Customer Reviews

The Guilty [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A complex story of intense intrigue, a killer thriller, and a psychological character masterpiece. The mega-suspense end deserves a writing award for Simon Burke.

First one must overcome seeing Michael Kitchen as antagonist (NOT THE WONDERFUL MR. FOYLE'S WAR HERE.) A ten-year younger Kitchen plays nasty lawyer Steven Vey superbly. In the dialogue Vey admits he's "a devious, immoral, hypocrite." 3 hours later, after the story ends, you will agree with him, even though his ailing mother does not.

An adopted ex-con seeking his real dad, his pals, a raped secretary (Caroline Catz-`Doc Martin), & her flat-mate Tanya all get caught up in conspiracy connected to the appointment of Vey as judge. Secrets and the unknown create a woven maze of actions and intents on everyone associated. Who will die or live becomes independent of the group's individuals to control. Masterful complexity of events set into motion due to individual decisions. It all began with a bottle.

Quite different, but excellent executed roles, by the pre-`Foyle's War' Kitchen, as well as the pre-`Doc Martin' Catz. "THE GUILTY" proves the depth and diversity of acting ability of this famous pair between 1992-2011. This double feature length, 2-DVD set, will grip and knot every nerve. It is British unrated, but definitely adult (NO KIDS) due to graphic violence, content, 1 breast visual, and it's not your feel-good moral finale. I'm surprised this was not placed into book form--a sure bestseller.

SUBTITLES. Some cast filmographies. Disc 2 offers a summary of episode one, in case you can't watch it all in one setting. Unneeded. The intensity will force you to watch it all straight through.

Watch this thriller in the AM so you don't have to sleep immediately afterward.
The next morning, to recover, watch "Foyles War" or "Doc Martin."

The following may, for some, contain spoilers.

The main reason, in my view, for watching this British mini-series is the performance of the reliably-excellent Michael Kitchen, here playing against type as Steven Vey, a successful barrister and a man as arrogant as he is amoral. Though married, Vey has eyes for a young secretary in his office. She is sufficiently flattered by his flirting that the two end up one evening after work at her apartment. Sensing that she has allowed things to go too far, she tries to end their evening together, but Vey is not about to be rebuffed, and he proceeds to force himself on the young woman. Not long after this incident, Vey receives a coveted appointment to the bench. The young woman, wanting some sense of justice but believing that she would have little chance of getting it in court, contacts Vey with an offer: if he resigns his judgeship, she will remain quiet about what he did to her; if he does not, she will go public.

The stage is set for a promising drama, which makes what follows all the more disappointing. First, the story shifts from London to Birmingham and to a young petty thief, Eddy Doyle. Doyle learns from his mother that the man he thought was his father is actually his adoptive father, that his biological father is a man by the name of... Steven Vey! Learning this, Doyle is off to London to try to locate Vey. In what follows, the story goes off the rails, at least it did for me, because of the coincidences the writers invoke to intersect the paths of Doyle and Vey and of Doyle and the young lady who was Vey's victim. If you are tolerant of these preposterous twists, then you will probably be as impressed with this mini-series as others here are. The performance of Michael Kitchen makes this worth watching but not, in my opinion, worth owning.

THE OTHER REVIEWER'S DESCRIPTION OF THIS MOVIE IS ABOUT AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT REVEALING TOO MUCH, SO I'LL SIMPLY SAY THIS IS A TRULY INTENSE AND GRIPPING DRAMA/THRILLER THAT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

Too many coincidences, but just ignore them as they occur and sit back and enjoy the taut script and fine acting...

The Guilty collects on DVD a provocative thriller that first aired on public television in the 1990s and was a finalist at the International Film Festival. A high-stakes London attorney (played by Michael Kitchen) forces sex on his secretary while drunk; an ex-convict (played by Sean Gallagher) searches for his biological father, only to be absorbed into a cruel conspiracy. No one is truly innocent in this dark psychological drama about justice all too often denied. 2 discs, 201 min, SDH subtitles.

A very good mystery story with a surprize ending. The main character (Michael Kitchen) plays a less-than-reputable, arrogant lawyer who regrets his indiscretion, but is totally oblivious to the impact of his action. He thinks only of himself and unwittingly is introduced to his son. The plot is surprizingly complex posing lots of emotional questions for all characters involved. I enjoyed this fresh "turn of events" as well as Michael Kitchen's acting.

If you have never seen Michael Kitchen in anything but FOYLE'S WAR, you are in for a treat. Because he is every bit as good at playing the bad guy as he was playing good guy Foyle. In this delicious little gem, he plays a top level barrister with his eye on a judgeship. He is the very embodiment of unbridled ambition and he doesn't care whom he has to sacrifice to get what he wants. He also has a tendency to drink too much.

He leaves victims in his wake. There is an illegitimate child now grown to manhood who has just been released from prison. There is a young woman in chambers whom he raped after having once again too many drinks. They want justice. Although justice is his business, it plays no part in his personal life.

Kitchen is able to play the many sides of this villain. He can be charming, brilliant, appealing and, in an instant, very cold blooded.

i highly recommend this.

Two actors who have become well known in the US (at least by watchers of British TV on PBS stations) are Michael Kitchen in Foyle's War and Caroline Catz in Doc Martin. Impressed by both, I looked to see what other movies each had made and discovered both were in this film, "The Guilty" a 201 minute mini-series shown on British TV almost 20 years ago--which has only recently been released on DVD. Kitchen was well established in Britain by 1992 (the date of the film) but, except for a small role as a receptionist in a single episode of a long running sitcom, it was Catz's first film-she was 22 years old.

The movie is simply terrific-gripping until the very end and though there are some spoilers in reviews and commentary on Amazon.com, very suspensful throughout. I can't remember when my wife and I were last so engrossed in a movie and I am amazed that it hasn't been a smash hit--it surpasses anything Alfred Hitchcock has filmed. (It did get some awards in Britain when it was shown there on TV back in 1992.) The acting throughout is excellent. Kitchen has the same mannerisms and low key acting that make him such a compelling Foyle-though of course he is playing a role which is almost the polar opposite in terms of character. Catz is equally accomplished, and one has a foretaste of her excellent acting as Louisa Glasson in Doc Martin. Her career after this movie and until Doc Martin consisted mainly of being a police officer in a series of detective serials, a few episodes of "The Bill" and "The Vice" and being the co-star police detective in a three season program "Murder in Suburbia" all well known in Britain but not familiar to most American audiences. I'm surprised that her performance in "The Guilty" didn't turn her into an international star overnight.

One reviewer disliked it because Michael Kitchen's moral character was so different than in Foyle's War. Yes, it is, but to me it only shows what a versatile actor he is. I don't think that should be held against the movie. A couple of others have commented on the unusual number of coincidences necessary to drive the plot forward. I agree, and more than once I muttered that only if one of the characters had spoken up about what they knew, the situation might have turned out for the better. But, I don't think of this as a defect-it simply allowed the complexity of thoughts and motives of the leading characters to be fully developed.

I'd give "The Guilty" twenty stars if possible. It is a superb film.

This movie is a little-known treat. Michael Kitchen has to be one of the greatest unheralded actors of our time. This is a suspenseful little yarn about the well-intended mistakes we make during desperate times, and how they come back to haunt us, with interest!

Kitchen has the complexity to share the thoughts and discarded possibilities flashing across his face as he maneuvers to set things right. You will care deeply about the characters, be fully engaged, and forget to take a deep breath. Surprisingly you will feel satisfied with the ending as well. If you enjoy suspense, complexity, mystery and brushes of fate, you'll enjoy this delicious treat.

Gillian Holloway author of: The Complete Dream Book, 2nd edition: Discover What Your Dreams Reveal about You and Your Life

Amazing acting, wonderful directing, great filming, predictable plot. Well worth seeing. Reminds me of Christopher Marlowe and Shakespeare's later works.