The Big Smoke.

The Big Smoke.

Monday 22 November 2010

Seduced by Any Human Heart

Oh wasn't it beautiful. The lead man dashing and charismatic, the setting romantic and idyllic. Beginning in the glory of the roaring twenties,  the current period drama, taken from the original book of the same name written by William Boyd, is gracefully illuminating our very modern screens with the most stunning display of flawless, snappy, refined and of the fashion period costumes. I wish style of this stature exuded today... The episode is reminiscence of love and the raw power of lust. Any Human Heart, all human nature.

The series has been cinematically shot in so many seductive ways. As we look on in reverence at how the style of the day was then so chic, dapper, a thorough and conscious effort made and put into every day dress. Effortlessly cool. The men poised and handsome. The ladies feisty and elegant. The love intense and passionate. The city scapes and the country panoramics show some of the best of early 20th Century England backdrops. I recommend to watch this series for the visual aesthetics alone. I feel similarities or certainly accepted influences from A Single Man, that stories can be quietly understated, but glamorised when told and a complete pleasure to the eyes.

The story narrates, but in flashbacks it seems, the life of Logan Mountstuart, writer, social climber, charmer (somewhat promiscuous, shall we say) but genuine gentleman, with the ability to wear his heart on his sleeve. His exceptionally colourful life intertwined with so many key events and people of the time. My favourite moment so far has to be the moment he chats with Ernest Hemingway, as you do. Perfectly confident, momentarily in awe and equally flippant to the romanced speech from the poet. It's intriguing and clever, an original novel and screenplay at its best and most beautiful.

I fear next Sunday cannot come quick enough.

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