When plans for Gracepoint, the American remake of the much
loved UK series Broadchurch were announced in 2013, it was clear that the
series was always going to have a difficult task ahead to prove itself as a
valid project. Even the addition of original leading man David Tennant to the
cast in essentially the same role did little to quieten the voices of
consternation, raised even before a single frame of the new version had been
shot. There were inevitably going to be comparisons. Promoting the show to an
American audience, who more than likely hadn’t seen the original was one thing,
but viewers of both shows have found it is difficult to be objective. This seems to have been the case in presenting the series back to audiences in the UK.
However, on its own, Gracepoint is a perfectly serviceable drama.
The ten-part series follows the hunt for the killer of a twelve-year old boy in
a sleepy Californian town, as two mismatched cops have to join forces to solve
the crime before the community disintegrates under the pressures of the
investigation and press scrutiny. The plot is certainly powerful enough. Viewers
worldwide were gripped by the unravelling mystery of the first series of
Broadchurch, and it has intrigued French TV executives enough to prompt them to
commission their own remake, Malaterra. As with the original there is a rich
cast of characters set in a believable, everyday community. This is the sort of
tragedy that could hit any neighbourhood. What sets Gracepoint apart from other
murder series is the focus on that community, giving the impact of the crime on
the family and their wider circle as much attention as the solving of the
mystery itself. The ripples of the event touch those close to the family and
those who barely knew them and time is given to all, from the boy’s family, to
the traders whose livelihood relies upon a healthy tourist industry, to the
lead detective’s daughter, whose visit to spend some quality time with her
father is disrupted by the demands of the case.
The two lead investigators, Emmett Carver and Ellie Miller,
played by David Tennant and Anna Gunn, represent opposing views of the town of
Gracepoint, its population and the terrible event that has struck it. Outsider Carver
is suspicious of all and believes that anyone could have committed the crime. His
colleague Ellie is born and bred in the town and takes her role as its
protector very seriously, to the point of defending it from Carver’s
accusations. Their journeys to appreciate the viewpoint of the other is a
central core of the drama. The series also shows how stress and suspicion can
bring out the worst in people as, through fear and ignorance, the ‘usual
suspects’ come, one by one, under the spotlight: the mentally disturbed
drifter, the perceived paedophile, the adulterous father, the creepy vicar, the
young drug dealer. In the end, Carver is right – the big reveal shows that the
killer could have been anyone – but the circumstances of the crime (not the same as in Broadchurch) are so
shocking and surprising that he almost misses his culprit altogether.
Gracepoint reaps the benefit of a strong ensemble cast with
some powerful performances. David Tennant has always been a fearless actor,
ready to turn his hand to anything, so it’s fascinating to watch his take on Carver
and how he creates such a different character that is distinct from Alec Hardy,
the British counterpart. Anna Gunn’s Ellie makes the journey from downbeat
doormat to lioness, growing stronger and more in control as the town around her
falls apart. Virginia Kull’s performance as pregnant, bereaved mother Beth
Solano is utterly heartrending, as is her regret over the life she never got to
live and her fear that she cannot be trusted to bring a new life into this
world. Veteran star Nick Nolte, though almost incomprehensible at times as sea
dog and wildlife expert Jack, is spot on perfect when it counts as the
character’s life is torn to shreds. The confrontation between Jack and the men
of the town is also one where Michael Peña as Mark Solano truly comes into his
own. Kevin Rankin as Paul Coates and Jacki Weaver as Susan Wright both up the
creepy stakes – there’s something quite disturbing when either of these
characters is on screen.
The pace of Gracepoint can at times be frustratingly slow,
certainly early on when there’s a lot of visits here and there to check clues
and, of course, to establish characters. It also has to be said that episode
one is almost shot for shot identical to Broadchurch and the déjà vu carries on
for several episodes plotwise. However, once the twists and turns and cliffhangers
begin and characters are put into jeopardy, the excitement levels grow and the
momentum remains right until the end of the series. The final episode is as
gripping and shocking as any crime drama could hope to offer. Even the final
shot, which arguably left the show open for a second series (Fox have now
confirmed that this will not happen) actually has quite a pleasing quality to
it. It is up to the viewer now to decide the consequence of that final twist.
So, in short, should British audiences bother with
Gracepoint? The answer is yes, whether as a fan of David Tennant or Anna Gunn,
or of crime dramas in general, there is plenty to enjoy in this series. Even for
Broadchurch fans there’s several new plot twists and new and expanded
characters, and, of course, that different ending. Plus it’s thought-provoking,
as with a play, to see a different actor’s interpretation of a familiar character.
Gracepoint was an interesting experiment that was sadly written off too quickly
by too many people as second class or unnecessary. Fortunately many who have
taken a look for themselves have happily discovered otherwise.
Gracepoint will be released as a 3-disc DVD set on Monday
8th June.
Preorder
your copy here
Gracepoint
Gracepoint
When Danny, a young boy, is found dead on the beach of a
small resort town it throws the community into turmoil. Soon deemed a
homicide, the case is taken up by a new-hire Detective Emmett Carver (David
Tennant, Broadchurch) taking a job promised to Detective Ellie Miller
(Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad).
Danny’s parents Mark and Beth Solano are distraught
as, from the father to the local priest, friends and acquaintances, all become
suspect. Now the two detectives must learn to work together, drawing on
their strengths against the odds and within a town that wants to keep its
secrets to itself.
A powerhouse supporting cast including Nick Nolte (A Walk in
the Woods), Michael Peña (End of Watch), Virginia Kull (Boardwalk Empire) and
Kevin Rankin (Breaking Bad) contributes to a drama that draws on and echoes the
TV phenomenon Broadchurch, but the path of which leads to an altogether
different and more devastating conclusion.
DVD Extras
- The Making of Gracepoint
- Who Dunnit?
- The Art of Visual Effects
- Picture Gallery
- Subtitles
Comments
Post a Comment