Customer Reviews

Oliver's Travels

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

OLIVER'S TRAVELS (Acorn) is a beguiling road trip romance across some of the most beautiful British landscapes and historical sites.

Alan Bates ("Women in Love," "Gosford Park") is Oliver, a word game, crossword puzzle fan and comparative religion professor who's forced into early retirement. Sinead Cusack ("Stealing Beauty") is a police officer suspended for voicing suspicions about a superior officer. Together, through spontaneous circumstances and chance, they end up travelling together by car from Wales in the south to the northernmost Orkney Islands off Scotland in separate quests that merge into single murder investigation.

Strangely, it's not the plot that involved me. In fact, I almost didn't care about the "who dunnit" as much as the colorful characters, the quirky, witty banter, the striking locations and the wonderful, mature romance between Bates and Cusack.

I can think of few films that allow us to so fully experience two characters slowly falling in love.

When Bates and Cusack say spontaneous vows at the isolated, arching ruins of 12th Century Lindisfarne Abbey with the fortress of Iona's Holy Island looming against the ocean horizon, I was swept up on this journey and didn't care about the destination.

British television isn't afraid to delve into the romantic life of a man and a woman not in possession of rock hard abs, mid-riff baring clothing or those little tattoos that are always peeking up just over the pantline. Witness 'As Time Goes By.' Or, now, Alan Bates and Sinead Cusack in 'Oliver's Travels.' This mini-series follows Alan Bates (a professor who has been told by the dean of the college where he teaches that he is now retired) on his quest to find the world's greatest living creator of crossword puzzles (the Bates character is a mad devotee of the things). -- When he reaches the crossword creator's house he stumbles upon a mystery, and consequently upon Sinead Cusack, a policewoman who journeys with Bates not only to solve the mystery but, ulitmately, to journey with Bates till death do they part. Like most BBC mysteries, the couple doesn't investigate in dirty alleys or smelly bus stations. Their quest takes them to the lake district and on to the Orkney Islands, an area as remote as it is photogenically beautiful. There are castles and eccentrics and a great turn by Bill Paterson (of the equally charming 'Comfort and Joy'). One of the great pleasures of a BBC mystery is the travelogue that goes with it, and 'Oliver's Travels' doesn't disappoint. -- If there is one caveat, it is the relationship between Bates and Cusack. The idea of their relationship is fine. I have to admit, though, that the Bates character is a bit of an acquired taste, and while I didn't necessarily acquire the taste, I can only imagine that the lovely Sinead Cusack did. I kept losing patience with his certain brand of eccentricity before she did, but then, she was the one in love with him. 'Oliver's Travels' delivers all the things many of us come to expect (and desire) from across the pond. This isn't gritty crime drama ... it's mystery with a whimsical air, set against lush scenery. It's dotty professors and handsome women using their wits to outsmart villains that are actually pretty smart. And there's also that great castle.

I shall be brief. I agree with the other reviewers here who have given this lighthearted series 5 stars. The main characters, Oliver, a redundant Professor of Comparative Religions, and Diane, a policewoman forced to take a leave of absence after asking sticky questions about her Superintendent's possible shady financial dealings (the late Alan Bates and Sinead Cusack play Oliver and Diane), are a perfectly matched couple who exchange witty banter as they travel through the scenic British landscape in search of a "missing" crossword puzzle compiler named Aristotle. Along the way they are shadowed by a sinister man, chased by villains in a helicopter, ultimately find love, and, yes, solve the puzzle. This is a refreshingly mature adult romantic comedy/mystery. Their scenic quest through Wales, England, and Scotland is beautifully filmed. I highly recommend it.

I love this movie/miniseries. I taped it when it showed on PBS and have watched it numerous times without getting tired of it.
The "mystery" isn't the best part. I enjoy the characters, the scenery is great, and I appreciate the allusions to jazz and literature (also cricket.)As if that weren't enough, there's historical and mythological information and a chance to visit historical places. It's great entertainment.

This is a delightful BBC made-for-television romantic comedy/drama, based on the novel by Alan Plater. Alan Bates is wonderful as the eccentric Oliver who loves cryptic crosswords and sees anagrams everywhere. He also knows something very funny about sex. Sinead Cusack is gorgeous and intelligent as Police Constable Diane Priest. She tries her hand at crosswords, he tries detective work, and together they go in search of Aristotle. A strong supporting cast includes: Molly Sugden (Are You Being Served) as a B&B proprietor; and Charlotte Coleman (Four Weddings and A Funeral) as a computer hacker. It's fun, it's irreverent and you'll never look at the daily paper or headstones in quite the same way again. See it with someone you love. Highly recommended.

This is my favorite television show of all-time. The casting is marvelous, from the stars to the smallest supporting role. The directing is fabulous - his timing can't be improved upon.
And great fun!

You've likely never heard of Oliver's Travels. You may not be able to ascertain if it's a movie or TV mini series. Is it mystery or comedy? English film makers or American or Scottish? Recognize the male actor but just can't place him? The local video store doesn't know what you're talking about? How did you even stumble upon this?

Here are all the answers you need - Buy This Now, and Buy A Second Copy for A Loved One.

I'm a 40ish, straight, Hollywood blockbuster-lovin' American male and was told by a ditto male friend that he'd seen this great English (he thought) mystery series on PBS some ten years ago that was just one of those movies you stumble upon, later to believe it was seen ... or perhaps created ... just for you. He wanted to recommend it, but had never seen evidence of it again. A year later he sent me the DVD of Oliver's Travels - so excited to have found it - and insisted that my wife and I should watch it immediately.

We put it off for weeks because ... well ... it just didn't seem that it could be very good. All your questions were our questions - how could we even know if we were ever in the mood to watch it when we couldn't even tell what type of movie ... I mean TV ... show ... whatever ... it was? But finally one boring evening we decided to try one episode just so that we could appease this friend who called regularly to see if we'd watched it.

WE called HIM several hours later - mourning that we'd finished the whole thing - addicts now - wanting to know how to get more. Shortly after we sent copies to others and waited just as impatiently for them to watch. Weeks later one finally phoned to say she was exhausted because once she and her husband saw the first episode they stayed up half the night finishing the others.

Why these reactions? I'm a writer, and quite frankly I can't put this one into words. Maybe it's a week's vacation by train alongside good friends through a bright and colorful countryside, when unexpectedly you find yourself on a mysterious mini quest that somehow you know means more to you than it really means at all. It is such a relaxing trip that as each episode goes to credits you'll feel as if someone is trying to force you awake from a pleasant dream of your best childhood memories. You'll hit play and go right back to sleep. For a while.

Beautifully filmed country; the characters are fun, though simple, and very likable. Not a strong plot, but just interesting enough to keep you coming back, and with some fun twists. We even like the "bad guys."

But, alas, I can't shield you from the pain of when it ends. Maybe it's better that the series only ran once. It's a shame b/c I'd dearly love to see more episodes. But some trips are only meant to be taken once - see the pictures of it again and again if you wish and there will be some enjoyment - but this trip was only meant to be REAL once in your life.

Take heart though - this holiday will stay with you - you just won't be able to put it into thoughts much less words ... as for all your questions and need to categorize, you won't care. But know this - you will believe that life wouldn't have been as rich if you'd missed it.

What can one say, but superlatives concerning the performances on Sinead Cusack and Alan Bates in his/their pursuit of Aristotle. His hilarious acceptance of his being made redundent,
the conversion of the wife of the pompous ass of a petty academic dictator into an anogram/crossword fanatic is equally hilarious.
Then the tour begins along with the subterfuge of Big Business to thwart the will of our heroes. Bill Paterson is wonderfull as the "bad guy" who eventually saves the day for our characters.
The heart wrenching scenes concerning the Royal Oak sinking at the begining of World War Two are just one of many memorable scenes on their journey that takes them from the Rhonda Valley to the Orkney Islands on this travologue of some of themore beautiful parts og Great Britain. Also memorable is the musical score, reminiscent of the great Dave Brubeck of the late fifties.
I have already seen it twice since buying the CD

When Oliver's Travels first aired on PBS I taped it and found myself watching it repeatedly. However, I noted that there were inconsistencies in the first episode, which I learned later was a truncated version of the first two episodes. The editing was so bad that some of the lines made no sense, because the context had been removed. The DVD version finally restored the series as it was originally aired in the UK.

Oliver's Travels is a masterpiece of writing, full of eccentric characters, loaded with social commentary and religious and literary allusions that alternate between serious and funny. British humor is often understated, but there are some laugh out loud moments as well. What especially struck me is how comfortable the actors seemed in their roles with one another. All in all a very entertaining story.

Alan Bates in top form as a charming, eccentric ex-professor meets Sinead Cusack as a nearly-divorced policewoman with a mind of her own. Bates' character is addicted to puzzles of all kinds, and his search for the author of his favorite crosswords leads to an investigation of a high-level corporate conspiracy. The result is a quirky part thriller, part travelogue, part middle-aged love story, which is utterly British, literate, comic and engaging.

As Bates and Cusack travel the length of Britain from Wales to the Orkneys, they interact with characters from all strata of society, reveal their own roots and banter with each other about their encounters and their growing affection for one another. As soon as you relax into the pace of the travelers, the subtlety and brilliance of the acting comes into sharp focus. This is a warm and likable series that bears many viewings.