I found myself torn between which of the title characters to root for.
My personal tastes (and the fact that I love Peter Strauss's work) had me going for Abel, the man who had endured and built his empire up from nothing, only to be further battered by a bureaucrat.
But there were moments when I switched, despising Abel for stooping so low and wronging people without just cause, instead really feeling for Kane and the problems he unfairly now struggled with.
And so it goes throughout the story - You're never sure who deserves to win, while all the time hoping they will resolve their issues and become the powerful friends they could so clearly be.
The conclusion is inevitable and can be seen coming a mile off, but that is the point - YOU know how this will end, but so engaging are the characters that you pray for a plot twist or surprise that will change things!!
Sam Neil and Pete Strauss are phenomenal actors in their own right. Putting the two together in this was sheer genius!!
Both of them took on awkward accents and delivered them faultlessly. I made a point of checking in with some friends from Boston and my Polish co-workers. All agree that the accents are very authentic and flawless.
Strauss's accent in particular begins to take on subtle hints of American, as he spends more time in his new land. He also has amazing continuity, as he is never seen without the Baron's silver bracelet of authority. Any time his sleeve, accidentally or otherwise, rides up high enough you will see the glinting silver band.
Better still is the stark contrast between Abel's honest and outwardly expressive personality and Kane's quiet and dignified internalisation. Both men are shrewd, yet so very different in their methods.
The supporting cast also do a fantastic job. So often in a series like this, there are those who simply cannot act (or more often, they overact) and frequently spoil scenes - Not so in Kane & Abel!! The viewer is drawn in to identify with these as well, from their family and friends, to their colleagues, everyone stands out.
One most important thing to note is that this mini-series is based on a novel. One of the same name, by Jeffrey Archer, in point of fact.
That being, it should be noted that TV version is rarely the same as the book - Many things just do not and can never translate from page to film. Timing, pace, cinematography, interpretation, budget and many other things mean that things will differ betwixt the two.
That said, Kane & Abel is a phenomenal series.
It remains sufficiently faithful to the novel to engage the viewer and deliver the story in all it's glory. There are very few minor plot points excluded and none that are crucial to the tale. Others are easily implied or given enough attention for viewers to get the full background. The story itself is realistic enough that I suspect there is some factual basis.
My personal tastes (and the fact that I love Peter Strauss's work) had me going for Abel, the man who had endured and built his empire up from nothing, only to be further battered by a bureaucrat.
But there were moments when I switched, despising Abel for stooping so low and wronging people without just cause, instead really feeling for Kane and the problems he unfairly now struggled with.
And so it goes throughout the story - You're never sure who deserves to win, while all the time hoping they will resolve their issues and become the powerful friends they could so clearly be.
The conclusion is inevitable and can be seen coming a mile off, but that is the point - YOU know how this will end, but so engaging are the characters that you pray for a plot twist or surprise that will change things!!
Sam Neil and Pete Strauss are phenomenal actors in their own right. Putting the two together in this was sheer genius!!
Both of them took on awkward accents and delivered them faultlessly. I made a point of checking in with some friends from Boston and my Polish co-workers. All agree that the accents are very authentic and flawless.
Strauss's accent in particular begins to take on subtle hints of American, as he spends more time in his new land. He also has amazing continuity, as he is never seen without the Baron's silver bracelet of authority. Any time his sleeve, accidentally or otherwise, rides up high enough you will see the glinting silver band.
Better still is the stark contrast between Abel's honest and outwardly expressive personality and Kane's quiet and dignified internalisation. Both men are shrewd, yet so very different in their methods.
The supporting cast also do a fantastic job. So often in a series like this, there are those who simply cannot act (or more often, they overact) and frequently spoil scenes - Not so in Kane & Abel!! The viewer is drawn in to identify with these as well, from their family and friends, to their colleagues, everyone stands out.
One most important thing to note is that this mini-series is based on a novel. One of the same name, by Jeffrey Archer, in point of fact.
That being, it should be noted that TV version is rarely the same as the book - Many things just do not and can never translate from page to film. Timing, pace, cinematography, interpretation, budget and many other things mean that things will differ betwixt the two.
That said, Kane & Abel is a phenomenal series.
It remains sufficiently faithful to the novel to engage the viewer and deliver the story in all it's glory. There are very few minor plot points excluded and none that are crucial to the tale. Others are easily implied or given enough attention for viewers to get the full background. The story itself is realistic enough that I suspect there is some factual basis.