"The Englishman's Boy" (2008) TV mini-series

Director:

John N. Smith

Writers:

Guy Vanderhaeghe (novel)
Guy Vanderhaeghe (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 March 2008 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Plot:

A movie producer in 1920s Hollywood tries to track down an elusive Western star for his next picture.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | 1920s | Horse Killed | Indian | Anti Western

Awards:

6 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Alden Adair	...	Prison Guard
Ryland Alexander	...	Deshane
Kent Allen	...	John Evans
Tim Allen	...	Doctor (as Timothy Allen)
Robert Benz	...	Captain
Ian Brodland	...	Cowboy
Nicholas Campbell	...	Shorty McAdoo
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Little Soldier's Wife
Cavan Cunningham	...	Southern Gentleman
Daryn DeWalt	...	Warden
Adrien Dorval	...	Fitz
Lorne Duquette	...	First Shoot
Ted Dykstra	...	Hank
Michael Eisner	...	The Englishman's Boy
Mike Ennis	...	Assistant Director

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Saskatchewan, Canada

Company:

Minds Eye Entertainment

A weak production, reflecting quite badly on its source material

Watching good actors overact can be extremely entertaining. In this series, Nicholas Campbell certainly goes a little over the top, but it works to a high degree. Unfortunately, most of the cast does the same, with hardly enough talent to back themselves up. Michael Eisner, in the title role, is frankly ridiculous. His mannered speech and general attitude is fake and utterly unbelievable.

A weak cast is more than enough to sink even a good script - and Guy Vanderhaeghe's script certainly is quite good. But it's performed and directed with such leaden carelessness that you would hardly know. The dialogue is excellent, but it appears that only Campbell, Hoskins, and the man who plays the gang leader seem to know how to perform it. Check out Campbell's first meeting with the writer for an example. It's a truly great scene surrounded by many bad ones.

Many other problems plague this film. John N. Smith's direction is unfocused and distant. He keeps the camera yards off when at all possible, as if trying to disguise weak cinematography. The editing is another issue. It is terribly schizophrenic, and chops the film up into badly married parts.

As a Canadian, I generally like to see good productions coming out of this country. But this series is just depressing to watch as it hobbles it's way to the ending through an overlong running time. Nicholas Campbell is excellent - quite stunningly so - only too bad he's stuck in such a mess.

RATING: 6.3 out of 10