To Be A Somebody (By Jimmy McGovern)

[Admin]

Post your comments here on "To Be A Somebody"

[Tod]

This was the first episode of "Cracker" that I ever watched---I was blown away! It is far and away the best bit of Television I have ever seen. I have since watched all of the episodes multiple time and shout their praise to any who will listen. Robert Carlyle's portrayal of ALbie is haunting; they way he spits out the line about being the "despised and the betrayed" made the hair on my neck stand up. As a teacher, I have even used Cracker episodes in class to discuss issues of class, race and rape. I have so much I would love to discusss about all of the episodes. I just hope it is not too long before we get to see the new one -off program here in the States. Any idea on how long it might take? I do not have BBC America; I originally watched the episodes on AE which is partnered with Granada, but the aired a year or more later here than in England. I am also a huge Smith's fan going way back to high School in the mid 80s (ughhh, time flies) and love Man U footie. Would love to tour the city some ansd see the sights mentioned in songs or seen on " Cracker."

Glad I found this forum!

[Admin]

Hi Tod

TBAS - well what can i say? It's fantastic from start to finish, and by far my favourite Cracker story. Robert Carlyle's performance as Albie is just incredible, all the actors playing the criminals throughout the whole series do a good job but there is something hugely memorable and haunting about Albie I agree. TBAS works well for so many other reasons too - the personal storylines, Fitz still being at odds with the police, Bilborough's tragic death, the interview scenes and the great dialogue - I still love Fitz's "You need a thesauras" swipe at Beck. McGovern did give the big man some great lines at times.

Have no idea about when the States will be seeing the new episode, hopefully it won't be too long after it's shown here (which I think will be towards the end of the year). And a Man Utd fan eh? Never mind LOL, just kidding - I have to live with a Man Utd supporter and I'm a Liverpool fan and I do not find it easy!! And The Smiths are fantastic!!! 'The Queen Is Dead' is still one of my all time favourite albums

[Tod]

I agree, the writing and acting in TBAS make it simply the best piece of TV I have ever seen, no exceptions. I think you may be supporting the wrong Merseyside team...looks like Everton may pull off a decent season this year. (despite Beck's crack to Albie when about supporting Everton being more painful than the chemo).

With regards to the decision to go with a big Fitz ala Robbie Coltrane, rather than a small wiry fellow as first envisioned, I think Fitz himself captures the essence of it all when in response to Judith's scolding "you drink too much, you smoke too much..." he cuts her off and booms back "I am too much!" Brilliant! Fitz is too much. Larger than life, more intelligent, more flawed, more passionate.....

Hope you don't find yourself on a bus bumping your head on the glass, muttering " L-I-V E-R-P, double O, L..Liverpool FC! It could be worse, you could follow Leeds. I jest.

Take care,

Tod

PS "The Queen is Dead" is great. Still finds its way into my CD player on a weekly basis.

[kari]

Sorry, i'm not quite sure. What is that punk rock song they're "dancing". The speed is quite hectic!

[lewisham lion]

Not much activity on these boards ?

Many say TBAS is the best Cracker storyline and have to say it's my favourite also. It's simply down to Robert Carlyle that it works. Great performance as Albie Kinsella over three episodes and it's a great showdown with Fitz and the parcel bomb near the end.

Claire Moody looked too glamourous to be a mere newspaper reporter maybe. Felt sorry for Albie in the end as a broken man, despite all the bad things he did.

Was sorry to see the end of David Bilborough as DCI, as I much prefered him over the awful Ricky Tomlinson, Charlie Wise character.

[Lewisham Lion]

have tried again and again to log in but just can't do it, not accepting user name. Having to reply as Guest. It's me in the above, can't believe last post on this episode were nearly 10 years ago.

OK, first up for me this is where the real series begins. The first REAL storyline where you can be involved and the focus never really lets up. 'To say I love you' was good, it had tension and something of a storyline but just missed that certain intrigue or suspense. 'Mad woman in the attic' and 'Lemmings will fly' just never did or will keep the interest for me.

Back to TBAS, and was before Robert Carlyle became a star and household name, years before Trainspotting and Full Monty etc. Might have mentioned it before but he really works here, he's believable and moves an already exciting story along. Of course he only really comes into his own after Episode 1 and the real figure starts to emerge but by the end, you can see how he got into the movies.

forgot that Fitz had a stroke or heart defect in the bathroom at Mark's birthday, only goes to show how long it was since last viewing. Irony is after that and the hospital scenes, only then came to realise Mr Coltrane is in fact no longer alive. It brought home a certain sense of sadness, I suppose you could call it.

Saw the episode tonight an hour ago on ITV3, the second part tomorrow and then third straight after. It'll be (spoiler) Bilborough's last scenes before his untimely demise and while his replacement Wise / Tomlinson tries at times, he's just not the same screen presence that Eccelstone has.

one last thing that caught attention tonight, when (spoiler) Albie recognises Mozart's concerto on the radio before killing again, they cut out the bit where Kinsella asks the man "Are you surprised I know that et cetera" and go straight to the next murder. I haven't seen this particular episode in a long time but know for almost certain it was in there from previous viewings.

OK? Hope this posts. Thanks.

[lewisham lion]

Right, watched it all the other night, second and third episodes after the first. Once again for me this is where the real 'Cracker' starts, the previous storylines just didn't work for me. To Say I Love You came close, but just didn't quite hit the mark.

Carlyle's Albie Kinsella it what makes this particular episode work. Plays it just right, no over-acting or amateurish, just a character you can believe in and for me he's prominent here above all other names, including Eddie Fitz himself.

The Bilborough killing still seems odd, here you have a suburban street in one of the biggest cities in the UK and in broad daylight it's completely quiet and lifeless. That kid that runs off after seeing the body, something still feels amiss like he could have done more. Suppose today you'd get out a phone can call Old Bill but remember we're taking different eras here. The Police, incidentally, seemed to show up very quickly to Bilborough's location with the vague information they received.

Another thing that makes these episode / storyline work is Lorcan Cranitch's portrayal of Beck. You always feel something can happen whenever he's on screen and once again proves a pivotal figure that proves a winning storyline. Sommerville's Penhaligon seems somewhat flat here, devoid of emotion or not really playing to the actresses strengths. That's just an opinion, maybe just overshadowed by bigger performances from her co-stars for this one episode or storyline.

Clare Moody once again, how is she a journo ? It's one thing that spoils it but there's a certain satisfaction at the very end when Albie's intended parcel bomb find's it's target. After his killings and Carlyle's personal hate and resentment, you couldn't help but feel some sympathy with the character by the time closing credits rolled.

[lewisham lion]

Seen it again tonight almost a year after it were last on. May be just be a reiteration of words but say again for me this is where the series really kicks off. Mad Woman in the Attic and TSILY tried but just don't feel the same enthusiasm for them as with storylines such as this and what came after.

Albie goes on a rampage of sorts and attempts to kill off people, he's obviously got a problem with the world and seeking his own retribution for the Hillsborough injustice but it only begins on screen with a disagreement over a crossword clue. The shopkeeper and the four pence difference some would argue doesn't justify the events that follow. He's upset about his father and simmering resentment over the events in Sheffield, I suppose it all comes to a head. (No pun intentional)

Carlyle does well with a Scouse accent (he did a similar thing with the 51st state) but he's a Scot at heart and just used to hearing him in his own native tongue. One of my favourite scenes from the storyline is Beck's 'interrogation' of Albie before he realises he's the killer. Beck would subsequently go on a path of self-destruction knowing he could have apprehended the killer and therefore saved the life of Bilborough.

When Fitz has the cardiac arrest at Mark's house party I thought when watching it occurred later in the series. It's amazing he can smoke 50 or 60 a day and consume several bottles of spirits a week - with little to no exercise and the pressure and demands of being a Police Criminal Psychologist - and still get crimes solved and turn up for work each time. Some would argue it's stretching the limits of credibility but it is, after all, only a show.