Inside Man

 

I almost gave up on Inside Man in the first five minutes. As I've said before, the modern media, especially the BBC, tends to load all its most toxic propaganda at the beginning of a film or TV show. This is because they know the majority of people who view an online video will only watch the first five minutes, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2023/07/messiah.html. The opening scene is on a London Underground train in which a vulnerable young "Black!" "Woman!" is being harassed by an evil "White!" "Man!" Of course all the other disgusting "Straight White People!" Sit there and do nothing to defend her. He is only chased away when a "Strong!" and "Empowered!" "Woman!" stands up and challenges him. This woman, called Janice, is actually a home tutor for a teenage boy who is the son of the local vicar, played by David Tennant, of Doctor Who fame. The victim on the train also comes back into the story as Beth, a criminologist studying serial killers. Interestingly the vicar's wife, called Mary, is an atheist; and it's interesting how the couple have reconciled this difference in terms of their relationship and parenting. That family are the last people imaginable you would think would do any kind of serious crime, but they end up committing one almost accidentally because they are forced into it by astonishing bad luck. They end up imprisoning Janice in the vicarage basement and eventually plotting her murder. Janice is no fool though and is clearly trained in counter-interrogation techniques; making me think she has a background in the military intelligence services, although this is never stated. She cleverly turns the tables on her captors. At the same time in the United States another man, Jefferson Grieff, is about to be executed for murdering his wife. He happens to be a criminologist too, ironically, and has several meetings with Beth. He is played very well by Stanley Tucci, an actor who is one of the best at delivering very deadpan and witty ironic performances. In one scene he has a meeting with his father-in-law who hates him, obviously; and the father taunts Grieff about his upcoming execution. Their dialogue is memorably hilarious. "Do they stick something up your arse, like a butt-plug, in case you shit yourself?" Grieff replies: "I think that's only for electrocution." The father asks: "Don't you shit yourself when it's a lethal injection?" Grieff replies: "I don't know. I haven't looked into it. I would promise to let you know, but it wouldn't make for great last words." Despite its pernicious wokery in the opening scene, the series rapidly improves. It is well-written and acted with a brilliant storyline in which the various streams come together at the end. There is some gripping suspense that is skilfully managed. Inside Man is created by Stephen Moffat, who I know is one of the Doctor Who axemen, but I've always considered him the junior partner compared to the revolting Russell T Davies. I very much recommend it; see here for the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj_qFctViCc.