![The Night Of [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Denmark ]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51sdiEYJfyL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
This limited HBO series has pedigree ; written jointly by Steven Zaillian and Richard Price who have on their CV 'Shindlers List', 'The Wire', 'The Deuce' and a host of top action films, many of which I have found thoughtful (not mindless) and full of strong dialogue which sets some of those films apart from the usual action fests.
A couple of minor players stand out ---- Michael K Williams, of gangster 'Chalky' fame in 'Boardwalk Empire', plays Freddy, a powerful and influential prisoner who takes our main protagonist, Naz, under his wing and begins to corrupt him within the confines of the American penal system.
An even smaller player, Paul W Sparks, who had sizable parts in 'House Of Cards' and also as 'Micky Doyle' in 'Boardwalk Empire', puts in a very good almost cameo performance as a possible suspect and step-father of the victim.
Top of the acting tree are John Turturro playing the lawyer charged with looking after the interests of Riz Ahmed (Naz) ; both actors evolve their characters throughout the eight episodes. Turturro is odd, quirky and cynical at the outset but develops a sense of duty as a lawyer in the often corrupt judicial system. His reasons are that he believes the prime suspect is not guilty of the crime. Simples.
We, the viewer, are never shown the truth ----- we have to make our own minds up. Riz Ahmed's performance as the prime suspect is compelling, graduating from a supposed innocent to a less than perfect man adjusting to the violence of prison life, and death.
It's very dark and quite depressing but somehow the writers together with the actors keep this drama extremely watchable. Beautifully filmed, the dark underbelly of New York looks like a dead animal with it's legs pointing up, open for anyone to see and ponder and ridicule.
Thankfully a couple of female actresses bring a good ambiance to the show, one quirky, one extremely sexy and both play opposing lawyers ---- I liked their involvement, balancing the male dominated court and prison scenes. Nice one, Jeannie Berlin and Amara Karan.
There are a few light moments, especially involving Turturro and a cat which was beautifully played out and constituted the very last frame of the production. But the relationships between the humans is always fraught,often violent as this is about a single case of murder.
The idea for the series is from a BBC production, 'Criminal Justice', as of course was 'House Of Cards'. The Americans can make exceptional productions borrowing an idea from foreign sources.
8 episodes, mainly 1 hour long but some were longer though all seemed to pass quickly to be honest.
English subtitles, standard and for the hearing impaired.
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Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries
rob stirling
Stunning edge of your seat drama.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2019Verified Purchase
Philip G. Brown
Grim with lots of smiles and some laughs along the way
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2019Verified Purchase
C.T.
Lifes too short.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2020Verified Purchase
Prince of Persia
"The Night of " has a great start which hooks you in
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2017Verified Purchase
Rach p
Hope it works
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 January 2019Verified Purchase
