Turks & Caicos

I had no idea this was a follow up to the movie "Page Eight". But I did remember that I had seen a movie with Bill Nighy in a similar role. Well it's actually the same role (there's also a follow up to this movie, though I haven't seen this and cannot comment on who's in that one obviously). I really liked Page Eight and I like this one too, though apparently not as much as the first one.

It's spy business but also a very tricky, who's who, who's doing what to who and why'd they do it? It may sound more complicated than it actually is. The pace is nice and it's really refreshing to see Wynona Ryder in a good role (doesn't seem to have changed a lot). Actually all the actors involved do a great job. More than decent entertaining than ...

I'm so happy I stumbled upon this! I saw a small trailer on BBC2 an hour before it started and as soon as I saw Bill Nighy was in it - it went straight onto my schedule.

BBC Original Drama's have been good in the past and have only occasionally pulled in big names so I wasn't expecting what happened next.. Hollywood a-listers started popping up... Christopher Walken, Winona Ryder, Helena Bonham Carter, Ewen Bremner and a cameo from Ralph Fiennes - Jeez, it's a cast list that any film-maker would love to have.

They all have main to supporting roles and it feels like a classic Hollywood-scale movie, but filmed with the production quality of a British TV drama.

Bill Nighy is absolutely fantastic, like a cool but older James Bond type who has retired to a sleepy island. Christopher Walken is... Christopher Walken and Winona Ryder suddenly has my heart, she looks great and has fully matured.

The film revolves around a former British 'Civil Servant' played by Nighy (we all know what 'Civil Servant' really means) who lives on the privileged Turks & Caicos island. He is recognised by an American (Walken) and is suddenly drawn into a mystery surrounding a company called Gladstone who are about to buy up lots of land on the island.

I've given this a 10/10 because for a TV Drama, which is it, it certainly punched above its weight and the quality of actors on display is outstanding. Watching it on BBC2 HD was simply fantastic and most of all - it came out of nowhere and cheered me up on a Thursday evening.

It was for all intents and purposes - a damn good surprise and seeing Bill Nighy and Christopher Walken back to his best, playing off each other is just awesome. I hate the BBC for squandering British TV License fees on IT systems that don't work and for taking BBC3 off the air, but I would have paid to see this at the cinema.

Turks & Caicos is refreshing, fun and mysterious.

I had not seen the original Worricker film 'Page Eight' but having enjoyed Bill Nighy's work in other things I decided to give this a go.

As a well crafted piece of television drama this is as good as it gets. From the tight script to the almost dream cast you don't see everyday in television drama's this is quality in amongst a schedule full of rubbish. It's a crying shame this got buried on a Thursday night on BBC 2.

Nighy as ever is brilliant. If you thought you'd seen every sort of spy then watch this because Nighy is so at ease in this role.

The only negative point is that if you want a big explosion heavy spy thriller then look somewhere else because this is not that. Here people talk about the state of the world, go for walks, talk a bit and then talk some more. The action is minimal.

I admire many aspects of this drama but I feel that 90 minutes of build up to a very small amount of action unfufilling. I enjoyed the follow up 'Salting The Battlefield' far more.

Having fled the UK after the events of 'Page Eight', ex MI5 agent Nighy is spotted by CIA agent Walken who is looking into an illegal American / British fund / land deal. Agreeing to help, Nighy calls on friends in the UK plus engages with the mysterious Winona Ryder.

Perhaps not quite as slick or thrilling as Page Eight, it is pretty damn close. Nighy is so cool and is once again given a razor sharp script and a very impressive supporting cast. Part 3 - Salting the Battlefield - follows.

Whilst spending his retirement in The Turks and Caicos, Johnny Worricker encounters a group of businessmen, one of them, Curtis Pellisier, he believes is a CIA agent.

It's quite an engrossing watch, for me this is what I would class as a typical BBC2 drama, typical as in very good, slightly more high brow, but one with a superb cast.

If you're expecting a fast paced, action packed affair, you may be disappointed, this is a wonderfully engrossing mystery, the story develops at a moderate pace, but the characters are so deep, so rich that the journey is well worth it.

Here you see just how brilliant Bill Nighy is, for me he's one of Britain's best, he thrives opposite the likes of Winona Ryder and Christopher Walken, the acting is quite something. Throw in Rupert Graves and Helena Bonham Carter, and you have something special.

The visuals are also a key feature, the sea, beaches and greenery are just magical.

It's an engrossing watch, 8/10.