The Way We Live Now

I have not read the novel on which this is based so perhaps I enjoyed it more than I should but I found this to be very enjoyable indeed with a good story line and superb acting. David Suchet dominates the screen with an electrifying performance as Augutus Melmotte which made a refeshing change from his simpering Belgian penguin persona!

Period drama. Not my sort of thing at all. People trying to marry or trying to avoid marrying, with financial machinations thrown in. Mildly amusing in parts, but I really could not are less about any of the characters.

David Suchet as Melmotte was glorious, and I adored Matthew Macfadyen as the rakish Sir Felix Carbury, and the other cast members were wonderful - except for Cillian Murphy playing the hero Paul Montague, his portrayal was limp and fey, he created a character who I hardly believed capable of building shelves let alone a railway line. His character caused a disappointing hole in what was an excellent whole. I take a star off for that.

I haven't read the book, Ma has, and reports to me that there are some important differences, the antisemitism in the TV series is dealt with too simplistically, and she mentions especially certain exchanges between Georgiana Longestaffe and Mr. Brehgert, the dialogue in the series suggests something far more obnoxious than what Trollope actually wrote. Half a star off for that inaccuracy.

Likewise the stories of the characters don't end up as Trollop intended, notably the destiny of the magnificent Marie Melmotte. but we'll forgive that one even if she doesn't. Ma also reports that the novel is so dense and involved that so as to get an idea of 19thCentury capitalism, one is probably best off watching this mini series which honestly was fantastic, rather than attempting the read.

Lady Carbury, her innocent daughter Henrietta (Hetta), and her attractive but irresponsible son Felix are the Victorian family around which the action of the film takes place. They are constantly in debt and requiring financial assistance. As a contrast to the Carburys, and equally vital to to the drama, are the Melmottes.

Augustus Melmotte, a wealthy Jew, has come from Vienna under a cloud of financial irregularities and has acquired a large estate for himself. He also has a daughter whom he wishes to marry off to an English Lord.

Melmotte is played by David Suchet. This is a very different Suchet from Agatha Christie's Poiroit. Suchet is fantastic in the role. Melmotte is a bizarre, ruthless, cruel and yet tragic character. Above all he wishes to be accepted as an Englishman.

He is despised by an aristocracy which is nevertheless dependent on him for his investments. He is elected to parliament and mistakenly thinks he has arrived.

Melmotte becomes the chief investor in a plan to build a railway from California to Mexico. One of the chief engineers in this project is Paul Montague, an attractive character who has been working in America. He arrives in the city and is duped by Melmotte who has no intention of investing any money in the railway.

A subsidary character is Roger Carbury. He is a cousin of Felix and Hetta. He wants to marry Hetta. However Paul Montague soon finds himself in love with Hetta--and in competition with Roger for her hand.

Felix courts the Melmottes' daughter for her fortune, and she falls in love with him. Meanwhile he is having casual sex with a local working class girl. You will have to either buy or rent the film to know how it all ends. Suffice to say the ending is surprisingly clever.

The film is an excellent adaptation of Anthony Trollope's novel. I enjoyed it immensely and can thoroughly recommend it.

I'm a fan of BBC period dramas and somehow managed to miss this one when it was on originally. I have to admit that I've not read the novel as yet but intend to do so now. This was an absolute treat as I was expecting a very dark depressing story. It does, of course, have elements of this but there are really fine comedic performances here too. Shirley Henderson is always fantastic but was really surprised at how funny Matthew McFayden was as Sir Felix. I've probably never laughed so much at a period drama. I also really liked Ann Marie Duff as Miss Lowerstaff (?).

I really recommend this to anyone who loves their Sunday evening period dramas.