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Apr 19, 2016 · He’s that good. There’s also something to be said for a project like “The Night Manager” being directed by one filmmaker for every episode, the talented woman behind “Brothers” and the Golden Globe-winning “In a Better World.” Bier brings a cinematic language to “The Night Manager,” and a deeper understanding of character ...
- Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie clash in this thrilling John le Carré adaptation.
- The Night Manager Miniseries Photos
- Verdict
By Jesse Schedeen
Updated: May 30, 2023 6:28 pm
Posted: Apr 18, 2016 4:30 pm
Note: this is a spoiler-free review of the six-part miniseries The Night Manager, which will premiere on AMC on Tuesday, April 19 at 10pm ET/PT, following its airing in the UK earlier this year.
It's been 25 years since a John le Carré novel was adapted for television rather than film (1991's A Murder of Quality). It's a little surprising given how difficult it is to compress these dense tales of espionage and Cold War-era spycraft into a two-hour film. But this being the golden age of television and all, the time has never been better to end the le Carré drought. The Night Manager certainly helps make up for lost time as it weaves a gorgeous, suspenseful tale of an unlikely spy trying to bring down the so-called "world's most dangerous man."
The Night Manager is a contemporary update of le Carré's 1993 novel, with the plot reworked a bit to reflect the current political climate in the Middle East. The series was adapted playwright/screenwriter David Farr (Hanna) and directed by Susanne Bier (In a Better World), with le Carré and two of his sons, Simon and Stephen Cornwell, serving as executive producers.
The only character who could have used a bit more work is Roper's lover, Jed (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'s Elizabeth Debicki). Jed is often painted in extremes. She's either busy seducing the men around her with impromptu skinny dipping sessions or spiraling into despair and self-loathing over her status as arm candy to a billionaire sociopath. The series could have spent a little more time developing the relationship between Jed and Pine, and in shedding more light on Jed's tragic background and family life.
Aside from that, however, the show is tightly plotted and pace over the course of its six episodes. It might not be impossible to adapt the story into a standard-length film, but much of the color and flavor would have been lost. The serialized format allows Bier and Farr to linger on Pine's early evolution as he abandons the humble life of hotel desk manager and begins building the new identity and criminal background that will one day attract Roper's eye. The Night Manager flows like a six-hour movie, with each episode leading directly into the next and the complicated web of conspiracy slowly building until the inevitable climax. There are plenty of highly suspenseful moments as Pine struggles to maintain his cover or Colman's team race against the clock to halt one of Roper's arms deals.
The series does have one thing in common with the Bond franchise in terms of its gorgeous locales. The Night Manager takes viewers on a whirlwind tour of Europe and northern Africa, including bustling, tumultuous Cairo, the remote slopes of the Swiss Alps and a particularly gorgeous island in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The London-based scenes seem intentionally drab by comparison. Bier's camera is never afraid to linger on these settings, which both gives the show a sumptuous feel and conveys the large scope of Roper's dirty dealings.
Perhaps more could have been done as far as exploring Pine's struggle between his new and old identities. Characters frequently warn about the possibility of Pine being swept up in Roper's orbit and abandoning his mission in favor of the glamorous new life he's acquired, but that never really seems like a credible danger. Despite its various twists and turns and betrayals, The Night Manager draws a pretty firm line between its heroes and villains. Pine and Burr are good. Roper and his allies are bad. But that doesn't mean the show fails to deliver an exciting game of cat and mouse, or that the show isn't a worthy view for anyone that craves a little more sexy, globetrotting espionage in their life.
The Night Manager proves that television is the ideal format to bring le Carré's novels to life. This mini-series is tightly paced, suspenseful and boasts strong performances from the likes of Hiddleston, Laurie, Colman and Hollander. With any luck, this series will open the doors for more of le Carré's classic spy tales to make their way to the sm...
The reason why the Night Manager looks so much better in retrospect is that Tom Hiddleston is a bigger name now outside of just being Loki, also having so much sway as Loki to have his own show Olivia Coleman continues to be one of the finest living actresses with endless range and won an Oscar, also was a part of two critically acclaimed shows ...
Feb 21, 2016 · Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 31, 2017. Ned Lannamann The Stranger (Seattle, WA) The Night Manager's plot never functions by obfuscation or by willfully withholding important information ...
Apr 15, 2016 · The Night Manager is so much more than a story built on spy craft, though, as it seamlessly weaves in fantastic bits of character backgrounds, and takes the time to really explore Roper’s gilded ...
- Allison Keene
The Night Manager is the story of Johnathan Pine, an ex-army officer who works as a night manager in a prestigious Hotel in Cairo. His life changes one day when he becomes embroiled with a classy Egyptian prostitute. She is staying in the hotel with a young, influential Egyptian rich kid who is involved in the illegal arms trade.
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Apr 18, 2016 · The Night Manager proves that television is the ideal format to bring le Carré's novels to life. This mini-series is tightly paced, suspenseful and boasts strong performances from the likes of ...
