The Virtues (new drama from Shane Meadows)

Jurgen The German · 24-05-2019 10:21PM

Superb opening two episodes. Dont get the criticism of the opening of episode two, its archetypal Meadows visuals and the gorgeous Lisa Hannigan backing track added to it.

Spine tingling acting from both in the bedroom scene and over all hugely effecting.

I can guess where it's going to go and it wont be a happy place, Stephen Graham just gets better with age.

Different character altogether from say Combo but just as powerful.

Brilliant Brilliant television.

SteelyDanJalapeno · 25-05-2019 11:02AM

Bedroom scene was great, but I found the sofa scene with the 2 girls the complete opposite, acting was poor dialogue was poor even the shooting felt different, quite odd

Jurgen The German · 29-05-2019 10:21PM

Another excellent episode. Helen Behan was fanfcukingtastic in this one. She played the Irish mammy to an absolute tee, raging anger but trying not to laugh. Mark O'Halloran was excellent also in his extended screen time. Difficult to know how its going to pan out but its gripping stuff.

Ash.J.Williams · 29-05-2019 11:20PM

Jurgen The German wrote: »

Another excellent episode. Helen Behan was fanfcukingtastic in this one. She played the Irish mammy to an absolute tee, raging anger but trying not to laugh. Mark O'Halloran was excellent also in his extended screen time. Difficult to know how its going to pan out but its gripping stuff.

yeah helen stole that one she was great, Jaysus mcsavage played a creep really well

Jurgen The German · 30-05-2019 06:13AM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

yeah helen stole that one she was great, Jaysus mcsavage played a creep really well

I was watching it and thinking I know that face, who the hell is he, it was only when I looked at the IMDB page that I saw it was him. Creepy is bloody right.

yabadabado · 30-05-2019 08:58AM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

yeah helen stole that one she was great, Jaysus mcsavage played a creep really well

Not sure hes doing much acting .

wezzopalooza · 31-05-2019 08:48PM

Have been really enjoying this the last few weeks, big Meadows fan and nobody does gritty realism like him. Also worth seeing is "A Room for Romeo Brass", it's a real gem and has some familiar faces from other Meadows films, plus an absolutely unhinged early performance from Paddy Considine.

Stephen Graham has been fantastic, he has such an unsettling screen presence, can go from being nice to a raving maniac in an instant, like in the end of This is England, where he turns on Milky for no reason.

The opening scene of first episode where Joe starts to weep quietly at his exes dinner table was both pitiful and disturbing, and I was waiting for the moment in the bar scene where he would go off. Saw Rocketman last night and he was fairly comical in it, such a great actor.

I got the feeling in the first episode that he did something terrible while drunk the night before and why he had to leave Liverpool so quickly, but it hasn't gone with this so far. I thought oul Sinbad was going to get it at the ferry ticket desk too

:D:D

I like that it's not signposting things, leaving the viewer to fill in gaps. But seeing Mcsavage was fairly jarring lol, one of the more random tv appearances of late that I can remember. Kept thinking of Mic the Bull and the "Quares"

:D:D:D:D

Gimme A Pound · 02-06-2019 10:35PM

Just got around to episode 3 now. Christ another utterly painful drunk scene. I know a guy (friend of a friend) who gets exactly like that when he drinks too much - to a T. And he's carrying a lot of pain also - masses of issues to work through. If Stephen Graham hasn't been through the same, by god he's perfection at depicting it. The real deal.

It was funny too, but SO uncomfortable.

jos28 · 02-06-2019 10:54PM

He is an amazing actor, so compelling to watch. A friend mentioned that he has dyslexia and apparently he relies on his wife to help him read scripts and choose roles.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/line-dutys-stephen-grahams-dyslexia-14811310

bobbyss · 05-06-2019 06:49AM

It's starting to fall flat for me. Not enjoying it. It should focus on him and his past. Why is there a focus on his sister in law? Let's get on with HIS past. She's a good actress but I just feel she's getting in the way. We haven't seen any abuser as of yet. Lots of flashbacks.

Ash.J.Williams · 05-06-2019 07:00AM

bobbyss wrote: »

It's starting to fall flat for me. Not enjoying it. It should focus on him and his past. Why is there a focus on his sister in law? Let's get on with HIS past. She's a good actress but I just feel she's getting in the way. We haven't seen any abuser as of yet. Lots of flashbacks.

I just passed on your tip to meadows and he's ordered an urgent rewrite by Amy huberman

bobbyss · 05-06-2019 09:18AM

Ash.J.Williams wrote:

I just passed on your tip to meadows and he's ordered an urgent rewrite by Amy huberman

We don't need her on the job. What we need is less side tracking.

gucci · 05-06-2019 10:49AM

bobbyss wrote: »

It's starting to fall flat for me. Not enjoying it. It should focus on him and his past. Why is there a focus on his sister in law? Let's get on with HIS past. She's a good actress but I just feel she's getting in the way. We haven't seen any abuser as of yet. Lots of flashbacks.

Have you ever heard of Show, don't tell? It's usually what actually keeps you watching/reading/focused!

Who is to say which is the main character? The show was originally called Mary and Joesph, so i guess he thinks he is able to tell two characters story?

Unearthly · 05-06-2019 10:58AM

I think this show is great. There might not be much going on but the acting, and dialogue is top notch. I wish it was longer than 4 episodes

cdgalwegian · 05-06-2019 01:29PM

Unearthly wrote: »

I think this show is great. There might not be much going on but the acting, and dialogue is top notch. I wish it was longer than 4 episodes

I'm torn now. Watched the 1st one y'day, and felt battered and bruised afterwards. Acting is obviously fantastic, but is it just relentlessly bleak?

05-06-2019 01:42PM

wezzopalooza wrote: »

Kept thinking of Mic the Bull and the "Quares" :D:D:D:D

I love that character

reni10 · 05-06-2019 10:34PM

That finale was great but my god tough going.

Shane Meadows is one of the best at these types of dramas and I look forward to the next thing he does...

yabadabado · 05-06-2019 10:35PM

Fairly went out with a bang.Tough to watch.

Jurgen The German · 05-06-2019 10:35PM

I need a hug and a lie down after that.

Intensely powerful, stunning performances from the central cast, heartbreaking and i imagine it illustrates to an all too real tee the ripple effect of life in institutions.

Between this and Chernobyl we have been spoiled with incredible TV this week.

hairyprincess · 05-06-2019 10:36PM

I can’t believe it’s over! I need to know what happens next! Seriously hard hitting and relatable in some way or another to many, many people.

CoBo55 · 05-06-2019 11:02PM

That was fantastic.

Lisha · 05-06-2019 11:05PM

Compelling viewing

jos28 · 05-06-2019 11:12PM

I'm exhausted after that finale - incredible viewing and definitely something that will stay with you.
Very good interview with Shane Meadows here
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/05/shane-meadows-interview-the-virtues-stephen-graham-trauma

phatkev · 05-06-2019 11:13PM

Christ that was tough going, but absolutely brilliant!!

jos28 · 05-06-2019 11:16PM

Everything about it was superb. The script, casting, performances - absolutely harrowing to watch but compelling viewing. Well done to everyone involved.

Lisha · 05-06-2019 11:22PM

jos28 wrote: »

I'm exhausted after that finale - incredible viewing and definitely something that will stay with you.
Very good interview with Shane Meadows here
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/05/shane-meadows-interview-the-virtues-stephen-graham-trauma

Thanks for that link to article Jos. It’s a Great read. I’m too freaked to go to bed now ....

bobbyss · 05-06-2019 11:27PM

I was surprised she killed her mother and I was surprised he didn't kill yer man.

Sardonicat · 05-06-2019 11:40PM

Well, that was unremittingly bleak. Thought the mother was a bit pantomime.

Gimme A Pound · 06-06-2019 08:58AM

Wow, a masterclass in tension!

jos28 wrote: »

I'm exhausted after that finale - incredible viewing and definitely something that will stay with you.
Very good interview with Shane Meadows here
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/05/shane-meadows-interview-the-virtues-stephen-graham-trauma

His work is so autobiographical. Very honest interview. Reminds me of the film Scum.

What's that though? He got his sister's boyfriend to beat up an innocent younger kid but he was all anti bullying and empathetic for people who've been beaten?! That's a weird part.

weemcd · 06-06-2019 11:24AM

Niamh Algar is a superstar in the making, I would literally watch anything if I heard she was in it. This is some of the finest and most natural acting I have ever seen, from the entire cast btw.

The Virtues (new drama from Shane Meadows)

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