Latest news with #JacobElordi
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC's latest war drama has viewers watching every episode in one sitting
The BBC's latest drama, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, staring Jacob Elordi and Ciarán Hinds is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer The BBC's latest period drama, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, has become an instant hit with viewers who have been binge watching all five episodes in one sitting. Based on Richard Flanagan's Booker Prize-winning novel, the series spans 50 years and follows the life of Dorrigo Evans. From a passionate, forbidden romance with Amy Mulvaney to the harrowing experiences of a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, and later life as a respected surgeon haunted by his past, the story is both captivating and gripping. As well as having a heart-wrenching storyline, the series boasts a stellar cast including Saltburn star Jacob Elordi, who portrays the younger Dorrigo and Ciarán Hinds, known for his role in Game of Thrones, taking on the role of older Dorrigo. According to the BBC's synopsis, the series is "an intimate character study of a complex man, a compelling portrayal of the courage and cruelty of war, and an unforgettable love story that endures through the darkest times." It follows Dorrigo, a Lieutenant Colonel and army surgeon, tracing his journey from a passionate affair with his first love to the brutal realities of a Japanese POW (prisoners of war) camp in Burma, and eventually to his conflicted later years as a decorated war hero. Unsurprisingly the series has an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with viewers hailing it as an "absolute masterpiece." Many viewers have been deeply moved by the series, describing it as "captivating," "tragic" and "outstanding." As well as sharing how they couldn't stop watching once they started, bingeing it all in one sitting. One viewer who reviewed the show said: "Watched all 5 in one evening. Very good series. War and love. Great acting, lovely soundtrack and a glimpse into the pain and suffering of WW2 and letting go of the love of your life," while another stated: "You guys should check out The Narrow Road to the Deep North. An outstanding series. Not an easy watch, but well worth it." Another recommended the series, saying: "While I can't speak to the historical accuracy of the show, it was easily one of the most jarring, tragic, and captivating stories I've seen in a long time." While a forth stated: "Disturbing, dark and brilliant. Hard to watch or even think about, but also riveting. The music is perfection and captures the feelings and confusion of the times. Stellar performances!" On filming the intense scenes during Dorrigo's time as a prisoner of war, lead star Jacob said: "For me that was the greatest part of the whole experience. It was like being in a massive theatre production that was constantly playing, and I'll forever be indebted to those boys in the jungle that made it feel so real." "There was no CGI or adding of bodies or anything like that. We had a limited crew, with very little hair and make-up touches. We carried a real tree up the side of a cliff for I don't know how many hours," he concluded. Meanwhile Ciarán said he was drawn to taking the role after reading the novel. "It's more than 12 years old now, and it was a formidable read," he told the BBC, adding: "It was extraordinary. It was harrowing, heartbreaking, a kind of epic storytelling." The Narrow Road to the Deep North is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
New York Times
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Starry Venice Film Festival to Include a New ‘Frankenstein'
A new version of 'Frankenstein' directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Jacob Elordi as the doctor's monstrous creation, will compete for the Golden Lion at this year's Venice Film Festival, the event's organizers announced on Tuesday. Twenty other movies will be in the running for the prize, including Olivier Assayas's 'The Wizard of the Kremlin,' set around Vladimir V. Putin's rise to power in Russia and starring Jude Law as the future president, and Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine,' with Dwayne Johnson as a mixed martial artist. A new movie from Yorgos Lanthimos, the Greek director who two years ago won the Golden Lion with 'Poor Things,' will also compete at the festival, which is scheduled to run from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6. His latest film, 'Bugonia,' is the story of two men who kidnap a company's chief executive (Emma Stone), convinced that she's an alien trying to destroy the Earth. Other movies in competition at this year's 82nd edition include Noah Baumbach's 'Jay Kelly,' a comedy co-written with Greta Gerwig and starring George Clooney as an actor having an identity crisis; Kathryn Bigelow's 'A House of Dynamite,' set in the White House after a missile is launched at the United States and starring Idris Elba; and Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice,' about an unemployed man who murders competitors for jobs. A jury chaired by Alexander Payne, the director of 'The Holdovers' and 'Sideways,' will decide the Golden Lion winner. The winning title, which will be announced on the festival's final day, is likely to generate buzz for next year's Academy Awards, given that the Venice Film Festival has gained a reputation as a launchpad for Oscar contenders. Although those usually emerge from the main contest, the festival also features numerous out-of-competition slots and sidebar series. High-profile movies playing in these this year include new feature films from Luca Guadagnino and Gus Van Sant, and a new documentary from Werner Herzog, 'Ghost Elephants.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is the next James Bond? Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson in top wishlist
According to Variety, the studio and the producers seem interested in bringing onboard a British actor under 30. The names of Hollywood A-listers Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson are said to be on the top of the list. With filmmaker Denis Villeneuve onboard for the 26th James Bond film, eyes are now set for who will be the new 007. While fans have strong opinions about who should continue the legacy after Daniel Craig 's successful five-film streak, a new report has shed light on Amazon's wishlist. According to Variety, the studio and the producers seem interested in bringing onboard a British actor under 30. The names of Hollywood A-listers Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland , and Harris Dickinson are said to be on the top of the list. It further added that while Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, Henry Cavill, 42, and Idris Elba , 52, were considered as possible heirs to Craig, their ages are unlikely to fit the requirement. With Villeneuve tapped to direct the upcoming James Bond film, the search for the titular star has heated up. Speaking about the project, the director earlier said, "Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since 'Dr. No' with Sean Connery. I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour," as quoted by Variety. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Amazon MGM Studios head Mike Hopkins asserted that the film has landed in the hands of one of "today's greatest filmmakers." With Villeneuve currently busy with 'Dune: Messiah,' it is unlikely that the film will go into production anytime soon. The next James Bond film will be produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman. Not much details about the film's plot or cast has been unveiled yet. Earlier in 2022, Amazon acquired MGM along with its wide catalog of over 4,000 films and 17,000 shows. In 2025, Amazon MGM Studios closed a deal with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, further gaining creative control of the James Bond rights.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC drops 'incredibly emotive' war drama with huge star after lengthy wait
The much-awaited television drama The Narrow Road to the Deep North finally graced BBC One screens this weekend. The five-episode series, which originally premiered on Amazon Prime earlier this year, features an impressive ensemble cast including Jacob Elordi, Odessa Young and Ciaran Hinds. Branded as 'savagely beautiful', the Australian production chronicles the journey of Dorrigo Evans, portrayed by the Saltburn actor in his youth and Hinds as his elderly counterpart. The narrative weaves through his passionate romance with Amy Mulvaney (Odessa Young), his harrowing experience as a prisoner-of-war, and his subsequent life as a celebrated surgeon and reluctant war hero - promising to pull at viewers' emotions. According to the official synopsis, it reads: "The Narrow Road to the Deep North is an intimate character study of a complex man, a compelling portrayal of the courage and cruelty of war, and an unforgettable love story that sustains one through the darkest of times" The five-part series was released on the BBC this weekend (Image: BBC) Since hitting screens, viewers have showered the series with acclaim, with many hailing it as a 'masterpiece'. One viewer gushed: "Wow, I was compelled to binge watch episodes 3,4&5 after watching episode 2 (episode 1 not as gripping imo). Incredibly emotive and the pow camp scenes had me glued to the screen, my heart in my throat and a steady slow flow of tears rolling down my face." Another fan wrote: "While I can't speak to the historical accuracy of the show, it was easily one of the most jarring, tragic, and captivating stories I've seen in a long time." BBC drops 'incredibly emotive' war drama with huge star after lengthy wait (Image: BBC) Another viewer shared their thoughts, saying: "Powerful story. Appreciated the brutal depiction of war, the incredible endurance of some people, the cruelty of others, and the absolute necessity to seek, or at least hope for, reason and beauty in life." One fan expressed their admiration: "Excellent series. Well done and congrats to all involved. Illustrates the brutality of war and the complications of dealing with it." Jacob, reflecting on his decision to take on the role, admitted he was instantly drawn to it, reports the Express. Jacob Elordi explained what attracted him to the role (Image: BBC) He commented: "I got a message from Justin Kurzel [the director and executive producer] in my inbox and immediately thought, 'I'll do whatever this is.' "I don't think we even had scripts at that point. It was just, 'Do you want to work on this?' You hear actors say this all the time - and I hate that I'm about to say it myself - but when I read Richard Flanagan's book, I realised that no one else in the world could play it. "I had to play Dorrigo, because he has a kind of inner dialogue that Richard writes so well, and every time I read something about the inner workings of his life, I thought, 'That's how I feel.' "That's that thing that I can never say, that's that thing that I can never touch on." I remember taking it around to my family saying, 'If you want to understand me, read this book' - which was a profound experience to have." Fans can catch The Narrow Road to the Deep North on BBC iPlayer.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Narrow Road to the Deep North review
There is an overwhelming darkness to The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Justin Kurzel's adaptation of Richard Flanagan's Booker prize-winning novel. Thematically, this is to be expected: it is about a group of Australian prisoners of war constructing the Burma railway in the mid-1940s, at the tail end of the second world war. It is about the lasting trauma of conflict and imprisonment. It spans half a century, and though it tempers its darkness with a rich love story, it is largely violent, fatalistic and sorrowful. But visually, too, you may find yourself fiddling with the contrast and brightness settings. This very much matches its mood to its palette. Jacob Elordi is perfectly handsome and haunted as the younger Dorrigo, a poetry-loving doctor who is about to be married to the well-to-do and socially connected Ella (Olivia DeJonge). The show covers three timelines, two of which follow closely on from one another. Elordi takes the main shift, Dorrigo as a young man. It opens in the thick heat of battle, going straight into the action. Young soldiers trade barbs with gallows humour, as they joke and tease, and place bets on how long they think they are going to live. Their banter is interrupted by exploding mines, the casualties already considerable, just a few moments in. The survivors are captured and put to work on the railway. It is hellish from the off, a vivid nightmare of torture and a tale of impossible endurance. Forty-nine years later, towards the end of the 1980s, Ciarán Hinds is the older Dorrigo, a successful, wealthy and celebrated surgeon, still married to Ella (now played by Heather Mitchell). Dorrigo is brooding, even more haunted and undergoing a reckoning with his own history. He is also celebrated as a war hero, but he is combative, arrogant, even reckless, in his professional and personal life. He gives a furious television interview, ostensibly about his experiences of war, to promote a book, the nature of which is deliberately abstruse. This enforced reflection causes him to remember what he has tried so hard to forget and, as a drama, flipping between timelines, it builds up a picture of what made him the unhappy, unfaithful man he has become. It does this slowly, convincingly and in great, awful detail. The 1980s storyline, in which Dorrigo's philandering ways are laid bare, provides some respite from the relentless violence. This is visceral, in its truest sense. Kurzel captures the bodily horror of war in an almost confrontationally frank manner. As they hack away at rock and trees, the men are emaciated, filthy, full of malaria and dysentery. The camera nestles in among them, and hovers above, conveying a real sense of their closeness and suffering. At one point, a leg must be amputated. This is a gory and drawn-out ordeal. At least, in the darkness, it is partially obscured, though the audio alone is gruesome enough. For all of its bodily horrors, this is a passionate, full-bodied love story too, a strand that is delicately balanced but just as impactful. Before he is called up, Dorrigo visits his uncle Keith (a small, mighty performance from Simon Baker) and is immediately drawn to Keith's young wife, Amy (Odessa Young). She is intrigued, if not impressed, but when they meet again at a poetry reading in a bookshop, after Dorrigo has become engaged to Ella, that initial spark ignites into a forest fire. It takes time for their mutual attraction to become more than yearning and longing, lingering looks and touches, but the pacing of it is moving and affecting. Compared to the grinding chaos of the jungle, their affair is sad and beautiful, as romantic as it is doomed. This is a literary drama and it makes no apologies for that. Dorrigo loves Catullus and Aeschylus. The men perform Romeo and Juliet for each other in the jungle. Amy cements her attraction to Dorrigo with a fragment of Sappho, which reads, simply, 'you burn me'. At times, its novelistic roots are more obviously on show; some of the dialogue is writerly and elevated, as the characters reflect poetically upon human nature and cruelty. And there is much cruelty to consider. There are so many killings, so many deaths, and one particular execution, in the jungle, is one of the most distressing scenes I have watched on television in a long time. The Narrow Road to the Deep North, then, is not an easy prospect, but it is an immensely powerful one, driven by strong performances and a bracing confidence in its ability to tell this story, at its own pace, in its own way. My only complaint is that I would have liked to have been able to see just a little more of it. The Narrow Road to the Deep North aired on BBC One and is on iPlayer in the UK. It is available on Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada.
