun.
Steve Coogan as Jimmy Savile
The Reckoning
The Reckoning (Foxtel/Binge), a 4-dramatisation of perverted TV star Jimmy Savile, got a bad wrap from UK critics who called it unenlightening. Having now watched it all, I could not disagree more.
Saville rose to fame as a DJ in the 60s, and he ended up hosting Top Of The Pops. Moving in powerful circles, he received an OBE and a knighthood for his “charity work”. But as this mini-series shows, it was all a scam so he could molest and abuse multiple minors, helpless patients in hospitals, and even dead bodies.
Given this went on in plain sight for several decades, surely it’s worth examining how this happened. It is not pleasant viewing in the same way that Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix) was. It is vital, however, that these twisted individuals are put under the spotlight, in the hope that it never happens again.
The cast of Palm Royale
Palm Royale
Palm Royale (Apple TV+) is set in 1969 and has a cast to die for, which includes Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, Laura Dean, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas and Carol Burnett. Now 90 years old, Burnett’s character is in a coma for the first two episodes and she won’t be able to wake up fast enough for me.
The show is all about Kristen Wiig’s character trying to make her way into Palm Beach high society. It’s hard to fathom why though when all the rich women are such mean girls. The sets are amazing and the costumes are to die for, but Palm Royale is in desperate need of a more believable plot.
TV Gold: Two episodes of Mediaweek’s weekly TV podcast
Listen now on your favourite podcast platform for 30 minutes of TV reviews and recommendations every week from Mediaweek’s Mercado on TV columnist Andrew Mercado and editor-in-chief James Manning.
We want your comments, feedback and questions – [email protected].
This week: The Reckoning, Palm Royale, The Gentlemen
The important, yet challenging-to-watch, story of Jimmy Savile is recreated in The Reckoning (Binge/Foxtel, series). Savile is played by Steve Coogan who lands a job with the BBC in the 60s on Top of the Pops. The series explores the impact of his crimes and the difficulties faced by those who tried to raise the alarm.
Palm Royale (Apple TV+, series) features Kirsten Wiig as an ambitious woman trying to become a member of the most exclusive club in Palm Beach in the 60s. Watch it for the wonderful period recreation and the excellent supporting cast.
Our third series up for review this week is The Gentlemen (Netflix, series), from creator/writer/director/executive producer Guy Ritchie. It is really the surprise package out of these three series. It tells the story of a son who unexpectedly inherits the family estate instead of his older brother. And wow, does he uncover a few surprises hidden in that estate!
Bonus episode: Leah Purcell on High Country and The Drover’s Wife
This week, the star of High Country, Leah Purcell, features in a special episode of TV Gold. The episode follows on from bonus episodes recorded with Marta Dusseldorp and Rebecca Gibney.
In this week’s bonus episode, Leah Purcell joins Andrew and James to talk about Binge’s High Country. She discusses what drew her to the script, working on location in Jamieson and the brilliant cast.
We also get news about the possibility of a second season of the mystery thriller. Leah also discusses the chances of a sequel to her movie, also set in the high country, The Drover’s Wife.
Listen online here, or on your favourite podcast platform.