Rent The Casual Vacancy (2015)
3.4 of 5 from 65 ratings
2h 55min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- "The Casual Vacancy", a three-part mini-series based on the novel by J.K. Rowling, centres on Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty facade however, is a town at war: The rich at war with the poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils. Pagford is not what it first seems.
- Actors:
- Silas Carson, Joe Hurst, Michael Gambon, Rory Kinnear, Abigail Lawrie, Emily Bevan, Rufus Jones, Richard Glover, Monica Dolan, Julia McKenzie, Lolita Chakrabarti, Bryce Sanders, Ria Choony, Keeley Hawes, Sonny Ashbourne Serkis, Brian Vernel, Simon McBurney, Keeley Forsyth, Hetty Baynes, Michele Austin
- Directors:
- Jonny Campbell
- Producers:
- Ruth Kenley-Letts
- Writers:
- J.K. Rowling, Sarah Phelps
- Studio:
- Warner
- Genres:
- British TV, TV Crimes, TV Dramas, TV Mysteries
- Collections:
- People of the Pictures, Remembering Michael Gambon
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 15/06/2015
- Run Time:
- 182 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- Danish, English, English Hard of Hearing, Finnish, French, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- "An Introduction to The Casual Vacancy": An overview of the series, including a brief introduction to the main characters, plot and locations.
- "Adapting The Casual Vacancy": How the book was brought to the screen, the production team reveals its vision
- "Casting The Casual Vacancy": An indepth featurette highlighting the ensemble cast
- Trailer
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Reviews (1) of The Casual Vacancy
Flawed + derivative anti-men drama - The Casual Vacancy review by PV
The first thing to say is that a book like this would never have been turned into a TV drama were not the Potter queen JK Rowling the author.
The second thing, is that this is really unoriginal stuff - like Midsomer murders crossed with the Vicar of Dibley crossed with all those thrillers/horror movies where a seemingly 'normal' community has hidden secrets and nasties underneath the Potemkin village exterior. But hey, it allows a writer to explore lots of characters and weave the threads of their stories together.
One thing I hated about this drama was its political correctness. Not sure if the book has these characters, but the parachuted in tocken black family got on my nerves as it was so unlikely - pretty black girls do not, in general, go out with pizza-faced ginger boys.
There was also clearly a feminist agenda: according to this all the women are poor wickle innocent victims of the nasty men who live in the village. That in itself is sexist - and infantilising women. Women are grown-ups and make their own decisions and THEY should be blamed if they mess up, not their husbands or boyfriends. That annoyed me but its become orthodox dramatic trope on all BBC dramas I notice (men in dramas are either buffoons or disgusting evil villains). Cartoon character stuff - which any amateur writer would make up. One expects more from JK Rowling. I can tell it's been adapted and written by women, though. Bashing men seems their objective here sometimes.
I would have given it 2 stars BUT there are a couple of superb characters - the brother of the Barry character who bullies his family and sons mercilessly. Plus the snide Julie Mackenzie character (though a shame about the ending). A good cast too and all fairly pleasant.
BUT more full of plot holes than a Swiss cheese. NOTE: if you email people abuse the police will knock on your door as they can easily find out who is sending emails and where from.
So 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
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