Endlich beendet. 5 Romane, komprimiert auf 5 Stunden. Und nicht eine fühlt sich langweilig, egal oder wie Füllwerk an. Dafür sorgt u. a. Edward Bergers Inszenierung. Wie er mit Trauer, Tragik, dunklem Humor, der Absurdität, dem Selbsthass, der Hoffnung und unseren Schuldgefühlen jongliert, ist beeindruckend. Seine Mini-Serie oder sein Mammut-Film (Eure Wahl) ist überlegt, unverkrampft und stilistisch bunt inszeniert, ohne dass eines dieser Adjektive aufdringlich oder bemüht wirkt. Das belegt allein die aufwendige Dinnerparty-Plansequenz, die sich in die 3. Stunde schleicht und die ich erst zurückspulen musste, um ihre Finesse völlig zu erfassen. Genauso glorios-präzise sind dann auch die Dialoge. Oder diverse Momente von Leigh, Weaving und Torrens. Doch über allem schwebt, leidet, kämpft, spottet oder suchtet ein beeindruckender Benedict…

Truly and deeply personal, so very harrowing, with just a sliver of hope, and realistic emotional triumph.

Before this released I heard Benedict Cumberbatch voice his excitement, saying it was his dream role basically, and I was immediately stunned upon watching the first episode. Why would it be your dream role to play a character with such grief, such heartbreak, such incredible suffering? Imagine how difficult that would be. But as it goes on, it becomes clearer and clearer why.

Based on the semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St. Aubyn, with each of the five episodes representing one book in the series, Patrick Melrose is a true to life story of addiction, abuse, struggle, family, love, youth, aging, selfishness, hope, and…

A worthy investment to be sure. After three episodes Im throughly enamored by the Melrose character. Cumberbatch has managed to give us a soundly broken man in search of his better self. Always hanging by a thread without succumbing to the confines of simply being a pity case. Episode Two paints a disastrous back story of terrible cruelty masquerading as a Fathers love. And while Im completely appalled by Hugo Weaving’s David and Jennifer Jason Leigh’s apathetic and loaded mother numbing her way through marriage/motherhood their performances are both striking on all fronts. Weaving constructs a beast of psychological terror stalking his family, no doubt in reaction to his own fathers suffocating upbringing. At least it’s hinted as such. Nothing…

What’s the point of a window if you can’t jump out of it 

Swimming in sarcasm and cynicism, this is really not the dry drama that I thought it was going to be. Instead it’s a profoundly moving pitch black comedy. The first episode reminds me of Trainspotting, although it does tone throughout the rest of the episodes it definitely keeps you interested and moving along well... contrasting the sad and really fucked up story is a set and lighting that are bursting with color, it’s really amazing looking.. especially once we get to the villa in Provence which is picturesque. The music drops are so great too ... 

while this is presented in a very entertaining fashion, at the…

This isn’t a Theatrical Release but Im thankful that Letterboxd includes Mini-Series. Because of there open and shut narrative threads it always feels like just a long movie to me.

The first episode is a whirlwind of chaos and dimly lit humor that derives from Cumberbatches genius crash and burn emotional and psychological state. He offers a similar neurotic personality as his Sherlock character but Patrick Melrose is born from the wounds of his past and the need to protect himself at all costs. The man is mentally ill and that’s no laughing matter. Somehow he manages to wrangle your empathy while also erupting with laughter from the lunacy of it all. It’s quite the blend of emotions that shouldn’t…

Truly and deeply personal, so very harrowing, with just a sliver of hope, and realistic emotional triumph.

Before this released I heard Benedict Cumberbatch voice his excitement, saying it was his dream role basically, and I was immediately stunned upon watching the first episode. Why would it be your dream role to play a character with such grief, such heartbreak, such incredible suffering? Imagine how difficult that would be. But as it goes on, it becomes clearer and clearer why.

Based on the semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St. Aubyn, with each of the five episodes representing one book in the series, Patrick Melrose is a true to life story of addiction, abuse, struggle, family, love, youth, aging, selfishness, hope, and…