Bill Nighy is perhaps one of the best British actors of his time. He has done loads of films ranging from dramas to fantasies and even pirates at one point. But out of all the films he has done, this particular trilogy of films is not one that I'm familiar with, but it has piqued my interest. In fact I would say I have seen the first film back when it premiered on BBC Two only because much of what was filmed was done in Cambridgeshire which is my home area. The whole time I watched the first one, I was always asking which parts were shot in that area. Little did I know that there would be two more films to follow it which I would get a chance to watch thanks to Netflix. So let's take a look:
Page Eight
As the name of the trilogy implies, the films are focused on a long-serving MI5 officer called Johnny Worricker (played by Nighy). The first film begins with him being summoned to a meeting with fellow MI5 agent Jill Tankard (played by Judy Davis) and Home Secretary Anthea Catcheside (played by Saskia Reeves) to talk about a potentially explosive report that may have ties to prime minister Alec Beasley (played by Ralph Fiennes). Johnny is good friends with a political activist whom he decides to have investigated. All the while, his best friend and director of MI5 Benedict Baron (played by Michael Gambon) suddenly dies of a heart attack moments before he reveals the report to the public. With the PM wanting to keep the report hidden, Johnny sets out to investigate why at the potential cost of leaving the country. You know, with many spy films and TV shows out there, this and its sequels are perhaps a few of the many that are done right. It's realistic, has you at the edge of your seat and always guessing who the culprits are and what will actually happen in the end. 8/10
Turks & Caicos
Having been forced to flee his home country, Johnny Worricker hides out on the titular Turks and Caicos Islands. He has a chance encounter with CIA agent Curtis Pelissier (played by Christopher Walken) and becomes aware of the activities of a company called Gladstone before assisting Curtis with an investigation into their activities in exchange for silence on Johnny's location. He finds some connections to various people in London (including the PM) and it isn't long before he gets involved in some high stakes shenanigans. While not a whole lot is happening in this film compared to the first, it is intense with some romance, a bit of murder and political drama to make this first sequel pretty decent at best. But with wonderful performances from all involved. 8/10
Salting the Battlefield
After leaving the Turks and Caicos Islands, Johnny reunites with his old girlfriend Margot Tyrell (played by Helena Bonham-Carter) and the pair go on the run across Europe to evade capture from MI5. Using his contacts, Johnny instructs his people to leak news of Alec Beasley's corrupt dealings with Stirling Rogers (played by Rupert Graves) and his Bridge Foundation. Eventually Johnny realizes that he must return home in order to confront his old nemesis and save his family before they too get caught. Of the three films, I find this one to be the best of them. It's high stakes drama with a few twists and turns, and we figure out whose responsible for what and other stuff too. 9/10
Although this trilogy is unlike other spy stuff I have seen, it's very clearly trying to be as realistic as possible. Perhaps even more realistic than say James Bond 007, but given these films were made for TV, that does kind of make sense. But overall, a fine trilogy of thriller dramas with great performances all around. 8/10
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