TV Review: Page Eight

A bit of a first for me here, reviewing (or even watching) a BBC drama, but after one look at the star studded cast for David Hares spy drama Page Eight had me change my tune quite rapidly.

Bill Nighy plays Johnny Worricker, a MI5 officer who, after the mysterious death of best friend and MI5 head Benedict Baron (Michael Gambon), tries to uncover the truth behind an equally mysterious document that threatens to rock both the organization and the government itself. Meanwhile the connections between next door neighbour and political activist Nancy Pierpan (Rachel Weisz) seem to present themselves.

As long as you don't go in expecting a rollercoaster of thrills and excitement, you'll get a lot out of Page Eight. It's brilliantly written and acted, with a great performance from Nighy as Warricker. Be prepared though, Warricker is in pretty much every scene during the films 98 minute running time.

Michael Gambon steals pretty much every scene he is in, as he is prone to do, and Ralph Fiennes is brilliant as the Prime Minister, Alec Beasely, even though he is not in it much. And Rachel Weisz, who I normally find to be pretty annoying (although I'm only basing that on stuff like The Mummy series really) acquits herself well as the possible 'love interest'.

The whole thing is VERY English though, with it's mentions of The X-Factor and Warricker wandering around with a Waitrose bag at one point. It makes no effort to 'Americanize' itself, and while that leaves it dreary in places, it's very admirable and the slow moments are few and far between.

Apparently, David Hare (who also wrote The Hours and The Reader) has stated that he'd like to make more Johnny Warricker films if this one is a success, and I'd like to see more. It would be very interesting to see where the story could go after the events of this one. Let's hope it happens.

****
Not the most exciting spy drama you'll ever see, but has got the best writing and performances you're likely to see on British TV this year. Check it out.