Chancer

My goodness me, look at the cast list! No wonder this series was such a hit. One of the peaks of UK TV drama, people still remember it fondly when you say the name. Of course the suave Mr Owen stole the show, but that was only fair. It'd be interesting to see it again to see how much it's dated, but even if it has I'd recommend it unhesitatingly to any viewer or scheduler looking to spice up their afternoons.

Believe it or not, I've only ever seen Clive Owen in one thing, and it's this. He - the script and storyline and whole cast - absolutely typify the late 80s yuppy culture in the UK like nothing else ever did. Dated? Well so is Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, pretty much every movie & series from previous decades. So unless you were born yesterday and don't know what a phonebox was, then you'll be fine. Enjoy the incredible characters that come to life through an ensemble cast of brilliant actors, enjoy a trip through 80s greed and extravagance, you won't get a better opportunity to do that! Massive shame it was cut short, not sure I'll ever forgive Clive Owens for that! (see previous review for why).

Like Harrison Ford, don't we love to watch him win, and don't we love to watch him suffer.

We quite like watching him have a nap, wash a car, or have his lip bitten by prettier girls than us...

As if we weren't being spoiled enough already, there's an ensemble cast that makes you go 'wow, he/she was in this?' about every five minutes before you finally settle down to enjoy it.

There's social commentary to die for - I've yet to see a more succinct analysis of the (tawdry) joys of asset-stripping, or the heady (and extremely dangerous) thrills of teeming and lading.

Now admit it, all my accountant friends out there - you've never seen teeming and lading outside of a textbook or a bad client's ledger books, have you? A series brave enough to educate its audience, and gorgeous enough to keep its audience after admitting it was gonna be educational...

Chancer...I really wanted to be Stephen Crane (less keen on the whole Derek Love thing). Clive Owen was born to play this part, and all of the characters were so well defined the series had a lifelike/documentary feel that was addictive. the only weak character is Jamie (Pertwee) who I have never rated as an actor (famous parents can be an asset to the untalented). Veryy 80,s now, the filming is dated, but the imagery, storyline and haunting (jan Hammer) soundtrack are timeless. This DVD should be in every collection...and just now and then...it should be watched in its entirety, what a great day that would be. very British, very quality (and sexy) television! Spend 20 or 30 pounds and enjoy, no regrets anticipated.

For me, and some others, all you need to see in a cast is the name Clive Owen and you're sold. That being the case, I rented "Chancer" from Netflix.

It's my understanding that this series was a hit but that Owen left it when he hit the big time.

Owen plays a young man who loses his job due to insider trading and turns to using his skills to help out an ailing company. He becomes involved with the family, their business associates, and ultimately it affects his personal life and decisions he makes.

One problem I had with this is -- everyone raves about the music. The music is great except if you watch it the way I did, which is a bunch of episodes at a time. You get so sick of that piano theme you're ready to vomit. It's played every two seconds.

Owen is fabulous, very young here (26), and he's everything - romantic, cagey, duplicitous, heroic, a heel, a con man, capable of love and tears. And did I mention he's gorgeous.

He's surrounded by an unbelievable cast, which includes Leslie Phillips, Peter Vaughan, Susannah Harker, Louise Lombard, Simon Shepherd, Michael Kitchen, and Caroline Langrishe.

Very moody series, dark, with an '80s feels to it. Someone who saw it 20 years ago stated it's probably very dated now. Not really. There are still greedy bankers, failing businesses, and wheeler-dealers. And thankfully, there's still Clive Owen.