Plunket and Macleane
starring Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Liv Tyler
written by Robert Wade, Neal Purvis and Charles McKeown
directed by Jake Scott
I have slowly grown to think that Robert Carlyle is a great actor. When I first saw him on film in The Full Monty I hated this sort, weasel-nosed, greasy-looking low-life character. I thought, “Oh, no, another former 70s punk rocker who’s wormed his way into cinema.” But, really, I only hated his character which probably just goes to show how well he can act.
Plunket and Macleane is a very enjoyable film se in the Londonof 1748. I appreciated how filthy the people, clothes and buildings were made - probably more accurate than a Hollywood depiction of this time before modern soap, deodorants, perfumes, detergents, hot water, indoor plumbing and the desire to bathe regularly. It reminded me of some aspects of history that we usually ignore: the ups and downs of the fortunes of the pampered aristocracy; the prejudice and the brutality of justice; the weak assumptions held by all classes in a class society that make the society works, and the familiarity with Death everywhere in society; death from disease, starvation, war, and the hangman. In fact, death by handing is kind of a feature in this film. It is gruesome, but the costumes and sets were excellent, and I appreciated the feel of 18th century London.