I can only compare this to the superb performance of Jonas Nay, the lead of the Deutschland 83 trilogy, who held the screen with a mesmerising presence, despite his youth and the ease with which he seamlessly remained hidden, underestimated and anonymous. By contrast, Joe Cole is just hideously miscast, the other cast can barely hold the series together, but it doesn't work without a lead that can carry the story forward. The script is dull, odd and downright boring. Clearly spent more on the costumes and the occasional period car than on the script. (And of course, it has the ubiquitous evil Scot as one of the bad guys.... In all these English movies/tv series, the Scottish/Irish/Welsh villain is becoming a drinking game.)
Review of The Ipcress File
