Friends And Crocodiles DVD

Set in the context of the 1980s, a much reviled decade, it was never going to be easy to appease the presumptious sinews of all critics who view this time as one of th... Read on

Set in the context of the 1980s, a much reviled decade, it was never going to be easy to appease the presumptious sinews of all critics who view this time as one of the most decadent, if not the most decadent, of times.

It is no mean feat, therefore, that Mr Poliakoff has somehow pulled this off with extraordinary aplomb. His previous time pieces are set in worlds familiar to our eyes. Little wonder that a touch of recent history caused the relaxed masses to gasp and feel a little uncertainty at what was before them.

The story itself is a simple enough ditty, sung to the luxurious lullabies of love and wonder upon a sunkissed cheek in July, freckles of creation seeking droplets of life, a waterfall upon time, an act of undiluted joy.

Espousing these theories may evoke ridicule in some quarters, but what I believe Mr Poliakoff managed to convey here is, incredibly, a single story uniquely personal to every person watching. With viewing figures in their millions, that is a lot of narrative!

Jensen P Star pins his colours to the mast of a love story, others may see a different picture. I believe this is a piece of drama that will evolve with time and not remain static in the year in which it was first viewed.

So far I have dreamt about it three times and my dreams are in colour! Hide

This movie I found to be most beguiling. The overspill of greed and excess from the 1980s, a wonderful piece of work. It moved me a great deal. I found it to be very ... Read on

This movie I found to be most beguiling. The overspill of greed and excess from the 1980s, a wonderful piece of work. It moved me a great deal. I found it to be very romantic. Who is the beautiful guy with the long hair who appears in the early party scenes by the London bus and is in the drug room??? Wow! This was a beautiful picture with beautiful people in beautiful places. Every day seemed like a summer day. It was not confined to establishment principles and I love it as I can each day more.
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Loved the play and related to the theme. Beautifully shot, the period was well observed, dressed and communicated. Many of us felt at the end it felt as if it should b... Read on

Loved the play and related to the theme. Beautifully shot, the period was well observed, dressed and communicated. Many of us felt at the end it felt as if it should be the pilot for a drama series. Probably because by that time we really believed in and cared about the characters. The acting was good by today's wooden TV standards, and Robert Lindsay as the flawed greek chorus a particular delight.

It's been a week now, and an especially busy week at that; but I'm still thinking about it. So what does that tell you? Looking forward to Gideon's Daughter. Hide

Poliakoff has undoubtedly been responsible for some of the best TV dramas of the past 25 years, but this is not one of them. Arch and vacuous, structurally careless, i... Read on

Poliakoff has undoubtedly been responsible for some of the best TV dramas of the past 25 years, but this is not one of them. Arch and vacuous, structurally careless, intellectually barren, historically lazy and emotionally empty, it seems to me a sure sign of the dangers of too much creative freedom. He is given a large budget, 110 minutes of screen time, massive promotion plus total control over the writing and directing, but has nothing new to say, no interesting characters to develop and a flat, pointless narrative. He may have written a new play every year since 1980, but sometimes less is more. Quality control is urgently needed if his reputation is not to suffer. This film should have been abandoned at the moment of conception. Hide

The acting was cringeworthy at times, the characterisation was silly and under developed, the plot ridiculous. Some of the lines uttered were like ones from a 14 year ... Read on

The acting was cringeworthy at times, the characterisation was silly and under developed, the plot ridiculous. Some of the lines uttered were like ones from a 14 year old's school play about 'feeling different'. An utter waste of everyone's time. Is this the best we have to offer? This man is considered one of our best? God help us. Any week on The West Wing the writing embarrasses this self-important tosh. A humiliating experience for the viewer and I hope the director and cast. And to think I paid for this. Silly silly silly. "Here's to paul" my arse. Hide

Without a doubt, an absolutely lavish and beautifully shot Poliakoff drama with stunning attention to detail. The analysis of the recent past and a lost past seen thro... Read on

Without a doubt, an absolutely lavish and beautifully shot Poliakoff drama with stunning attention to detail. The analysis of the recent past and a lost past seen through the eyes of the various characters is a joy to behold.

It is this magnificent study of human nature and the complexity of atypical relationships that herald Friends and Crocodiles a true classic, as we see very real people moving through and between different worlds amidst a changing social climate. Paul and Lizzie, together with the equally important coterie of disparate characters prove to be a compelling combination. Almost every scene has significance and there is true beauty in the shadows and wonderment created, resulting in a magical and almost dreamlike world. Somehow, it also manages to retain its sense of complete reality.

Indeed, an overriding romanticism permeates throughout in this majestic work of excellence - a masterpiece! Hide