Telstar: The Joe Meek Story
Dir: Nick Moran
2008
****
Nick Moran's adaptation of his own play (co-written with James Hicks) is the perfect balance between theatre and film. Okay, so it's not the best directed film of all time but it does have moments of greatness (the slow-mo scene when the bailiffs arrive). Chas Hodges played on Telstar? This all happened just a few buildings down from where I used to live? These were just a few revelations that fascinated me although I was familiar with Joe Meek's work. I would have liked to have seen more of his work and more exploration of his ideas but this was more about the people rather than the music. As character driven biopics go, it's pretty impressive. Con O'Neill remains you of the most underrated actors working today, his performance is brilliant. JJ Field is also great in his portrayal of Heinz Burt, the contrast between the two shouldn't work but it does, brilliantly at that. Support is strong, I can't stand James Cordon and don't understand his appeal but the rest of the cast; Tom Burke, Ralf Little (underrated), Pam Ferris, Kevin Spacey et al are very good. Cut out the Jimmy Carr cameo and it's almost perfect. The ending was a little kind to Meek and is a bit controversial to say the least but the tribute to what he achieved is fair. It's nice to see our alternative modern history marked so well.