Marcellana

Once again, Inspector Rebus (John Hannah) is embroiled in a thrilling plot with more who done it twists and turns than an Agatha Christie thriller. Set in Edinburgh, this series would hardly be used by the Edinburgh tourist board to promote the city as a sunny gateway to "Shining Scotland". It portrays the underside of Edinburgh in stereo-typical Scottish gritty, dankness. A strong supporting cast provide solid and convincing portrayals of characters on both sides of the law whom you would find anywhere either side of the Atlantic. Or for that matter, on the streets of Melbourne. The main strength of the Rebus series is in it's portrayal of the fact that the fine line that separates the law enforcers from the criminals is extremely grey indeed. Whilst not corrupt at heart, Rebus with his offsider, DI Jack Morton (Ewan Stewart) enforce their own code of justice on the criminals to keep the streets of Edinburgh at least respectable on the surface.

This is a film that is very easy to relate to for somebody who grew up living in a small Australian town. Overall, the film is quite a clever play on a simple story line, and it makes you wonder why this theme wasn't explored or performed years ago. The only character in the film who seems oddly out of place is "Pat" (Ewan Stewart). You have to ask why a former Scottish Football Star would end up running a pub in an out of the way Irish fishing village? Again the character "Pat" provides the only sad note in the film as he splits from his screen wife as a result of his filandering ways. His wife played by Niamh Cussack, plays a lead in the film, but is not without some blame for the split in the marriage. Through the film there is the suggestion of romantic interest in another of the lead characters.

Other notable moments in the film that tickled my funny bone are when "Ollie" describes his desire to local Post Mistress to, "take a woman to the celestial heavens and worship her", and those "Church Bells". Overall, I had a really good kack when I saw this film in the cinema. Comedy films aren't generally meant to make you think, they are more meant to entertain. "American Women" or "The Closer You Get" definately entertains. I've certainly seen a lot worse low budget comedies, and for that matter, I've certainly seen some real shockers that have been made on a high budget. The "Closer You Get" is definately good value for money.

"Looking After Jo Jo" is one of the better TV mini series to come out of Scotland in recent years. The series features convincing portrayals by the leading actors which accurately portray how the greedy drug pushers in the wider community operate. "Jo Jo" (Robert Carlyle) is occasionally likeable, and is often eclipsed in this series by the totally despicable "Charlie" (Ewan Stewart). The series pulls no punches in showing heroin injection, and the damaging physical effects of drug abuse. The other notable character in this series is Kevin McKidd who teams up again with Carlyle. (If you can remember the pair of them from "Trainspotting").

One curious note is why on earth the story writer chose to set the series in the early 1980's? When indeed the storyline is so NOW! I suspect that the Director was more occupied in creating a retro ambience, with lot's of late 70's - early 80's UK punk musical score. Never the less, the series is definately well worth watching, the acting is spot on the money, even if the story itself is one that most people would rather turn their backs on. The reality is that drug abuse is costing Western Governments billions of dollars, pounds, Euro, and peso's. Somebody is getting the money, and those "Somebodys" are getting wealthy because the wider community remains ignorant, and sadly chooses to stay that way. As long as we keep turning our backs, then those "Somebodys" will keep getting richer.

As long as this prevails, old people will choose to lock themselves away in their homes for protection. The youth of America will be more aggressive and feel compelled to carry guns for self protection. The middle classes across the West will continue to pay higher insurance premiums as they are targeted for burgulary, and the incidences of AIDS and other viral diseases will spread. I strongly recommend that all people should sit and watch this series, not so much for the acting, but for the warning signs, and to open their eyes at what is happening around them in their own communities in America, Europe, Britain, and Australia.