Plastic Man

The mini-series is a popular format these days, since the length makes it possible for complex and interwoven plots to unfold, with enough time for detailed character development. And the separation of episodes is designed to give us the pleasure of anticipating the denouement.

It is a shame that so many efforts in the genre disappoint, but 'Plastic Man' gives us everything we need.

This is an intelligently scripted and crafted piece with almost flawless performances by the substantial cast of significant characters. So many of the situations and dilemmas of modern life are illustrated here that it is an almost uncomfortable parade of insights into the human condition.

We get the full gamut of marital and family complications - power and respectability, an affair, death of a loved one, expectation, disillusion and disappointment, boredom with the familiar, betrayal, enlightened lust, the wilful outcast, insecurity, uncertainty, the bold but fearful step in a new direction, acceptance, forgiveness - enough for a whole season of soap episodes, but delivered here in a 3 hour package. But unlike the tawdry amateur dramatics of most soaps, the tightness of script and plausibility of the characters gives us a satisfying snapshot of many of the issues confronting two whole generations and reminds us of the near-impossibility of living a fulfilling but uncomplicated life. It is always illuminating (if slightly disappointing) to see that no-one should be envied for apparently 'having it all'.

The cast is a talented one, headed by one of my all-time favourite actors John Thaw, so Plastic Man did have that and a lot of other things going for it. And while it is nothing ground-breaking with themes and issues that we've seen quite a fair number of times, Plastic Man still delivers, the previous reviewer is correct in that there is nothing plastic about it. It's beautifully filmed with locations that are well-chosen and look lovely and Michael Gibbs's music is subtly used and makes for a pleasant listen. Plastic Man is intelligently written stuff, with thoughtful and poignant dialogue tightly structured and sub-plots and situations that while not new are done in a way that's identifiable and real-life-like yet knowing that the actions of the characters can't be condoned. It's written very truthfully and also realistically, like truth often is it's unpleasant but Plastic Man also puts it forth with humanity and warmth. Never does the story feel too stretched and drawn-out or too rushed and thin, there's plenty of space and time to develop the characters(which Plastic Man does do) but things are paced tightly as well. The characters are ones you may take time to warm to but they grow on you by the end regardless of what they go through, I did find myself feeling sympathetic towards Sorcha Cusack's character Erin. The writing is to thank for that, as is the solid directing and the beautifully played performances of the whole cast with particular mention going to the three leads with John Thaw as always great(even if he has given better performances and been in better things, not a knock, it's testament to how good an actor he was). Sorcha Cusack is touching as Erin and Frances Barber has probably only been lovelier in the Inspector Morse episode Death of the Self. To conclude, very well done. 9/10 Bethany Cox