At first, this series did not work out - even the first series did not watch. I came back to him after a couple of days out of boredom and somehow went.
A few words about humor, women and friendship.
British humor is something special. He is unobtrusive, often unexpected, no one gushes to make you laugh.
There are interesting women in this series. I like a cop whose femininity is disarming. There's a Mercedes and a lady with a cocktail who will not hesitate to shoot you something. The new passions of Bucks, Woody and Quinn, to tell the truth, are not beautiful, but it is not necessary, right?
Now I don’t even remember a film or a TV series where I was so hooked by the friendship of the main characters. Rick, Baxter, Woody and Quinn are such different types, they don’t understand why they are even friends. But they grew up together, got up on their feet, dreamed, made plans, congratulated on their wedding, the birth of children. All this forms a special bond, they witnessed the most important stages and events of each other’s lives. Everyone knows the shortcomings of the other, calmly expresses them, knowing that the other, if offended, will not cease to be a friend.
Unexpected was the mystical and symbolic component of the series. Why thugs wearing Tony Blair masks – the British know better. In Spain, there was a grandmother “voodoo magician”, in Africa Tokoloshi. It’s inscribed organically and believably, if you will. Could we have done without them? Probably. But there are forces, according to the creators of the series, that help us live on Earth and they really helped the main characters. It was not even the creepy Tokoloshi who blew my brain, but a little boy from a hatch who can’t move straight and disappears somewhere in the couch. Huge strange posters from the very beginning attracted attention, I thought that they just add style, but it was not so simple.
The question of the meaning of what is happening heroes rarely, but thought. They called it the jokes of the universe or just a chain of bad decisions. So what did they do that led them to what happened in the end? At some point, the characters decided to loosen their grip, stop controlling their lives, think about their every action. The heroes started playing their lives. I'm going to do this now because I want to. But just as you play life, which means you are free to decide what to do, so others can play with yours, that is, they are free to decide what to do with you. No providence (?).
What was a season 3 comedy entertained us at 4 ended up where it ended up. This is one of the best endings I’ve seen.
What is our life? Game!
Good and evil are only dreams.
Work, honesty - fairy tales for women.
Who is right, who is happy?
Today you are and tomorrow I am!
It's quite hysterical, but very drive British action. The main characters by the will of rock are drawn into the binding of events from which throughout all seasons they can not really get out. Sometimes there are respite, but they are quite rigidly interrupted and everything twists new. The guys themselves do not have special properties, and generally not very good types. Ordinary guys with a midlife crisis. But all together they seem to charge each other with some black energy and luck.
After watching the first season, I wanted to quit. Weary of the never-ending hysteria of the characters. But it was pretty cool, and the story itself is interesting. In the following seasons, hysteria decreased, or maybe just got used to it. All new twists and endless fatal black. You already have sympathy for the characters. A kind of Destination Point, but not a horror, softer and plot twisted.
By season 4, a lot of things are happening and quite a long time passes. Already concretely not only sympathize, but also empathize. the finale, like the last series, is very ambiguous. There are many interpretations in the forums. I want to continue. But it looks like he won't. And that makes it sad.
The Americans released a remake. I’m not sure if you should watch it, because according to many reviews, it is faster, but worse. On the other hand, maybe there will be a continuation. Don't know.
In the middle of the third series, I broke down and left to look at the rest. I found this kind of “black comedy” with four assholes in the villa and criminal motives in the background very unfunny. Believe me, completely uninteresting solution and the fate of money. well, not an iota.
This is some kind of profanation of interesting pictures about the conversations of adult men, familiar from childhood, a collection of stamps and boring topics. Even the second (unsuccessful part) of the corresponding franchise “Quartet I” looks like a sample of good taste, restraint and content against the background of swearing cardboard simulacra.
The creators did not initially claim the A-class mini-series, with a modest budget intending to shoot a merry-go-round in beautiful Mallorca. In some places it resembles a reality show, sometimes - amateur artistic activity. All actors are mediocre, but the actress playing a cop with winks and smiles in my view is the standard of mannerism and unnaturalness.
In general, the plot and continuation are stupid, there is no money on the scale, dialogues and positions are stamped, actors do not shine, there is a lot of ketchup. The fate of the dwarf is not interesting to me, I do not need such hockey.
Judging by the reviews and sequels, many people like it.
British cinema is beautiful! I want to emphasize this, and after watching this series, and after seeing so many pictures of British production ... just like that. Remember what movies/series you are stuck in the soul or memory for a long time, remember, find it on any website dedicated to cinema, and oh my God, it is not surprising, but in most cases, the country, so to speak, responsible for the film will be the UK. So why is there so little “English” cinema, when compared to American cinema, it is much smaller? As in life, all the most interesting, special and largely the best is at times the least opposite. British films are less and less full in cinemas other than her countries, and at the American Academy Awards (even in the category of best foreign film), these films are bypassed. But I have strayed too far from the main and dominant theme of this review, so let me just say that the paintings of Great Britain, whether they are films or TV series, are first of all unusual and specific, and secondly intelligent and interesting. Namely, for the first reason, they are so well remembered, as in this case the TV series "Mad Dogs" ("Mad Dogs") is very memorable.
Four friends from college, who have not seen each other for a dozen years, who are far over 40, are going not just to meet, but to go to rest in Mallorca to their friend Alvo at his own villa. He is rich, wealthy and happy, but only when his old friends come to visit him for a long time that he has already made a large fortune. They are average burdened with the routine of work and family life of a man in the dawn of life. And in life, sometimes everything does not turn out as you would like, on the one hand, went to relax with a friend at the villa, just renounce everyday routine and boredom, and on the other, get into an unpleasant, lying, dirty and bloody story, from which, if you even want, you will not get out. Unfortunately, for those who have not yet watched the series, it is impossible to tell further, because it is more interesting, more and not as simple as it might seem at first glance. Tightness, dullness, slowness - this is what is characteristic of large series, albeit famous and chic American, but in Britain they do not know how to do this, if the film is a whole work without holes, and if the series, then each series has its own meaning and role in the integral work. This is not only nice, but also the fact that the script is beautiful, because for 14 episodes we were told so much about each main character that you can write a book about each taken. One of the best scenarios I've seen.
Be that as it may, even for a great script for each person, you need these very personas, so that you play accordingly. To be honest, I haven’t seen a single actor anywhere, let alone the main ones. In general, all actors play in British, that is, incomparable. Steve Woods (Max Beasley) is the calmest character, at the same time very thoughtful and always tries to balance all the pros and cons, after the second season is revealed chicly, not few problems in the past are always pursued, but the opportunity to become a different makes him a very correct character. Loyd Baxter (John Simm) - hehe, this is the most difficult character, the most detailed, but his glasses do not always make him smarter. As I read the correct description of the character in one girl: "Loyd Baxter in 10 seconds from a nice, benevolent person (well, of course, it was written "from a nanny") can turn into a nasty, obscene devil! " Rick Heston - oh, the most extraordinary and unpredictable character, even compared to Baxter, his actions are sometimes not clear, and he is a typical person of not a young age who believes that he still can live, but in fact can not find himself a morally happy person, but he would be in this life, but he is ready for the sake of his own life. These characters, as well as the actors in the film can not be without each other, the story is not glued, having eliminated one, plans are not built, and no scene can be imagined without the participation of all at once. These are the most detailed characters in the series that I have ever seen, and to say that one character (actor) liked more than another is impossible, because separately they are all opposite to each other stories, and together – an adventure from which it is impossible to break away! (I liked Quinn Paterson the most as a hero, only TSS, nobody.)
In series, especially not popular, usually do not write a budget, but the fool will understand that the series is made for modest money. This is evident because all the disadvantages that the series has are in the technical side. Well, for me, the biggest and, damn it, the downside is the disgusting montage of sound and music, often music. God, who does that, cuts off music in the middle, not just cuts, but cuts, sharply and without sparing. You are surprised by the location of the series, and it is not only Mallorca, but later the guys will bring to Africa, and there are amazing scenery and atmosphere. But even here there is a blunder, it seems chic, but sometimes it seems that for some moments the money was regretted. And so shot beautifully, fashionably, a great soundtrack, if you take the main, then it is not found anywhere, but only borrowed compositions that are very suitable.
Result. The success of the picture and the interest of fans of the series, did not take long to wait for American cinema, because very soon they are going to shoot their version, but maybe if they succeed in making it technically correct, more expensive, more beautiful, then they will not create such a masterpiece (you can already open all the maps to me) since everything from script study, and ending with actors, is simply chic. After the end, it is very difficult for you to understand that you will not see more of these characters (you are not going to renew them for more seasons), but they are so loved by you for the 14 episodes that it seems to you that you watch a series with them lasting a year at least, and this feeling is fantastic. It was this peculiarity and specificity that I was talking about when I mentioned all the British cinema. And certainly the essence and meaning of the series is the best that you will ever see and understand, because the show tries to convey the philosophy of life values, because there are not so many of them. Family. Friends. But sometimes things don’t work out the way you want them to.
Strengths:
- The series is gradually accelerating, and at the end it fires enchantingly (in terms of building and narrating the plot).
- Philosophy.
- British actors are matchless, 100% revealed, and I have never seen such detailed characters in 14 episodes.
- The very idea, the tie-up and the denouement
- The locations are very colorful
- Discouraging ending, from which side do not look (in general, the last season is a role model)
Weaknesses:
- Installation of sound and music
- Lots of cheap moments
- A dual understanding of the plot can lead to a misunderstanding of the entire series.
Who to watch: Fans of smart TV series, British cinema, and everyone who cares about the values of life.
The slogan for the film should make the phrase ' wanted the best, but it turned out - as always'.
From season to season, there was a thought, either dudes are just thorny losers, or favorites of Fortune.
It all started with the fact that middle-aged men in crisis go to a friend in Spain to break away and remember their youth. And then there's a goat, a yacht, Tony Blair, a corpse and a hell of a lot of money. Too much fell on their heads, and then the writers simply did not spare their characters.
I want to pay tribute to the guys, because they found such cheerful and sometimes delusional ways out of situations that they simply believe that they are mere mortal men, and not superheroes (as is customary in American films) and in some situations she would do so herself.
The actors all cheered! I just wanted to applaud in some places.
The secondary characters also did not fail, although it would seem that the main drug lord should have been made a little more dangerous, still the grandfather did not cause terrible trepidation, no matter how twist.
But the heroine of Mercedes pleased. He is a good character and is generally smart. I was waiting for her to shoot in the finale of the series, but unfortunately she was no longer there.
And the views! what the hell are the views in the film - Spain, Africa, the sea, the shores and the bays. Just the eye is happy, especially when there is a blizzard outside the window, and they have waves on the beach splashing.
The music also makes a good impression. All in the subject, everything is under the situation and everything is as it should - no complaints.
More upset caused the series finale. He just blew his mind. All seasons we entertained and invigorated and then suddenly BAC! it is impossible, just can not do.
It was strong. It was not fair to the viewer. It was like an elephant riding a polar bear.
But this is the end. It's over. There is no turning back.
And I am grateful to the crew for the incredible hours that went into watching this series.
10 out of 10
Recently, a series called “Mad Dogs” came to an end. I found out about it by accident and immediately decided to look at it. In general, I was very dissatisfied with what I saw, but not to the fullest extent, as it could be.
First of all, I want to say that the series was directed by two directors. The first two seasons were for James Hawes, the last two - Adrian Shergold. So, the change in the director's chair dramatically turned the style of storytelling, and so much so that it suggests some reflection. If the first two seasons look like a second-rate cheap TV series, with a completely uncomplicated plot and almost no performance, then the last two fundamentally change everything, however, I confess, not as much as it was possible. So from the very first seconds of the third season in terms of performance, everything becomes much more serious and qualitative. The work of the camera now, sometimes, delivers a real aesthetic pleasure (as someone here has already said), a drop of mysticism intervenes in the plot, separate scenes appear that with their subtext, a couple of seconds in power eclipse all, sometimes even tedious, hours of the first two seasons, a couple of multi-valued and symbolic small details are introduced, which flash throughout the entire further action, the actors seem to have become much more qualitatively play (or maybe Shergold is more demanding?). In general, the difference is very noticeable, which immediately makes you feel some sympathy towards the second director. However, behind such an extensive list of pluses, a considerable number of minuses also remained.
The main reason I feel so bad about this project is the general lack of seriousness. The series is replete with absolutely stupid scenes, looking at which all passing action films and detectives of world cinema are remembered. This applies mainly to those periods that are called action. Absolutely unjustified retardation of tough bandits, when, for example, a gun is pulled out of his pocket the amount of time for which the main characters manage to do a lot of useful actions, which, subsequently, prevents their death. The killer, who has been doing his job all his life, who was tried to get the most repulsive killers of this world, before doing his job and shooting the main characters, sitting at the same table with them, about five minutes ranting about the fact that now he will kill them (which, of course, leads to a favorable outcome for our favorites).
Also striking is the degree of stupidity of the four main figures, which, again, makes you remember the most low-quality thrillers of this art. I will not try to list the examples, as they are amazingly many in such a small number of episodes.
All the surrealism mentioned by many viewers fits into several scenes and does not make any impression, and people interested in cinema will not notice it at all.
In general, the fragmentary quality here borders on an amazing frivolity and a completely mediocre attitude to the script, where one of the main points of this work is presented to the viewer with such naivety and all-consuming cheapness that, sometimes you can burst into a volley of angry statements because everything looks very decent in some places.
Very slightly smoothes the impression of the ending, in which everything is quite deep and symbolic. She soars over all this brainchild and pierces it through, making you dream about how strong the product would turn out if the creators took the entire series so seriously. Although, if I said that for the sake of such an ending, it would be worth spending time watching and not paying attention to the flood of shortcomings that can be choked with – that would be a lie. Still, it is quite one-sided and grounded, and if you are already familiar with the giants of world cinema, then you will not be surprised at all.
Therefore, those advantages, which are undoubtedly there, sometimes even in considerable quantities, are absolutely not in force to compete with the murderously huge mediocrity and a catastrophically large set of all sorts of cliches, inconsistencies, stupidities and frankly seriousness of everything that is happening, which, undoubtedly, makes one again disappointed.
Once again, I am convinced that the British can make TV series. With much smaller budgets than the US, they manage to shoot really high-quality projects. Because they have style and conscience. The British stop when the plot has to be sucked out of the finger. However, in my opinion, of course, they are bad PR. The English cannot present their product so that the viewer, roughly speaking, “hawal”. That’s what happened to the show I was able to see and which I’m excited about – “Reservoir Dogs”.
Four friends are going to get together and relax on an island with an old man. It's banal, isn't it? But that wasn't it! Already from the first series, we are drawn into such a whirlpool of events that you are simply surprised by your skeptical attitude at the beginning of the story. The whole first season is crazy. The actions of the heroes seem illogical, wrong. However, if you think about it, put yourself in their place, the absurdity of their behavior disappears. We don’t know what we would do if we were there.
The second season somewhat lowered the bar, but still keeps in tension. The third season was less dynamic, but more dramatic. What is the stage of rehabilitation worth?
The musical accompaniment is simply magnificent. Where the main characters twist any scam or just wash away - play fun, winding music. And when the intensity of passions increases to the limit, or there comes a moment that touches the soul, a similar, "touching" music plays. It's a joy. At first I thought the composer was working on Sherlock. However, I was not disappointed to learn that this is not the case.
The series deserves attention. It has everything: humor, drama, comedy, even action. And if you start watching and feel that the series hooked, pull the pleasure, because the series is very small, and the fourth season (at the time of writing the review) is not soon.
9 out of 10
Four old friends - Quinn, Woody, Baxter and Rick - gather in the villa of the fifth - Alvo - in order to see each other again and have fun. From the very beginning, despite the general benevolence, a certain tension of their communication is noticeable, because these are completely different people. In addition, Alvo is the only one who has succeeded in life, while the rest of life is noble. This meeting of friends of old times is in a sense a summing up, because before it none of them really thought about their lives. Everyone on the margins of consciousness hides the imprint of their own life tragedies and failures. Each of them is ready to go crazy, you just need to comply with the necessary conditions. And they were respected. The first couple of days go by as planned - booze, restaurants, clubs, mutual hamstrings and of course the beautiful scenery of Mallorca. But something is wrong, and it becomes clear from the beginning.
A couple of days after the arrival of four friends in the arms of the corpse of Alvo and a stolen yacht with drugs, and then there is a dwarf killer and this suspicious beauty of the police, with the instinct of a bloodhound and the charm of Mother Teresa excavating information. They just need to understand everything, because this story can cost them their freedom or life, and they can no longer tolerate each other, being locked in a foursome of circumstances and forced to tear all the anger at each other. They get into a real whirlpool that will not let them get out so easily. And the only thing left for them is to dive deeper and deeper to know the bottom. The illusion of control is shattered and their lives are no longer theirs. Drugs, bandits, police, special services, dirty money, weapons - all this revolves around the magnificent four like a kaleidoscope, and chronic discontent with each other in particular adds fuel to the fire. They plunge into a world of incessant despair, panic fear and feverish madness. And yesterday's losers break off their chains like real mad dogs.
A word about the actors. Great play, just great, they really believe, empathize, with them you get out of the mess and think about what to do in this or that case. Separately, I will mention Philip Glenister, known to me from the film ' Vanity Fair', and of course for his masterpiece role as Gene Hunt in the TV series ' Life on Mars' and ' Dust to Dust'. A great actor, unfortunately rarely removed, I would like to see him more often in cinema.
What happened? Very stylish, realistic, full of adventure criminal drama, immersing in the atmosphere of madness, full of black and rude humor, thanks to an absolutely unpredictable plot just does not let you relax, forcing you to be in constant tension, waiting for the outcome. In addition, the creators of the series were limited to four episodes in each season, which allowed them to abandon the intermediate series and spill water to fill the empty space between the storylines, preferring quality rather than quantity.
10 out of 10