The Singing Detective

So, I just watched the original "The Singing Detective" BBC mini-series (1986) and then a few weeks later, the Hollywood version starring Robert Downey Jr and Mel Gibson (2003). The original is quite long, 6 hours, but has much better visuals styles and the multiple plots are all given enough room to develop. Michael Gambon is amazing in the lead.

The Hollywood version suffers from the short run-time (standard feature, ~90 min) and what appears to be an incredible low budget. The important make-up effect for the lead looks ridiculous. Also, the development of the plots is cut so short as to make no sense...none of the events in any of the plots really end up being meaningful. This is despite some amazing acting by Robert Downey Jr, Robin Wright Penn, and Mel Gibson. Mel Gibson has the small role of the psychiatrist...he was also a producer. He really delivers a great, different, non-typical performance...Mel is quite and actor when he wants to be.

The only thing this back-to-back viewing has accomplished is that the original BBC version of everything is really probably the only one to bother with. 2nd: I'm interested in completeing the rest of the Dennis Potter trilogy...the BBC version of Pennies from Heaven and Lipstick on the Collar. The latter sounds best...hopefully it is on Netflix.