Simply A Masterpiece

A Major Disappointment

The first must-see film of the year.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Just watching this for the first time since the 80s (when I loved it). If you like Lovejoy, Minder and Bergerac, you will love this. It's all filmed on location and the settings are brilliantly drab and sleazy. Great acting from all concerned. It's in the tradition of British documentary realism about working-class life (Poor Cow, Cathy Come Home, A Taste of Honey). The kind of programme that just doesn't get made any more. Just one thing seems slightly odd - though nobody talks "posh", they just have generic ordinary accents. They don't have the London accent I'd expect from people living in Battersea. Perhaps the makers wanted everyone to understand the dialogue (without subtitles). It didn't bother the makers of Minder, though. Fills me with nostalgia for 70s wallpaper and embroidered pictures.

I used to really like 'Big Deal' when I was about 10 but hadn't seen it for 20 odd years so was pleasantly surprised with the DVD release of the first series. I thought that like much 80s TV it probably would seem slow and dated but it's held up rather well. An entertaining show, with a good balance of comedy and drama, which gets quite dark in the later episodes, 'Big Deal' has a very likable leading performance from Ray Brooks for whom this was something of a comeback after his 60s success in 'Cathy Come Home' and 'The Knack' (and, of course, 'Daleks Invasion Earth 2150AD'). Good supporting cast too with some amusing and well drawn characters. The sort of programme that everyone remembers fondly but never gets a mention in the media or a repeat showing, 'Big Deal' also boasts one of the more memorable TV theme tunes (sung by Bobby Gubby of Bucks Fizz!).

Big Deal was a great TV series about a professional gambler called Robbie Box. It was well acted and showed the highs and lows of trying to scratch a living this way. Whatever there was to bet on Robbie did it. He was surrounded by his cronies who were the betting shop regulars ... Ferret, Kipper, Black George etc. If anyone has been to a betting shop, after a while you notice the same old faces each day !!! It was a little bit like a soap opera at times but on the whole was well acted. Where it went wrong was the footage of the card games. Playing stud poker you do not get a full house a straight and a flush in the same deal - it just does not happen. The best poker player wins by skill ... in this the best player just kept being dealt great hands one after another.

Robbie Box is a heavy gambler, whose luck goes from the highs to the lowest depths. His girlfriend, Jan and daughter Debby stick by him for much of the way, but eventually leave for Australia only to come back. Robbie wins a club in a card game which itself is lost also in a card game. This is classic British comedy/drama at its best.