Death and Nightingales

The scenery is probably the only element of this three-part series that isn't bleak and grim. Set in 1880s Northern Ireland, Beth lives with her wealthy, landowner/quarry owner stepfather, Billy, who is a depressed, occasionally violent, frequently drunk, lecherous and bitter man. She falls in love with Liam, a local Catholic tenant farmer and pro-Parnell Republican who convinces her to assist a plot to procure dynamite. Matthew Rhys as the bitter Billy delivers the most passionate, believable performance. Ann Skelly as Beth veers from wooden and expressionless to histrionic overacting with long, boring monologues. Jamie Dornan's Liam is mostly sour and cold-it's hard to work up much interest in his character. Would have preferred him to be more charming and seductive to believe that Beth, who is in her 20s and well educated, would want to do anything to be with him. He looks good, of course, but has absolutely no personality.

Death and Nightingales really has a lot going for it with an interesting kind of plot and a great cast of actors who are all very present and good in their roles.

But the third episode which is final part of the miniseries manages to unravel the goodwill I felt for the protagonist which is the main reason for the low star rating. The problem is that the other actors Matthew Rhys and Jamie Dornan give many kinds of signs in their expressions and what not that they are redeemable characters. And I did not feel Ann Skelly (though I like her) really had enough motivation for it to make sense to do what she did or for us to root for her. I believe this is probably the fault of the script or the novel it adapts from for the poor decisions Ann Skelly's character makes or her near non existent decision making process. But at any rate Ann Skelly can't quite pull of her character's melodramatic and novelistic morbid way of speaking, probably largely because the rest of the series isn't stylistic like that so it seems acutely peculiar at times.

But otherwise I think at times they almost pull off a hard to pull off story, I mean beyond the failure of episode 3. I think this series did a decent job for what it is. Very atmospheric with a repetitive but fitting soundtrack.

Watch just to enjoy the performances that you can. Enjoy the ride but don't expect much in the way of a meaningful conclusion.

I enjoyed this movie but if there is only 3 parts and that is it I am disappointed on how they ended it. Is there more?

Skelly, Rhys and Dornan heavily invest in their formal Theater training for a deeply emotional rendition of Eugene McCabe's historical novel of the same name.

The agonizing dialogue will either put one off immediately or serve to capacitate an intense immersive process into the emotional auras of that time.

An excellent and captivating drama. A fascinating exploration of a young woman's plight at the hands of a tempestuous father and exploitative lover who only wishes to use Beth as a means to support Republicanist terror in England. Wonderful dialogue and haunting Irish music creates a chilling atmosphere. Beth is beautiful, vulnerable, brave and enduring and ultimately a symbol of judgement over the wickedness perpetrated by the men she encounters in her tragic life.