Riveting
- Patrick Melrose review by CW
Shocking, tragic, hilarious, beautifully done. It felt as though the entire cast loved playing their roles. Benedict Cumberbatch gets to alternate between elegant, sophisticated, witty and totally out of control drug and alcohol fuelled addict. More graphic than scenes in Trainspotting. The acting, directing and camera work make you feel as though you were experiencing the highs, the crashes, the withdrawal. Heartbreaking scenes of a tortured young boy, Patrick as a child. Drug addiction not glamorised, but rather portrayed in all its horror. Based on true stories by author. Compelling. I raced through the episodes.
5 out of 6 members found this review helpful.
Laboured viewing
- Patrick Melrose review by CP Customer
You get the point but somehow there seems to be a need to ram home points by filling entire episodes with the same subject matter. A wafer thin story line that we watched in the vain hope that some depth might develop but to no avail. You could argue that was how it was but what took 4 episodes to cover could easily have been covered in 2, possibly one. Needless to say we cancelled the second disc.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Thoroughly engrossing
- Patrick Melrose review by DW
While being a serious and heart-rending study of the effects of being sexually abused by your father this series manages to have a number of lighthearted and funny moments. A tour de force by Cumberbatch and very convincing performance by the boy playing the young Patrick.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Unhappy viewing!
- Patrick Melrose review by SR
Cumberbatch at his finest luvvy over-acting self and great performances from all manner of actors in the two episodes I watched...but the main theme of the sexual abuse inflicted on the poor kid at the hands of his father made pretty unhappy viewing for a weekend. Don't like to bury my head in the sand over these serious issues, but for entertainment...? Would be better in it's original book form I think.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Very harrowing viewing
- Patrick Melrose review by RR
I only watched one episode, that was enough as it was so harrowing and not my idea of entertainment. However Benedict Cumberbatch's acting was outstanding. This film is not for the faint-hearted.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Horribly depressing.
- Patrick Melrose review by BC
I gave up 20 mins into series 1.Utterly dark and depressing.No chemistry between the leads and not remotely funny ( in an ironic way). I gave up the battle.Horrible.
0 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Interesting but
- Patrick Melrose review by CP Customer
Brave, very brave to write your life story. Very relevant to some people.
I agree with most people its overly drawn out. But im most upset by his depiction of Alchoholics Anonymous. People like him are brought up to be massively empowered, and he does his detox in a super luxuary hotel where, as long as you pay ,all your bad behavior will be tolerated. Far from being drab and depressing AA and NA are FULL of life ,people free and clear , reconnecting with loved ones, and living life to the full for the first time usually since early teens. But speaking generally, you usually need to be humble , perhaps thats why he is so rude and arrogant about it. If you detox in a sh** council flat with no money and nobody cares about you ,AA is an oasis of acceptance and support .
.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.