I thought it was superb, Beautifully shot, the trench locations were stunning visually. Great performances all round. Im not sure any drama could capture the horror of living in the trenches as well as this has done.
If anything proves how television has blunted the ability to recognise great acting, the reaction to Birdsong has. I've waded through comments, on here and elsewhere, criticising Eddie Redmayne's superbly nuanced and subtle performance with increasing astonishment. While I appreciate these things are subjective, I simply cannot understand how Redmayne's magnificent performance - seemingly impassive on the surface, surging passion behind the eyes - is being trashed by some. But I've come to the sad conclusion that far too many people on DS now equate "great acting" with some fat slapper screaming her head off in Albert Square, or her male equivalent narrowing his eyes as he attempts to play drunk.
As for Birdsong itself, it was impressively done and all that. Not many laughs, mind.
If anything proves how television has blunted the ability to recognise great acting, the reaction to Birdsong has. I've waded through comments, on here and elsewhere, criticising Eddie Redmayne's superbly nuanced and subtle performance with increasing astonishment. While I appreciate these things are subjective, I simply cannot understand how Redmayne's magnificent performance - seemingly impassive on the surface, surging passion behind the eyes - is being trashed by some. But I've come to the sad conclusion that far too many people on DS now equate "great acting" with some fat slapper screaming her head off in Albert Square, or her male equivalent narrowing his eyes as he attempts to play drunk.
As for Birdsong itself, it was impressively done and all that. Not many laughs, mind.
What a patronising know it all post . I didnt like Eddie Redmaynes performance and will repeat that now .I thought he was one dimensional and boring .His stares were the exact same be he terrified or in love . My ability is not blunted TY , I have an opinion that doesnt match yours .
Would you consider someone who enjoys a piece of art or an opera less than you do blunted ? Art is always open to opinion including acting .Please respect opinions other than your own
If anything proves how television has blunted the ability to recognise great acting, the reaction to Birdsong has. I've waded through comments, on here and elsewhere, criticising Eddie Redmayne's superbly nuanced and subtle performance with increasing astonishment. While I appreciate these things are subjective, I simply cannot understand how Redmayne's magnificent performance - seemingly impassive on the surface, surging passion behind the eyes - is being trashed by some. But I've come to the sad conclusion that far too many people on DS now equate "great acting" with some fat slapper screaming her head off in Albert Square, or her male equivalent narrowing his eyes as he attempts to play drunk.
As for Birdsong itself, it was impressively done and all that. Not many laughs, mind.
What a disappointing post. Debate on this subject has been virgorous but stimulating and polite. Now we get the television police telling us we are all stupid because we don't like what you like.
I hate having to justify myself but let me add this. I do not watch reality television or soaps. I do work in an Arts Centre and spend every available bit of cash on theatre, ballet and symphony. So, I think I would qualify as reasonably cultured. Not that that matters. What is important is to respect others points of view. I am genuinely glad that so many people have enjoyed Birdsong because it will encourage our public service broadcaster to do more such drama. I was thrilled when I heard they were doing Birdsong and am genuinely disappointed that in my opinion it was poorly executed. I am particularly critical of Eddie Redmayne whom I have admired on stage but do not feel did this part justice. I think his performance was self-indulgent and lazy but that is my opinion.
What a patronising know it all post . I didnt like Eddie Redmaynes performance and will repeat that now .I thought he was one dimensional and boring .His stares were the exact same be he terrified or in love . I am not blunted TY , I have an opinion that doesnt match yours .
And as I wrote - if you care to read my post properly - I acknowledged these things are subjective. As is my opinion, which is indeed different from yours. No need to get hysterically defensive.
And as I wrote - if you care to read my post properly - I acknowledged these things are subjective. As is my opinion, which is indeed different from yours. No need to get hysterically defensive.
What you wrote is
"If anything proves how television has blunted the ability to recognise great acting, the reaction to Birdsong has"
What a disappointing post. Debate on this subject has been virgorous but stimulating and polite. Now we get the television police telling us we are all stupid because we don't like what you like.
I hate having to justify myself but let me add this. I do not watch reality television or soaps. I do work in an Arts Centre and spend every available bit of cash on theatre, ballet and symphony. So, I think I would qualify as reasonably cultured. Not that that matters. What is important is to respect others points of view. I am genuinely glad that so many people have enjoyed Birdsong because it will encourage our public service broadcaster to do more such drama. I was thrilled when I heard they were doing Birdsong and am genuinely disappointed that in my opinion it was poorly executed. I am particularly critical of Eddie Redmayne whom I have admired on stage but do not feel did this part justice. I think his performance was self-indulgent and lazy but that is my opinion.
Please, respect it.
I refer you to my reply to the post before yours. Yes, it's subjective. But some of the posts on here about the performance in question border on the personal. Merely redressing the balance.
A series of tableau, beautifully shot forming an empty shell with no drama at its heart. Badly scripted, badly directed and badly acted. Goodbye Eddie Redmayne. Shall certainly not be looking out for you until you have learned how to speak - oh, and act.
Read the Daily Mail article about mumbling actors as the first half is all about Birdsong. One review called this a Gucci advert set in WW1 as the leads didn't seem to have a hair out of place even when shot
Agreed. Couldn't be clearer. If we don't think ER was fab, we are all idiots.
Please highlight which part of my post suggested anyone was "an idiot" for not liking the performance. Go on, please highlight those very words now and I will withdraw them.
Please highlight which part of my post suggested anyone was "an idiot" for not liking the performance. Go on, please highlight those very words now and I will withdraw them.
How about this part:
But I've come to the sad conclusion that far too many people on DS now equate "great acting" with some fat slapper screaming her head off in Albert Square, or her male equivalent narrowing his eyes as he attempts to play drunk.
Incredibly patronising.
I do not watch soaps of any description. I did not find Mr Redmayne carried off the impassive exterior covering inner intensity well. In most cases his facial expressions appeared interchangeably emotionless (although as others have mentioned, the second part was better than the first). I simply did not see the 'intensity behind the eyes' that you describe. That does not mean that I only watch OTT soaps all day - and I'm sorry but your inference is that people who did not appreciate this performance are somehow intellectually inferior and lack true discernment.
Please highlight which part of my post suggested anyone was "an idiot" for not liking the performance. Go on, please highlight those very words now and I will withdraw them.
I quote your post
"""But I've come to the sad conclusion that far too many people on DS now equate "great acting" with some fat slapper screaming her head off in Albert Square, or her male equivalent narrowing his eyes as he attempts to play drunk."""""
Its screams out a patronising " I know better than you plebs ." You can cover it up by repeatedly saying you mentioned subjectivity but it doesnt stop me from thinking you were patronising in the extreme .
I refer you to my reply to the post before yours. Yes, it's subjective. But some of the posts on here about the performance in question border on the personal. Merely redressing the balance.
I think you are confusing the use of the word personal. I have not made any personal comments about Eddie R, only deplored his acting ability. As an actor in a public domain, he would surely expect that.
You are making sweeping personal judgements about the people who use this site who do not expect that. There is a difference.
Two cliches spring to mind. Leave the field with grace and 'when in hole.'
Read the Daily Mail article about mumbling actors as the first half is all about Birdsong. One review called this a Gucci advert set in WW1 as the leads didn't seem to have a hair out of place even when shot
Just had a look. Don't usually have much respect for the Mail but they've got this one right. My poor husband came to the conclusion he was getting deaf as he couldn't understand much of it at all. I did eventually tell him that he wasn't the only one! I suppose the BBC think not being able to hear what little dialogue there was is somehow arty. Sad, really.
I quote your post
"""But I've come to the sad conclusion that far too many people on DS now equate "great acting" with some fat slapper screaming her head off in Albert Square, or her male equivalent narrowing his eyes as he attempts to play drunk."""""
Its screams out a patronising " I know better than you plebs ." You can cover it up by repeatedly saying you mentioned subjectivity but it doesnt stop me from thinking you were patronising in the extreme .
As I said, real Emperor's new clothes stuff! If you can't get the acting it must be because you lack the discernment to detect it - not that the actor simply didn't do it!
I think we have to accept that many people liked 'Birdsong' and many did not. I baically enjoyed it (although, like another poster, I looked up Wikipedia with regard to the book). It was full of long staring-into-space scenes but the WW1 scenes were very good.
"""A parodist could have fun with Birdsong (BBC1, Sunday). French and Saunders, perhaps. I can see Jennifer in the Eddie Redmayne role, Stephen Wraysford, mud-spattered and deeply troubled in a tin helmet, wide lips slighty parted, staring. Urrgh, all that staring, it did get a little wearing, didn't it?"""
Quoted from the Guardian
Agreed. Couldn't be clearer. If we don't think ER was fab, we are all idiots.
I just laughed out loud at myself !! I spent a few hours wondering what ER had to do with it ,............just coped on its Eddie Redmayne and not ER of George Clooney et al fame !!:D
I suppose the BBC think not being able to hear what little dialogue there was is somehow arty. Sad, really.
When it comes to poor audio I am always in the front line if I think there is a problem (eg The Killing US remake). Dialogue during Birdsong was as clear as a bell throughout to my ears on my equipment.
When it comes to poor audio I am always in the front line if I think there is a problem (eg The Killing US remake). Dialogue during Birdsong was as clear as a bell throughout to my ears on my equipment.
That criticism confuses me too because if there is mumbling to be not heard I am usually the person who will need subtitles. Maybe it was the pitch?
I just laughed out loud at myself !! I spent a few hours wondering what ER had to do with it ,............just coped on its Eddie Redmayne and not ER of George Clooney et al fame !!:D
When I read the book, I never thought Isabelle had any deep feeling for Stephen. She was bored, sexually frustrated and broody so her relationship with Stephen killed all three birds with one stone for a while until she got bored again and left.
Others felt it was a true love story but it always seemed one sided to me.
Yes yes yes - thank you for saying that! It was exactly how I felt about their relationship in the book, she was much more capricious than she was portrayed on the tv. Very poor adaption in my opinion, and also the two main characters were badly cast, although I didn't like Stephen in the book and didn't like him in the programme either, so may be the casting was right :rolleyes: The actor playing Firebrace was excellent, and was the only person I cared about over the whole two episodes. Sorry, BBC - I bet you spent lots of money on this, but IMO you wasted most of it. There is no point in skimming a very thin story off the top of a complicated, nuanced novel and selling it as if it was the real thing.
well i thought it was fab from start to finish. the acting from the 2 main leads and the men in the trenches had me enthralled at all times. It was most certainly a juxtapose of 2 unimaginable situations for all and portrayed as such by all. This was truely a story of love and war, and the devastatings effects it had on the lives of all who had to live through it. well done BBC.
Comments
As for Birdsong itself, it was impressively done and all that. Not many laughs, mind.
What a patronising know it all post . I didnt like Eddie Redmaynes performance and will repeat that now .I thought he was one dimensional and boring .His stares were the exact same be he terrified or in love . My ability is not blunted TY , I have an opinion that doesnt match yours .
Would you consider someone who enjoys a piece of art or an opera less than you do blunted ? Art is always open to opinion including acting .Please respect opinions other than your own
What a disappointing post. Debate on this subject has been virgorous but stimulating and polite. Now we get the television police telling us we are all stupid because we don't like what you like.
I hate having to justify myself but let me add this. I do not watch reality television or soaps. I do work in an Arts Centre and spend every available bit of cash on theatre, ballet and symphony. So, I think I would qualify as reasonably cultured. Not that that matters. What is important is to respect others points of view. I am genuinely glad that so many people have enjoyed Birdsong because it will encourage our public service broadcaster to do more such drama. I was thrilled when I heard they were doing Birdsong and am genuinely disappointed that in my opinion it was poorly executed. I am particularly critical of Eddie Redmayne whom I have admired on stage but do not feel did this part justice. I think his performance was self-indulgent and lazy but that is my opinion.
Please, respect it.
And as I wrote - if you care to read my post properly - I acknowledged these things are subjective. As is my opinion, which is indeed different from yours. No need to get hysterically defensive.
What you wrote is
"If anything proves how television has blunted the ability to recognise great acting, the reaction to Birdsong has"
I refer you to my reply to the post before yours. Yes, it's subjective. But some of the posts on here about the performance in question border on the personal. Merely redressing the balance.
Agreed. Couldn't be clearer. If we don't think ER was fab, we are all idiots.
Followed by "I appreciate these things are subjective".
Read the Daily Mail article about mumbling actors as the first half is all about Birdsong. One review called this a Gucci advert set in WW1 as the leads didn't seem to have a hair out of place even when shot
Please highlight which part of my post suggested anyone was "an idiot" for not liking the performance. Go on, please highlight those very words now and I will withdraw them.
How about this part:
Incredibly patronising.
I do not watch soaps of any description. I did not find Mr Redmayne carried off the impassive exterior covering inner intensity well. In most cases his facial expressions appeared interchangeably emotionless (although as others have mentioned, the second part was better than the first). I simply did not see the 'intensity behind the eyes' that you describe. That does not mean that I only watch OTT soaps all day - and I'm sorry but your inference is that people who did not appreciate this performance are somehow intellectually inferior and lack true discernment.
I quote your post
"""But I've come to the sad conclusion that far too many people on DS now equate "great acting" with some fat slapper screaming her head off in Albert Square, or her male equivalent narrowing his eyes as he attempts to play drunk."""""
Its screams out a patronising " I know better than you plebs ." You can cover it up by repeatedly saying you mentioned subjectivity but it doesnt stop me from thinking you were patronising in the extreme .
I think you are confusing the use of the word personal. I have not made any personal comments about Eddie R, only deplored his acting ability. As an actor in a public domain, he would surely expect that.
You are making sweeping personal judgements about the people who use this site who do not expect that. There is a difference.
Two cliches spring to mind. Leave the field with grace and 'when in hole.'
Just had a look. Don't usually have much respect for the Mail but they've got this one right. My poor husband came to the conclusion he was getting deaf as he couldn't understand much of it at all. I did eventually tell him that he wasn't the only one! I suppose the BBC think not being able to hear what little dialogue there was is somehow arty. Sad, really.
As I said, real Emperor's new clothes stuff! If you can't get the acting it must be because you lack the discernment to detect it - not that the actor simply didn't do it!
Quoted from the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2012/jan/29/birdsong-earthflight-tv-review?newsfeed=true
Very similar reviews in one of the Irish papers today too ( sorry I just cant find it now )
If I were to single anyone out I thought Joseph Mawle as Firbrace was excellent and played his part wonderfully .
I just laughed out loud at myself !! I spent a few hours wondering what ER had to do with it ,............just coped on its Eddie Redmayne and not ER of George Clooney et al fame !!:D
That criticism confuses me too because if there is mumbling to be not heard I am usually the person who will need subtitles. Maybe it was the pitch?
Found it very emotional actually. Really enjoyed the mini series - fantastic performances all round - good solid TV
Sorreee! Realised after I'd written it.
Yes yes yes - thank you for saying that! It was exactly how I felt about their relationship in the book, she was much more capricious than she was portrayed on the tv. Very poor adaption in my opinion, and also the two main characters were badly cast, although I didn't like Stephen in the book and didn't like him in the programme either, so may be the casting was right :rolleyes: The actor playing Firebrace was excellent, and was the only person I cared about over the whole two episodes. Sorry, BBC - I bet you spent lots of money on this, but IMO you wasted most of it. There is no point in skimming a very thin story off the top of a complicated, nuanced novel and selling it as if it was the real thing.