The Worricker Trilogy [DVD] [2013]

I haven't met anyone who doesn't rave about Bill Nighy. (But then I don't get out much)! I watched Page Eight when it first screened. As usual with Nighy's performances it was very polished. The story, about an aging British Security officer (Worricker) being leaned upon by colleagues kowtowing to influential politicians, was rather understated but appealed to the intellect. Rachel Weisz joins him in a believable situation. She is equally magnificent. Sir Michael Gambon, Judy Davies and Ralph Fiennes complete a star-studded cast in what develops into government corruption. What luck to discover recently and by accident that there were two sequels. "Turks & Caicos" continues the story with Nighy (Worricker) becoming rather bored in his island paradise. He is unwittingly dragged into the affairs of disreputable American businessmen and a CIA intelligence agent (Christopher Walken) who can't believe he is "resting". They think he is up to something - but his suspicions are aroused. Wyona Ryder puts him in the picture to the chagrin of the miscreants. Later Helen Bonham Carter, one of his 4 ? ex-wives, links up with Worricker successfully to - well I've told you enough already. The third story finds Worricker & his ex-wife (Bonham-Carter) on the run. However to put an end to the government corruption they return to England. The cast exhibits superb acting, the story is fast-moving (literally) and very satisfying. It would be marvellous to have further sequels. Perhaps Nighy (Worricker) can link up with his other 3 ex-wives. Do the three stories give some insight into the difficulties facing high-ranking intelligence officers ? Who knows - but they seem to be most realistic.

This excellent trilogy of stories about spies, spying, and insider treachery in government and the secret service is thrilling, exciting, and compelling. The first factor making it such a marvellous series of plays is the director and scriptwriter, David Hare, who creates suspenseful, contemporary dramatic thrillers through clever, succinct dialogue and sensitive interaction between characters, without on-screen violence (though the viewer is always aware of the intense violent happenings that backdrop the stories), in topical and tropical settings which lift the plays out of the ordinary. The second factor, without which the plays would be far less effective, is the superb, laconic, somewhat disillusioned but committed, spy character created by wonderful Bill Nighy. He takes these plays and shapes them, moulds the character of Johnny Worricker into a believable, sympathetic, humane and utterly convincing MI5 spy who is totally redeemable, unlike so many of Le Carré's harsher and often unlikeable spy characters. The third reason for the heightened quality of this series is the plethora of great actors from Christopher Walken to Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter to Judy Davis, all playing their parts with total conviction and plausibility. A fantastic series, not to be missed.

Lately my reviews tend to get buried somewhere at the back end of several 100 other ones. Anyway let's try...This DVD trilogy comes on 3 discs, all excellent quality with good subtitles and plenty of extras (not seen by me). I must make one point early on. These are NOT ONE -OFFS they are virtually a serial so should be watched in order with PAGE EIGHT first. This for me was the best, great dialogue, fast direction and great actors seemingly loving every minute and enjoying speaking Hare's dialogue, which sparkles (Sparkles??). Wonderful acting from Judy Davis/Saskia Reeves/Michael Gambon/Rachel Weisz, and a scary one from Ralph Fiennes as the Prime Minister. Part TWO TURKS AND CAICOS has lush locations and a starry guest list - Winona Ryder (excellent), Christopher Walken (always so watchable), and the first appearence of Helena Bonham Carter. This was a bit slower than Ep One, but benefited from the writing and acting and locations. Part THREE SALTING THE BATTLEFIELD I thought was possibly the weakest, but there are a couple of standout scenes between Judy Davis and Saskia which bristle with tension (and excellent editing). The settings are all genuine various European cities as Warricker and Helena go on the run. The climax is just about OK, and does tie everything up reasonably nicely. It is obviously political as Hare wrote as well as directed, and, in my opinion, did both very well indeed. Last...and by no means least...Bill Nighy! Perhaps not everyone's cup of tea, but to me he is perfect as the spy who falls out with the government and goes on the run. His anger in the last episode is almost frightening to see as he has been so laid back up until that moment. Serious TV and not a thick eared spy thriller, but all the ingredients added up, for me, to nearly 5 hours of good viewing. Recomended (hope you can find this!!) (yep!! 12 Apr 2022 - buried last of 4 star reviews. Why do I bother???)

Best film series ever made. Bond: tacky. Bourne: insensitive. MI: forget it. Worricker is the real deal and there’s three of them. Wonderful

Who can argue against the pedigree of these fine actors? To have them all in such a collection is incredible. These are all true actors, not overpaid Hollywood stars with savvy agents. The homely beauty of Rachel Weisz, gritty Gambon, the finesse of Fiennes and naughty Bill Nighy provides a masterpiece demonstration of acting and casting. Such diverse characters and all done to believable perfection. Together with the rest of the acclaimed actors this collection of intrigue is the best thing to happen to TV drama since Le Carre’s Karla Trilogy stepped out of the shadows of the spy world. I saw page eight on TV and had to get the trilogy but as much as I anticipated the arrival of the collection I still haven’t watched them. WHY? Well the trouble is these are too good to have “been” watched. I want the perfect evening to enjoy them with charming company and an expensive bottle of wine and until that happens I will drool with anticipation for all the ingredients to be in place when I can relax and enter the world of Worricker.

The worrier trilogy, bill night at his best, a spy thriller with a difference, set over three films, spend a lovely afternoon and watch them all.

British is best as always, when you want to watch a thinking mans thriller. I enjoyed every minute of it. The acting is superb, there is not a weak link in it. Bill Nighy is his usual laid back self, taking care of all the problems as they come along. Ralph Fiennes, Rupert Graves, Helen Bonham Carter, Christopher Walken are all superb, as is the rest of the cast. What I found really satisfying at the end was, that there are no real Baddies and no real Goodies, it all just resolves itself in a way where you say, "Yea that's how a situation like this would finish up.' I recommend it highly. Oh, and don't miss the extra's they give you a lot of insight to the making of the series.

Page 8 got me hooked and the two following films build on a clever and quirky plot. BILL just is brilliant.