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Post by GreenEyesToo on Apr 28, 2011 20:28:09 GMT
Thanks, Dreamer!
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Post by GreenEyesToo on May 14, 2011 13:58:23 GMT
I love the way Rufus's voice is described in this Aussie review: ....the BBC's engaging three-part Zen came and went earlier this year, again not renewed because of poor ratings. [not true!] Based on the Aurelio Zen detective novels of Michael Dibdin, the three-part series starred sweetly hoarse Rufus Sewell and the delectable Caterina Murino and, like DCI Banks, aired exclusively on pay's UKTV. The feature-length films, shot in Italy but spoken in English, were intelligent, sumptuously atmospheric and the restrained chemistry between the incorruptible Zen and love interest Murino was wittily and charmingly acted. So sexy.
www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/on-your-bike/story-e6frg8n6-1226054106540 (scroll down towards the end) |
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Post by rueful on May 14, 2011 14:06:57 GMT
Nice find, GE2! Thanks for posting. It's a great description.
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Post by kissmekate on May 14, 2011 14:08:43 GMT
Oh yes. So right!  |
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Post by kygal on May 16, 2011 11:45:31 GMT
Did manage to watch a little of Aurelio and Jacob this weekend. Made for a delightful Sunday!
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Post by kissmekate on May 16, 2011 13:21:21 GMT
Which Zen episode(s) did you watch? Bet you had a nice Sunday with those two gorgeous guys |
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Post by kygal on May 17, 2011 10:28:09 GMT
I did! Watched Vendetta again.
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Post by rueful on Jun 20, 2011 20:42:11 GMT
Very nice review of Zen in the Seattle Times: seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2015349402_litlife20.html?prmid=head_mainAurelio Zen on TV — and other literary news by Mary Ann Gwinn It's hard to think of a bigger validation for a mystery author than to have his or her books dramatized on PBS' "Masterpiece Mystery." Too bad Seattle author Michael Dibdin is not around to see his work join that of Agatha Christie (Miss Marple and Poirot), Henning Mankell (the Kurt Wallander books) and Colin Dexter (the Inspector Morse series).
Dibdin, an English expat who lived in Seattle for the last years of his life, died in 2007. He was perhaps best-known for his Aurelio Zen mystery series, featuring an Italian police detective who was "wry, ethical, prickly, perceptive, politically incorrect, not especially lovable and forever bedeviled by bureaucratic incompetence," in the words of Seattle Times crime-fiction columnist Adam Woog.
Dibdin generally sent Zen to a different region of Italy for each book; they offered a detective's-eye view of each section's culture, quirks and cuisine.
Masterpiece Mystery is airing three episodes based on Zen books: "Vendetta" airs July 17, "Cabal," July 24, and "Ratking," July 31, all at 9 p.m. on KCTS Channel 9. Zen is played by Rufus Sewell, an easy-on-the-eyes English actor who has had parts in "A Knight's Tale," "The Illusionist" and as Will Ladislaw in the BBC version of "Middlemarch."
Dibdin's widow, Seattle author Kathrine Beck, says the series is "very stylish and fun. While you cannot take a novel and make it into a movie with complete fidelity, these have done a very good job of capturing the essence of the books. Rufus Sewell is fabulous and definitely captures the character. They just seem very Italian."
So wonderful to read a positive review from Dibdin's widow!  |
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Post by GreenEyesToo on Jun 21, 2011 6:50:06 GMT
Oh, nice find, Rueful! Yes, a lovely ringing endorsement by Mr Dibdin's widow. But...but....."had parts in..." - excuse me, article-writer, he starred in those!!  |
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Post by kissmekate on Jun 21, 2011 6:55:14 GMT
Thanks for posting, Rueful! How nice to know that Kathrine Beck shares our opinion that Rufus is the perfect Zen But...but....."had parts in..." - excuse me, article-writer, he starred in those!! Absolutely. (However, we should probably be glad that it's not just "The Holiday" they refer to, as they so often do ;D ) |
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Post by robela on Jun 21, 2011 8:26:38 GMT
Thanks for finding and posting this positive review by Michael Dibdin's widow Rueful!!  |
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Post by kygal on Jun 21, 2011 10:08:11 GMT
Thats great!
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Post by walt on Jun 23, 2011 7:48:23 GMT
Thanks for this information Rueful! It's very interesting to know what Michael Dibdin's widow thinks about the Zen films.
Should make a few other people thoughtful, too.....
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Post by anyother on Jun 23, 2011 17:09:37 GMT
Thanks for this information Rueful! It's very interesting to know what Michael Dibdin's widow thinks about the Zen films. Should make a few other people thoughtful, too..... A certain someone at the BBC perhaps.... ;D This is a huge compliment, coming from Dibdin's wife! |
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Post by chocolate on Jun 26, 2011 14:25:47 GMT
Okay, now I am about to give you the shock of your message board experience... just go on easy on me, I will try to justify myself thoroughly. I have to mention that I read up until page 14 of this thread, and there was only one other person who said something similar to what I am about to say.
I am making myself some coffee, to calm my mind a little (I am quite the opposite to everyone else when it comes to drinking coffee) and to be in the right aromatic atmosphere for a Zen review...
...
And now, with a cup of coffee next to me I am just going to say it: the romantic part of the three films was not convincing for me. Neither I believed Rufus nor Caterina. Now, I know the style had to be a little old fashioned and slow-paced and so on, but still! the kissing parts looked much fake to me. May be the problem is in me, I do not know... And also, since I am going to be hit from all sides after this post, Rufus was trying too hard as Zen for my taste.
If you have read the most difficult part now and you are still reading, I am going to agree with most of the post in the thread before me- about the story, the way the films were made as music and visual style, the way Roof looked and acted and almost everything else. If he could take his hands out of his pockets, than he would be priceless, but I understand why he is doing that , so not much of a gripe this one!
You know how much I can appreciate the guy, so if I sound critical here it is only for the common good.
I am off for some more coffee, and will come back to explain what I meant...
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