![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I watched all of this over the course of yesterday. It is a short court room drama series of six 50 minute episodes. I ordered it because Gerard Butler is in it, and I'm pleased to say has a major role. First the outline.
A 15 year old Sikh boy is accused of murdering one of his schoolmates with a sacred Sikh sword. Both the prosecution and defence present compelling cases in this racially hot trial. Enter 12 men and women who will hear and give a verdict. They are from an array of backgrounds, beliefs, and different lives as all good juries should be. As the trial proceeds, the lives of some of the jurors are taking interesting paths. A single mother is harassed and reconnects with her estranged mother. A broke businessman is tempted into a risky venture by the same man who ruined him. A fair minded Jew is put under pressure by his bullying, antisemetic father-in-law. A trainee priest has serious doubts about taking Holy Orders, and along the way helps a terminally ill juror. A woman trapped in a loveless and oppressive marriage hopes to find a bit of excitement. And a recovering alcoholic is summoned for duty the day after his release from a rehab clinic. Their lives in these six days take many twists, but most importantly, can they reach a fair and unbiased verdict?
Gerard Butler plays Johnnie Donne, the alcoholic. Only just out of rehab, he relies heavily on the support and advice of his sponsor. Even so, as unstable as he is, he falls for Rose, the trapped wife. However, they remain purely friends, but her suspicious husband suspects more, and takes revenge on Johnnie for his wife's betrayal.
It's a good series...getting a peek into a variety of lives. Gerry is excellent as the unstable Johnnie, tortured and passionate. Also Gerry sports his natural Scottish accent! What also appealed to me is (without giving away spoilers) how the verdict itself affects people and possibly the truth. It does leave one coming away with a slightly cynical taste in one's mouth.
Favourite scene is between Johnnie and Eddie, his sponsor as they discuss why he shouldn't have sex for a year after climbing on the wagon. (Is anyone familiar with this aspect of alcohol rehab?).
Eddie: Rule number one: No relationships, no sex. Not for the first year anyway.
Johnnie: The first year?
Eddie: It's the quickest way back on the drink, man.
Johnnie: Jesus Christ Eddie, I'll be blind carrying on at this rate.
*laughs and looks down* I'll have to tie a knot in it.
Eddie: If you're in a position to do that, you're a lucky lad.
Favourite line comes as they discuss a verdict. Struck me as very appealing, though not one of the muses (the others loved it!)
Juror: These Sikhs are fanatics, they live for fighting, they kill for fun.
Johnnie: I'm glad Attila the fucking Hun could join us today.
Edited to include: Also a thrill to see Derek Jacobi as the defence barrister, and two Sharpe alumni. Mark Strong (Col. Brand in Sharpe's Mission) is equally as domineering as Rose's husband, and Nicholas Farrell (Lord Fenner in Sharpe's Regiment) is far less threatening as the broke businessman.
A 15 year old Sikh boy is accused of murdering one of his schoolmates with a sacred Sikh sword. Both the prosecution and defence present compelling cases in this racially hot trial. Enter 12 men and women who will hear and give a verdict. They are from an array of backgrounds, beliefs, and different lives as all good juries should be. As the trial proceeds, the lives of some of the jurors are taking interesting paths. A single mother is harassed and reconnects with her estranged mother. A broke businessman is tempted into a risky venture by the same man who ruined him. A fair minded Jew is put under pressure by his bullying, antisemetic father-in-law. A trainee priest has serious doubts about taking Holy Orders, and along the way helps a terminally ill juror. A woman trapped in a loveless and oppressive marriage hopes to find a bit of excitement. And a recovering alcoholic is summoned for duty the day after his release from a rehab clinic. Their lives in these six days take many twists, but most importantly, can they reach a fair and unbiased verdict?
Gerard Butler plays Johnnie Donne, the alcoholic. Only just out of rehab, he relies heavily on the support and advice of his sponsor. Even so, as unstable as he is, he falls for Rose, the trapped wife. However, they remain purely friends, but her suspicious husband suspects more, and takes revenge on Johnnie for his wife's betrayal.
It's a good series...getting a peek into a variety of lives. Gerry is excellent as the unstable Johnnie, tortured and passionate. Also Gerry sports his natural Scottish accent! What also appealed to me is (without giving away spoilers) how the verdict itself affects people and possibly the truth. It does leave one coming away with a slightly cynical taste in one's mouth.
Favourite scene is between Johnnie and Eddie, his sponsor as they discuss why he shouldn't have sex for a year after climbing on the wagon. (Is anyone familiar with this aspect of alcohol rehab?).
Eddie: Rule number one: No relationships, no sex. Not for the first year anyway.
Johnnie: The first year?
Eddie: It's the quickest way back on the drink, man.
Johnnie: Jesus Christ Eddie, I'll be blind carrying on at this rate.
*laughs and looks down* I'll have to tie a knot in it.
Eddie: If you're in a position to do that, you're a lucky lad.
Favourite line comes as they discuss a verdict. Struck me as very appealing, though not one of the muses (the others loved it!)
Juror: These Sikhs are fanatics, they live for fighting, they kill for fun.
Johnnie: I'm glad Attila the fucking Hun could join us today.
Edited to include: Also a thrill to see Derek Jacobi as the defence barrister, and two Sharpe alumni. Mark Strong (Col. Brand in Sharpe's Mission) is equally as domineering as Rose's husband, and Nicholas Farrell (Lord Fenner in Sharpe's Regiment) is far less threatening as the broke businessman.
