So…didja watch it?
What did you think? Tell me everything!
Amanda: I’m putting my thoughts in a spoiler, just in case you may have started it and not finished it. Or if you haven’t read the book yet, as most of my issues came from the differences between the movie and the book.
My biggest gripe was what they did with poor Bogdan’s storyline. I liked it much better when Bogdan was biding his time before seeking revenge for his murdered friend.
I watched the movie with a friend who’s a big fan of the series. She also thought the Bogdan storyline wasn’t great, given that he shows up in subsequent books. She did make a good point. Perhaps Netflix wasn’t sure how well this would do for a sequel and with the actors being older, who knows what they could commit to.
Coopers Chase was not how I pictured it in my head. It was more sprawling in my imagination, though I’d still want to live at either version.
This version of Bobby Tanner wasn’t to my liking either. I much preferred the notion that he was in hiding and really wanted nothing to do with crime life.
The whole nun/priest romance storyline was cut, which made me a little sad. There’s a moment in the book where Bogdan changes the headstone and I remember tearing up at that kind gesture.
Okay, I’ve done a lot of complaining!
I think if you’re going into this movie without prior knowledge of the book’s events, you’ll have a more enjoyable experience than I did. You won’t be caught up in what they changed or took out.
The movie did a good job of capturing the tenderness of the book, especially the relationships between the Murder Club members. The strongest part of both the book and movie, for me, were the characters anyway. The casting was pretty perfect.
If I had to assign a grade, perhaps a B- or a C+. The book was better, as it typical.
Sarah: I copy everything Amanda said. I loved how beautiful it was, and how much money was invested in sets, location, costumes, and everything that makes a movie or show feel lived in and real.
I also loved playing, “Oh, hey, it’s Famous Actor Person!” Like, every other scene. At point point Adam looked up and said, “Wait, David TENNANT is in this, too?” Literally the casting for this must have been a delight.
But wow, the compromises for length were a massive bummer.
- Justice for Bogdan. The reworking of his plot line was straight up terrible.
- Most folks were concerned that Pierce Brosnan was a bit too posh to be Ron, but he had the most energy out of everyone. He lifted every scene he was in.
- Ben Kingsley was deeply underused. (Let him explain the algorithm of how long the journey would take!)
- I thought Helen Mirren played Elizabeth with one particular dour flavor and never deviated (though the scene where her husband tells her she looks like the queen was A HOOT).
- I wish it had been a series, though I understand how extra more expensive that would have been.
I hope that there’s a sequel. I hope that it’s better than this one. It was pretty to look at but not something I’m going to watch again. I’m with Amanda: C+ for me.
What did you think of the movie? Tell us in the comments!
I agree completely. Loved the books. I knew they weren’t going to be the same, they never are, but I was extremely disappointed with the Bogdan twist. I was so looking forward to it, and ended up feeling let down. I don’t feel like this is something we’ll rewatch in the future.
I did not read the books, so I offer a different perspective. I really did not like this movie. The cast was amazing and was the main attraction for me. But the plot was a mess, the characters felt goofy and slapstick rather than fully realized, and the ethics were so questionable (who gets punished and who doesn’t). I correctly predicted several things, so that also annoyed me.
Sorry to be negative. 🙁
My thoughts: TMC would have been a better series than a movie; Pierce Brosnan is a gorgeous man and delightful actor but woefully miscast as Ron, the lavishness of Coopers Chase and apartments was distractingly luxurious. On the other hand, I loved the actors’ energy, wit, and attractiveness. I wanted more of all of them.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie. The cast was great, and the castle (?) where they filmed was gorgeous. However, I think I would have liked it better if I hadn’t read the book first and realized just how much was changed in the movie. (I’ve only read the first book in the series)
A friend who loves the books said she thought it would have been better as a limited series, say four episodes, and I agree with her. Like others have said, they cut out quite a few subplots, and the ending was pretty different than the book.
The movie also seemed to focus a lot on Elizabeth, whereas I thought the first book was more evenly split between her and Joyce.
Absolutely agree with Sarah and Amanda, especially on Bogdan’s storyline change.
The book had so much more nuance and just the right mix of cozy mystery with a realistic and even sinister undertone in places. The movie erased that for a much more predictable and by-the-numbers plot.
Other than Pierce Brosnan, who was actually surprisingly fun as Ron, the other actors were criminally underused. Jonathan Pryce in particular as Stephen felt like an afterthought of a character, although because of plot changes I guess I understand why. Still, why cast a fabulous actor with depth and heart if you’re barely going use him?
Complaints aside, it was an enjoyable watch for a few hours. The rest of my family enjoyed it just fine as no one else has read the book. But rshther than rewatch the movie, it has me more excited to start the second book which I picked up from a little free library recently.
I couldn’t with this movie, because I’m Polish and why didn’t they hire an actor who speaks Polish and instead did this… thing??? It truly should come with a content warning for Polish people.
Otherwise, it was kind of mid. I felt like they really dulled all that made the book enjoyable.
I didn’t read the book, so was oblivious to any of the changes. And found the movie entertaining and enjoyable. Pierce Bronsan worked as the labor union guy, and Tom Ellis fit as his son, perfectly. I found it entertaining that they were both playing working class Brits for a change. (Bronsan is Irish and came from working class roots.)
I’d give a B, it was well acted, produced, and had nice twists and turns. I wouldn’t watch it again, and I don’t need a sequel. Nor do I feel the need to read the book.
Argh, this sounds depressing. Bogdan land Donna are my favorite younger-generation characters, and I’ve always imagined him as blond. I understand that Netflix is telling the story as a series, rather than a one-and-done movie. Is that not right?
When I heard the casting of the club members, I thought it was nearly perfect. I had already heard all Elizabeth’s lines in my mind’s ear in Helen Mirren’s voice. I love Celia Imrie, but was hoping for Imelda Staunton as Joyce – maybe she’s too busy with stage work?
Well, I will still watch it, as all the casting is so good. I expect Jonathan Pryce as Stephen to break my heart., and look forward to David Tennant as a baddie.
I hadn’t read the books so really enjoyed the movie. My only critique was that I love Pierce Brosnan but honestly the accent was so weird!
Having read your review I’m now thinking of reading the books as the Bogdan storyline does sound much better!
I’m probably in the minority here, but I was bored by the book and gave up after only a chapter or two (can’t remember exactly as it was a few years ago). I thought the movie might hold my attention better, but both my husband and I were completely indifferent after the first 20 twenty minutes or so and decided life is too short. It all seemed too contrived and artificial, and Ben Kingsley’s acting, in particular, left me frowning in confusion. This was the actor who convinced me he was Ghandi?!
I was so disappointed in the movie. I rated it a C-. I’ve told everyone to not watch it as the book was so much better.
It should’ve been a series which I thought was the case before watching. Bogdan and Chris? Those characters were done really dirty. I had an issue with Joyce as well. I didn’t imagine her as simple. She was naive but not dumb so that was disappointing to me. Boiling her character down to cake was awful too. Elizabeth was a more morally gray character in the book. No problem with Ron and his son. Ben Kingsley was overacting. It was painful to watch at times.
I had misunderstood and thought it was a series, so I was pretty disappointed when I saw that it was just two hours. I can see why they couldn’t afford everyone for eight or ten hours worth of filming but I agree that it ended up with the plots being wildly underserved. I think they would have been better off to use the characters and write a totally new plot for them.
Agree that Bogdan deserved better. Liked the casting, wish it had been a series 3-6 episodes maybe to allow subplots.
100% agree. Loved the books, and Bogdan is my favorite character! He brings so much humanity to the role, along with the strength of youth and a special skill set.
I too was worried about Pierce Brosnan’s casting but he carried it off like a pro, though they didn’t cover some of Ron’s issues, understandably. And the whole subplot with the priest is what tied the first book up with a bow.
However, given the star quality of the cast, I can see why it would have been a one-off rather than a series. They have other projects going on, and kudos to them all for helping to bring these excellent mysteries to a wider audience. I hope it will prompt people to check out Osman’s books.
I would also give it a C. Even if I hadn’t already devoured all the books and was massively disappointed on that level, I would have considered the the film’s plot and premises flimsy, the characters wooden. I felt the A-List actors phoned it in. (Pierce Brosnan never ceases to amuse me, though). I would be happier with an ongoing series featuring unknown actors and less lavish locations. #justiceforbogdan
Check out this deleted footage. So many ofoportunites were lost in the making of this film!
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/videos/the-thursday-murder-club-deleted-scene?utm_campaign=Osman%20Newsletter%204th%20Sept%2025&utm_source=Richard%20Osman&utm_medium=email&utm_content=%2B380790&EmailID=f8c571193f9b446703caa81ca59ef92319496be6ff82134e4a84e0439c1014dd
I have not read the books, and regarding plot and characters, I am with @WendyW. Especially the silly and goofy characters. Lots of great actors that were underused. And it felt to me like there was too much plot crammed into two hours, so I guess a series would really have been better. I wanted more “proper” murder mystery I guess, even with all the side plots going on. So yes, another argument for a series. And while the setting was gorgeous, the inside sets, the apartments etc. just looked too perfect to me – these were really just perfectly decorated sets but they did not feel real at all. Overall, the whole thing was too twee and silly to me, and too much crammed in. And the stuff that should have been moving did not feel moving… I’d rather watch Midsomer Murders (which I watched tons for a while!), which despite the idyllic settings never feels so twee, and never gets quite that silly… or Brokenwood, which is kind of the kiwi equivalent of Midsomer (which has it’s share of silly moments but remains a good mystery).