Page Eight

Atmospheric, intelligent, thrilling and without violence, this film shines as an example of exceedingly skillful work. There are some scenes of doubtful authenticity but those are still believable and in any case the quality of acting glosses over them. It is delightful when great actors have material and settings that allow them to give their subtle best. Even incidental parts are played convincingly by all and the barely plausible delivery by the Home Secretary only serves to keep things at a human level.

I hope and feel that we shall see more programmes of a similar standard from such a distinguished cast and clever crew. Simply superb from start to finish. (Viewed on iPlayer)

My 9 should be taken simply as an unequivocal recommendation to see the movie, rather than as a comparison with any other movie.

This movie is clearly in love with the world of movie spying but the writer/director have far too much class to reduce it to an exercise in kiss kiss bang bang. Instead of guns and girls we get dodgy dossiers, cold London streets, hushed conversations and uncertain allegiances.

Very early on, there is an exchange between Michael Gambon (Ben) and Bill Nighy (Johnny) that makes it clear nothing is to be taken at face value. This left me constantly wondering about everyone's motives and questioning every relationship, just as Johnny seems to do. This makes for a very enjoyable, if paranoid, experience.

Those who do not like the tone or pacing might argue that it is unfocused or misses its punches, but I liked this aspect of the film. For me, it made it all seem more realistic and at the same time more demanding of the viewer (that is, you have to pay attention and notice what is going on).

I hear that there may be a second and third film. I'd go to the cinema to see them.

This is a good film with a fantastic cast. It's content seems to upset a lot of reviewers including at least one member of the IDF who says the murder of a protester would never happen. Well, it could and it has. This is not a left wing film but one that explores one version of the world we live in. The old boy establishment is still influential in British politics and our Civil Service. This film was made pre Trump and it explores the UK/USA relationship or a version of it. It is intelligently written and sensitively acted. The direction is a little slow burner but this is not an action hero movie. Bill Nighy is superb - one of his best performances although he rarely has a bad one. The only part for me that spoils it is his character. He is very much part of the establishment and one of the most senior members of MI5. It is highly doubtful that someone that senior would be getting as involved as he does and the film would have worked better for me had the character been slightly younger and lower down the pecking order. That apart it is highly believable. It is worth remembering that a UK ambassador was forced out of the diplomatic service when he revealed UK involvement in extraordinary rendition. The type of events depicted in the film have actually happened.

When I see Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, and Ralph Fiennes in a cast, I know I have to check it out. I was not sorry I did. The three were together in at least one other great film - The Constant Gardener. Individually, there is seldom a really good film that doesn't have one of the three.

Of course the Golden Globes and BAFTA agree with me as they both gave the film a nomination.

The Prime Minster (Fiennes) seems to be up to his neck in deception. The meeting between Nighy and he was fascinating.

Page Eight was a positive surprise with good dialogue and an engaging story.

Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, and Michael Gambon in very good form, playing charmingly audacious characters. The Security Service, and the sense of 'England' that is built around it, are both portrayed in an amusingly artsy, lighting-a-cigarette-under-a-lamppost-to-the-tune-of-modern-jazz manner that some might might find annoying - but which I felt more to be endearing. And a refreshing contrast to the bleak picture of the world and it's intelligence services painted in other modern spy shows, 'Spooks' being the prime example.

The story seems to ramble a little, at first, and is not as tight or conventionally depicted as audiences might be used to, but it soon picks up - leading to a 'Johnny on the run' sequence that is as good as any other staple 'spy in hiding' romp in any TV espionage thriller of recent years, but one which is much more believable and down-to-earth. An unexpected conclusion left me praising Nighy's character for doing the right thing, in normal person terms, rather than 'the right thing' in the usual On Her Majesty's Secret Service terms that we're usually force-fed by spy drama - one of the many things that made the character and those around him seem less like a phantom, emotionless government spook, and more like a human being.

Well worth watching.