‘My Boy Jack’ – DVD Review

Article first published as ‘My Boy Jack’ – DVD Review on Blogcritics.

My Boy Jack is a BBC production of a family caught up in the Great War. Based on real events, the movie stars Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter, A Young Doctor’s Notebook) as John “Jack” Kipling, son of author, poet, and outspoken hawk Rudyard Kipling (David Haig, Yes, Prime Minister).

When Jack tries to join Britain’s armed forces, he is denied because of his need for spectacles. Unfortunately, his father is out telling every able-bodied young lad that they must join up or be shunned by their countrymen. In the position to do so, Rudyard can pull strings to help Jack enlist, but should he? And how will Rudyard feel if Jack marches out and doesn’t make it home? Although My Boy Jack was made in 2007, it only recently made its U.S. debut, on cable network Ovation. It has now been released on DVD as well.

I can see why My Boy Jack might have had a hard time finding its audience. The first half of the series is a slow-moving, seemingly typical British drama. It then morphs into a war story, complete with death and explosions, before focusing on the family struggling emotionally back home. These pivots provide an uneven tone, even while maintaining the quality, so its sometimes hard knowing what to expect from moment to moment.

At a 94-minute running time, it hardly seems long enough for a biopic, but in this one, it’s plenty for the movie’s very narrow focus. Jack’s involvement in the war, and that is told from beginning to end, leaves no hanging threads.

The world referenced by My Boy Jack was a defining time for the British Empire, and it’s easy to see why a boy, who might not quite be physically fit by the war department’s standards, struggles against the odds to serve King and Country. England was at the height of its power at the time, and the British way of life seemed threatened. Combine that with the father-son relationship and Rudyard’s stance on defending the homeland, Jack will feel ashamed if he can’t participate, disappointing his father and his peers. He must enlist, and we feel his struggle.

The film’s family drama is very strongly portrayed. Rudyard is presented as a man confident in his beliefs, but not immune to being shaken by circumstance. His wife, Caroline (Kim Cattrall, Sex and the City), is supportive, but torn, proud, and not wanting her boy in danger. She knows Jack is heading to a place where many of the nation’s young men are dying every day. Jack’s sister, Elsie (Carey Mulligan, The Great Gatsby), is more straightforward with her disapproval, sharing a close bond with Jack, and scared about what might happen.

While the events portrayed in My Boy Jack happened a century ago and are easily spoiled with an online research, I’ll refrain from revealing if Jack makes it home. I will say that the story is moving and the performances are very good, even if the overall result isn’t anything particularly special.

The DVD release of My Boy Jack comes with several bonus features. We’re given six minutes of deleted scenes that are actually pretty insightful, unlike many other titles. There are twenty-four minutes of interviews with various cast members and almost a full hour discussing the war itself. This unexpected wealth of useful extras is most welcome, making the DVD feel like it’s for a theatrical film, rather than a TV movie.

My Boy Jack is available now.

‘A Young Doctor’s Notebook’ – Previewing Season Two

Article originally published as ‘A Young Doctor’s Notebook’ – Previewing Season Two on Blogcritics.


A Young Doctor’s Notebook, now subtitled & other stories, returns this week for a second four-episode season on Ovation. Picking up this year with 1918 and 1935 timelines (about a year after the first season left off for both versions of the protagonist), this is both a continuation of the plot, and an entirely new tale. Based, in part, on the short story “Morphine” by Mikhail Bulgakov, the writers are tying that text back into the setting and characters introduced in season one.

When last we’d seen him, the older doctor (Jon Hamm) had been caught prescribing himself morphine. Now, released from a mental institution, he travels back to the office where he spends the Russian Revolution, determined to confront his past — while sober. Whether he can face up to the man he’d at one time been, and the things he’s done, is a central question to this second season, especially where a certain woman is concerned.

As the second season narrative begins, the younger doctor (Daniel Radcliffe) is in the throes of addiction. In an unhealthy sexual relationship of convenience with Pelageya (Rosie Cavaliero), he is much more concerned about his next fix, and not getting caught skimming drugs than he is about romance. Yet, there is some sort of affection between them, if only because she enables the Younger Doctor in his habits.

During season one, the under-the-influence older doctor had been spinning out of control as he relives the beginning of his tumultuous journey, while the younger doctor is a naive, optimistic lad; season two turns the tables. Now the younger doctor is the reckless one, out of control, while the older doctor sits in judgement, knowing full well that he is fact sitting judgment on his younger self. This created a complex dynamic, allowing both actors to explore the psyche of their damaged parts in different, unique ways.

This is a very poignant time for A Young Doctor’s Notebook to air in the United States, given the recent death of Robin Williams. Mental health and addiction are at the forefront of the public consciousness, and the series delves into the subject in an interesting, entertaining, enlightening way.

Students of history may find in A Young Doctor’s Notebook several tidbits of interest. Season two takes place during the Russian Revolution, bringing the war to the very doorstep of the hospital for most of the four installments. Natasha (Margaret Clunie), a member of the ruling elite, and The Colonel (Charles Edwards, Downton Abbey), her protector, stop over in the chaos and each catch the eye of one of our central cast. I’m not sure how much actual, factual past is included in this story, but the pair of new characters do help it feel like the office is set in the real world, rather than existing apart, on its own, as it sort of did in season one.

A Young Doctor’s Notebook is funny, but through an extremely dark brand of comedy. Whether joking about a dead horse or trying to get laid, there’s a pathetic sadness to the characters who exist within the series narrative. Tears may not make it to the audience’s eyes, but they do emanate from the characters on multiple occasions, and with good reason. This is a dangerous, tragic world, and the misfortunes, while amusing because of the cartoonish, over-the-top manner through which they occur, are genuine.

I don’t know if A Young Doctor’s Notebook return for a third season, given the lack of more source material. It’s a unique series I have very much enjoyed, thoroughly impressed by the talent behind it. I watched all four episodes of the second season in one sitting and craved more, a testament to its quality.

A Young Doctor’s Notebook airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on Ovation.

Chapter Closed On A YOUNG DOCTOR'S NOTEBOOK

Article first published as Chapter Closed On A YOUNG DOCTOR'S NOTEBOOK on TheTVKing.

The British series A Young Doctor's Notebook, which has been airing on Ovation in the States, came to a close last night with the fourth episode of season one (a second season has been ordered). While short in length, it's been quite a journey for the Young Doctor (Daniel Radcliffe), from eager graduate, topping his class, to hardened, drug-addicted general practitioner in the cold wilderness. But this is nothing compared to what we learn about the Older Doctor (Jon Hamm).

It turns out, A Young Doctor's Notebook plays out in the Older Doctor's head. This explains the cartoonish style and exaggerated happenings and people. The Younger Doctor's life is not portrayed as reality, but rather the hallucinations of the Older Doctor, suffering withdrawal from morphine addiction. Unlike FX's Wilfred, the answer to the mysterious center is presented sooner, rather than later.

This changes the perception of the entire piece. At first, it seems a goofy comedy, easy to laugh at the Younger Doctor's antics, whether it be in botched medical procedures or fumbling around in general. But now, knowing this is in the Older Doctor's diseased mind, it becomes a sad, melancholy drama, one from which there is no easy escape. The laughs cover pain. As the Doctor gets tossed behind bars in the 1930s, we see not only the beginning of his downfall in the 1910s, but how he sees himself, which is not so positive.

The surreal quality of A Young Doctor's Notebook is thoroughly intriguing and enjoyable. Even when one is rendered uncomfortable by events, the series remains something that can't be looked away from. The brilliant performances by Hamm, Radcliffe, and others ground a story that could so easily be silly or ridiculous in serious emotion, while still hitting the notes of a humorous play, and it's very impressive.

In the final half hour, the Young Doctor travels to the aid of a woman who has been bashed in the skull. An Even Younger Doctor (Joshua McGuire, The Hour) assists, and this is when we see how much our Young Doctor has changed. Almost wordlessly, the Young Doctor euthanizes the injured girl, knowing there is no cure, a realization that is slow to dawn on the Even Younger Doctor, then eats ham. We can see a pattern about to be repeated, a bad cycle that will be very difficult to escape from.

The Young Doctor even fantasizes about having his license stripped, half seriously wondering how many patients he would have to let die (never kill) to escape the hell of his job. The Older Doctor finds out, unfortunately, just how low he can sink. It's a message that can sort of be communicated, since they interact in the story, but the Older Doctor holds back somewhat, perhaps knowing he can't change the course of his life. So, so sad; a bitter, inescapable destiny.

While the focus is on the Doctors, as it should be, the series would not work nearly as well without the talented work of the supporting cast. Adam Godley, Rosie Cavaliero, and Vicki Pepperdine do extraordinary work, and they should not be forgotten about. The way they lend themselves to small, supporting roles is not exactly an easy feat, balancing between being entertaining but not distracting. Each have specific moments that can be praised, and the overall effect owes a lot of credit to the trio.

The same can be said for the crew that builds the sets and costumes, and lights the scenes, as well as scores the piece. There is a tone here, reinforced by every aspect or the visual and audio presentation.  A lot more is going on than just actors delivering lines, and it's the combination of everything that really lets this succeed in the best possible way.

I don't know when we'll get a second season of A Young Doctor's Notebook, and with our eyes opened, it certainly won't be as funny and light as the first. Yet, even as depressing as it may be, I really want to see more of these characters and this world. They have left a lasting impression not to be soon forgotten, as much for the high quality of the production, as for the compelling story itself.

Peek Inside A YOUNG DOCTOR'S NOTEBOOK

Article first published as Peek Inside A YOUNG DOCTOR'S NOTEBOOK on TheTVKing.

Ovation is currently airing the four-part series A Young Doctor's Notebook. It is the story of a medical professional, fresh out of school in Moscow, who heads out to the country to run a small hospital. It's funny, in a dramatic way, and completely charming. This is a review of the first episode.

The Young Doctor, who has no established name, is played by Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame. In the first episode, he arrives near the town, and has to drag his large trunk through the snow to reach his destination. He's not even settled in among the disapproving staff, who keep talking about his worshiped predecessor, a portrait of which looms large in the halls, when he has to jump into a surgery on a woman giving birth, made complicated by the fact that the doctor has never actually seen a vagina.

That is a heck of a set up for a story, and one easy to vividly picture. Everything about the tale is a little larger than life, from the way the former physician is idolized, to the extreme give in the doctor's bed, to the incessant smoking of cigarettes. It takes a realistic situation and heightens it in the best manner possible, until it's almost a tall tale or a fairytale, laid out on screen in beautiful grey tones.

The supporting cast is appropriately cartoonish, from the long-winded feldsher (Adam Godley, Suits, Breaking Bad) to the disapproving nurses (Vicki Pepperdine, Getting On and Rosie Cavaliero, Jane Eyre). They help set the mood of the piece, and somehow manage to be disapproving of the Young Doctor, who viewers instantly love. It helps build the world that these will be the Young Doctor's companions, those who don't laud praises on him, providing stark contrast to what is on screen from those watching it.

Radcliffe is perfect for the lead part, manically rushing around, stumbling through broad physical comedy, and yet maintaining an earnest naivety that is sure to connect with viewers. His fear is real and felt; his triumphs are accidental, but celebrated. And when his ego gets a little too big, his confidence running high, he's quickly pulled back to earth by a major screw up, delivered with laughter. Sure, the role is a little similar to the part he's most famous for, but now he has only his wits to rely on, not magic.

OK, there's a little magic, in that an older version of himself (Jon Hamm, Mad Men) appears to offer unwanted guidance. The Older Doctor is seen only by the Young Doctor, and isn't exactly generous with his younger self. The Older Doctor wants the Young Doctor to learn through experience, so he doesn't reveal quick solutions, and actually proves a hindrance at times, such as tearing out a page of a medical text that might be helpful for the situation, trying to teach himself to rely on his own mental acuity when there's no time for reading.

These scenes between the two are fantastic. I'm not sure I completely believe them as the same person, especially given the height difference, but it still makes for an entertaining series by two terrific actors. The Older Doctor is frustrating, but the Younger Doctor needs him, and likely will continue thusly.

Hamm only allows his Don Draper skills to emerge during the ending scene, set years later, and this is where the drama of the piece comes in. We don't know exactly what is happening to the Older Doctor, but it seems dangerous. The rest of the time, he gets to work his comedy chops, as he has done in 30 Rock and, Childrens Hospital, proving he can span the genres with ease, making him a great pick for A Young Doctor's Notebook.

I can't speak enough praise for A Young Doctor's Notebook. If you're dissatisfied with the lackluster batch of new pilots of broadcast television, this is sure to cure your doldrums in a hurry. I highly recommend checking it out.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

     What does the world, and this site, need more than another review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1? Am I right?  But each person has a different perspective, and as a long time fan of both the books and the movies, I'd like to toss my hat into the ring as well.

     We'll start at the beginning, and probably my biggest (and one of very few) disappointment with the film: The Dursley's departure. The family that (poorly) raised Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) has often been dropped or shortened in the film versions. I understand that with limited time and at an effort to keep strong pacing, this may have been necessary. However, we barely got glimpses of Vernon (Richard Griffiths) and Petunia (Fiona Shaw), and though he is listed on IMDB as being in the film, I don't think I even saw Dudley's (Harry Melling) face. Being that this is the last time these pivotal character appear, couldn't we have gotten sixty seconds with them? That touching goodbye between Harry and his cousin for the book? It would not have hurt the movie at all, and been a nice payoff for fans.

     However, the Dursley scenes were split with something awesome and unexpected. The extra moments not explicitly shown in the books with Hermione's (Emma Watson) parents were heartbreaking. It really informed the audience just what Hermione was losing, and colored her fabulous performance for the rest of the movie. What a brilliant addition. It was so good, it didn't occur to me that the Dursleys were so cheated until much later.

     The opening battle was stunning. Again, a few things I wish had been handled slightly differently. I would have liked to see Mad-Eye (Brendan Gleeson) go down, just because his death was unclear immediately to non-fans of the book series. I also remembered being terrified that Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) was dead when reading, but although he was slumped over in the film, it didn't have that same sense of dread. That being said, it was still an intensely exciting scene, beautifully stage, and full of action and danger.

     From there we move onto the Burrow, which thankfully was rebuilt a bit different, paying homage to the fact that the Weasley house was firebombed in the sixth movie. The inclusion of Bill (Domhnall Gleeson - yes, Brendan's son) and Fleur (Clémence Poésy) was necessary, both to plant seeds of doubts about Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) into Harry's head, and to hurry the three leads on their journey. I don't fault the films for not including Bill and his bride before now, as it was an expendable subplot. I do wish, though, that scars on Bill's face were a bit more pronounced, and that the battle in which Bill received them at the end of the sixth film had not been axed. But that is one of my many complaints about The Half Blood Prince, that could fill up a whole different article.

     The Weasley plot I really, really wanted to see was Percy's (Chris Rankin). He did not appear in this movie at all. He had one of the best plots in the book series, but it became apparent long ago that it was not be make it off the pages. His break from his family was hinted at in The Goblet of Fire, and the sharp eye noticed him in Order of the Phoenix. I was hoping for a few words before the wedding about him, so that perhaps a hint of the story would make it in. Sadly, this was not to be, though Rankin is listed in the credits for The Deathly Hallows Part 2. I doubt he will be seen much, but at least he will be there.

     I read a couple of early reviews that said The Deathly Hallows grew boring after the wedding, as Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione searched high and low for the Horcruxes. In fact, although I adore the final book, it was more meandering in that format, as the Hallows began to take precedence. In this recent movie, the Hallows are introduced, but not until near the end, so they never become a front-and-center mission. Even Ron's absence seemed shorter, as the move rushed ahead and kept the twists coming. As such, I completely disagree with those early reviews, and found the two and half hour runtime flew by, and was over much too soon.

      Some criticism has also been heaped on that nude make-out session between Harry and Hermione in Ron's dark vision. I admit, it was a tad adult, however, none of their naughty bits were actually shown. I think the way it was done was artistic, a bit sexy, and a perfect representation for the doubts that had surely been plaguing Ron's mind during his separation from them. Plus, it allowed some justifiable rage that Ron needed to destroy the Horcrux.

     More essential was the awkward dance between the two that happened in reality. In the books, Ron and Hermione were always an inevitable couple. I am always baffled by my movie-only friends, who root for Harry and Hermione, even after the Harry - Ginny (Bonnie Wright) romance finally blossomed. The dance, as well as Hermione's obvious grief over Ron made it very clear where Hermione's heart stood, and was a nice payoff to those who had been sidetracked by the on-screen chemistry of Radcliffe and Watson. Nicely done.

     The Malfoy Manor scene provides the few other complaints that I have. Certainly not about the Malfoys themselves, as Jason Isaacs wonderfully portrayed the desperate cad Lucius, and Tom Felton's tortured Draco is superb. I really believed that he was not going to give the (too) slightly disfigured Harry away on purpose, although his awkward non-answer did it for him. Draco is a boy, and unlike Harry, has not looked death in the face. He doesn't possess the same heroic traits that Harry does, and I loved how Draco, who started as a series villain, was shown to be just a kid.

     No, my complaints stem for the two pivotal deaths. Well, one, since Wormtail (Timothy Spall) was never killed, and his name appears in the credits for Part 2. The film Dobby (Toby Jones) was annoying from the beginning; the Jar Jar Binks of the Harry Potter world. It is no surprise that all of his subplot had been removed from movies 3 through 6. However, this has made his death mean so much less, as movie goers have not invested in him. Instead, what I argue was the single most tragic loss in a book filled with loss came across as noble, but not all that important. The exchange between Dobby and Bellatrix (Helena Bonham Carter) only worsened it, as it felt out of place.

     However, the scene immediately following where Harry mourns Dobby was splendid, even if movie-only fans were probably confused at the level of emotion shown. The mourning of the main characters drove home that Dobby's death meant something, and was not just a bow to popular opinion.

     Over all, the movie lived up to expectations quite well. As expected, the cuts were less than in previous installments, since two films allow a more expansive story. While it did not exactly stand on its own, it certainly will have fans chomping at the bit for eight months for the capper. Eight months is far too long. I wish it would come sooner. If you are a fan of the series, both movie and / or books, it should satisfy fairly completely, even in wanting more.

     A number of new actors joined at this late time in the series, including the always flawless Bill Nighy as the new Minister of Magic, Peter Mullan as the evil henchman Yaxley, David Ryall as Elphias Doge, Andy Linden as Mundungus Fletcher, and Rhys Ifans as Luna's eccentric dad, Xenophilius Lovegood. Each delivered outstanding, but brief performances. As most characters in the movie series, I only wished the got more screen time. Similarly, familiar favorites such as John Hurt as Ollivander, Frances de la Tour as Madame Maxine, and especially Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge were welcome returns, but barely got anything to do. This final film belongs to Ron, Hermione, and especially Harry, and while they own it, as they should, that does give less time for the deserving others.

     A note, for any parents considering taking children to see it. Please don't. If you've followed the last few films, it's obvious that Harry Potter may have started as a children's series, but was never intended to stay that way, hence it's huge range in popularity among many age groups. But these final two installments are much more adult than any before, featuring multiple deaths, as mentioned above. In fact, the second part should have more than double the kills than this first one. The PG-13 rating is well deserved.

     Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is playing in theaters everywhere now. I suggest you see it as quickly as possible, and multiple showings is not out of the question.

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 Article first published as Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 on Blogcritics.