I bought the Red Riding Trilogy on DVD last week. I've reading up on all the praise and the kind of story it portrays.
If you like stories that has police Corruption, with serial killers on the side and the Press interwoven in three movies, than this is a nice way to pass the time.
I am not English, so the back stories, truth or fiction, i was not that familiar with. The thing i did know, was the stellar cast that's in it. As a movie buff, its nice to see the cream of the crop of English actors.Sean Bean makes the effort for the most of the time worth seeing. But there are more. Class Actor Warren Clarke gives a short but intense moment as the chief of police. And another copper called Bob Craven, here played by Sean Harris. I saw this guy in several movies like Harry Brown and 24 hour party people, and i can tell you he scares the hell out of me (if you get a change to get the DVD, watch the making of 1980, you'll get the picture).
But the man who must lead you through this story of corruption and missing children is Eddie Dunford, played by Andrew Garfield. He is cocky, thorough reporter, who has a weakness for the ladies. He even starts a romantic relationship with one of the victims mother's (Rebecca Hall. I thought Garfield did a great acting job, just as he did in 2007s Boy A. Here he also gets reunited another actor from that movie, Peter Mullan.
I'm happy that the film doesn't use any archive footage of the real murders. It stands as mostly a fictional story thats very well shot. The look is very authentic and the Smokey atmosphere helps a lot.
The only criticism for me is, you feel its made for television. I get the point that it was meant for cable release in the UK, therefore i am easy on the score, because for a TV production, this is topnotch.
I yet have to see 1983, but i already like the way 1980 has so much hints to 1974, that it really does justice as a Trilogy and as individual films.
Final Judgement 8 out of 10
