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Wolf Hall

posted 8 years ago by Toshtego (33)
11 replies | jump to latest

Anyone else enjoy this offering from Masterpiece on PBS?

I find it brilliant in both acting and script. Mark Rylance's heroic interpretation of Thomas Cromwell, a man previously presented as a villain, really brings that time alive for me. He really looks like he stepped down from a tapestry hanging upon an English castle wall.

Just a wonderful serving of that time with so many interesting characters.
Claire Foy's Anne Boleyn is just wonderful.
Jonathan Price as the old Cardinal.
Damian Lewis's interpretation of Henry VIII is even more lively than Robert Shaw and that was awfully good.
Anton Lesser does an interesting thing with Thomas Moore and counterpoint to Paul Scofield's historic performance, "A Man for All Seasons". He also appears born to the role.

This series is all too short. Hillary Mantel did an excellent job with her novels but this series really gives the story life.

[–] Drmccormack (743) 8 years ago

Now, I get to praise one of your picks. I loved this book and this miniseries did not disappoint me at all. I was worried they would ruin this book but it was a wonderful adaptation. The actors you mention were great in this. Mark Rylance is one of my favorites working today and I try not to miss anything he's in!

[–] Yoko (21) 8 years ago

Oh this was so good and well acted. I could have without watching Ann Bowyln's decapitation though. It still haunts me.

[–] Drmccormack (743) 8 years ago

I just rewatched that episode yesterday and you're right it was rough but didn't you find it fascinating the way they did it? It wasn't with the chopping block. It was bizarre.

[–] Toshtego (33) 7 years ago

She had a "little neck".

That scene was quite sad. Claire Foy was an endearing Ann despite her flaws- the tantrums and machinations.

[–] Drmccormack (743) 7 years ago

I always felt empathy for Ann. You can imagine all the women in Henry's life were his playthings. The only ambition women could harbor at the time was marrying up. Poor Ann! Don't you love the scene at the window where Cromwell imagines making love to Ann? It was so well done.

[–] Toshtego (33) 7 years ago

That was an enchanting moment. I was there with him LOL.

[–] LebronCorleone (63) 7 years ago

Did y'all read the book? Or can one proceed the series without having read it?

[–] Toshtego (33) 7 years ago

The series is good enough on its own. I watched it first and read the books afterwards.

You might also want to watch the movie "A Man For All Seasons". Some of the same characters but with different interpretations.

[–] Drmccormack (743) 7 years ago

To me that was the cleverest thing about the book. All of my ideas about Henry VIII, Thomas Moore and Thomas Cromwell come from my Irish Catholic upbringing. You can imagine what we were taught about Moore. He was a martyr to the true faith! What a tremendously novel way to portray him, as an ambitious politician! Then, if you asked me anything about Cromwell, I would have said he was the devil. I love that I was given a more human perspective of these people from the book and movie.

[–] Toshtego (33) 7 years ago

Ditto that experience and subsequent understanding of these men.

[–] Drmccormack (743) 7 years ago

Absolutely! You're going to want to read the book after you see it, just warning you! It's good!