museumofdave
Because this BBC mini-series is so perfectly cast, and because the sense of time and place are so vivid and the performances subtle and thoughtful, I found this adaptation of the book on a level with the book itself. In the almost three hours, it manages to depict a relatively innocent, intelligent young man as he hitches himself to an upper class political family and learns some painful lessons both about the culture and about himself; like so many young men driven by dreams of wealth and success, he feels that merely contributing a lively presence is enough, that insinuating himself within a wealthy enclave will bring him status and perhaps some sexual favors.
BruceUllm
Perhaps I couldn't find the DVD menu selection for PLOT: ON OFF. Clearly, the default is OFF. When the end credits began to roll, I couldn't believe that was it. Like our poor, but beautiful protagonist, I felt used, dirty, cheap....The characters were drawn in very broad strokes and the writer's disdain for wealthy Thatcherites was all to apparent. I consider myself a "Roosevelt Democrat", but would appreciate a bit more subtlety.Of course, the problem could be with me. I see that many others seem to find some meaning or message in this picture. Alas, not I. The only thing that kept me from giving this a "1" was the nice scenery, human and plant.
Jay Harris
This is a 3 part BBC mini-series about upper class folk & members of Parliment also a few gay persons as well.We did see & RAVE about TO CATCH A KING a few months back. Line of Beauty has somewhat of the same type story BUT is far inferior in comparison.Thw first 2 hours of this teleplay are very well done, BUT the last hour is pure soap opera melodrama,at the end of which I felt I wasted 3 hours.This film is based on a prize winning novel & tells the story of gay & political life during the Thatcher administration (1980's).In the 80's or even early 90's this tale would have have had more interest,. The last hour dates it miserably, (spoiler alert) a few characters die (AIDS)& I felt nothing for them, mainly cause they were not that likable. I find nothing likable about cocaine users. OH another spoiler alert, That is the line of beauty. the line of coke before it is sniffed.Nearly any of the cast were not familiar to me, The acting & characterizations were OK,nothing noteworthy, Good production values & good music with n good song score,If the last hour were better I would have given this a better review.Ratings: **1/2 (out of 4) 69 points (out of 100; IMDb 6 out of 10
B24
Now that all three episodes have aired in the U.S., one may fairly comment on the overall production.Any comparison to The Great Gatsby is at best superficial, given that the only clues are incidental to the main thrust of the story. In most respects it is a uniquely British tale with relevance to any similar American theme to be found in something Reaganesque or Bushite rather than anything from the era of Calvin Coolidge. Interestingly, Margaret Thatcher is labelled in one telling scene as more the tool of the ruling classes than their leader -- just as their American contemporaries in the Republican Party have been.But the main elements of the story -- class division and envy, reverse snobbery, interethnic relations that have evolved from the disintegration of the Empire -- are less comparable to the scene on this side of the Atlantic. Simple hypocrisy of the kind found in nearly all politicians and the hubris resulting from too much success found too young in life lie at the center of it all. Add to that the drug scene and AIDS in the 1980's and you have a compelling story.The title is also intriguing. It suggests that beauty may be found in amongst all the hypocritical swill running as counteractive impulses that seem on the surface to be merely eccentric. Thus the character of Nick, casually characterized by the housekeeper as "no good," is really something of an antihero. At the beginning of the story he is all superficial and bright, and at the end he is simply bemused.It may be melodramatic and a bit soapy, but I liked it.
AD
