Plot: What’s it about?
Johnny Worricker (Bill Nighy) has been a dedicated MI5 officer for decades, working as an intelligence analyst under the watch of his boss, Benedict (Michael Gambon). The two share more than a long working relationship however, as they’re also the best of friends outside the office. When Benedict is given some powerful information with deep political implications, he shares it with Johnny to get his take. But before the two can devise a plan on what to do with the information, Benedict is killed and now Worricker finds himself on his own. With such sensitive and explosive knowledge, Worricker raises his guard and attempts to come up with some kind of agenda. But as time passes, he is drawn deeper into a world of suspicion and paranoia, as he begins to suspect almost everyone around him of being involved. Can Worricker get a handle on himself and find someone he can trust to put the information to the proper use, or will he simply be another victim?
I greatly enjoyed Page Eight, a spy thriller from Masterpiece Theater. This program proves that spies aren’t just golden guns and seduction, as these spies keep us riveted without all the superficial flash. There is some action and ample suspense of course, but Page Eight presents a plausible, natural scenario that lets the characters shine. Bill Nighy has the lead and he is superb, playing a worn down, but dedicated agent whose life is in chaos. Nighy really settles into the role and makes the character seem human, just a hard working man in a tense situation. As he deals with the immense pressures of his personal professional lives, Nighy brings the character to life in remarkable fashion. The story is also quite good, with a good pace that lets the plot unfold at a nice clip, but also leaves time for solid character development. I want to mention that this is also the original UK version of Page Eight, so it has some scenes not shown in the American broadcast. If you’re a fan of spy games or just love a well crafted yarn, Page Eight is well worth a look and is highly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Page Eight is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen. This is a 1080i transfer, but it looks quite good. I wouldn’t rank the detail as high as the best transfers out there, but it holds up well. The image is much better than the standard release, to be sure. The colors have a natural presence, while black levels are dead on. So aside from some minor issues, this is a very good looking visual treatment that should please fans.
Audio: How does it sound?
A stereo soundtrack is included and it provides a competent performance. The audio needs of the program are rather basic, so this track fulfills them with ease. The music is a little thin, but still sounds fine, while the various background noises and ambient sounds are passable. The focus is on dialogue and vocals sound clear, with no volume concerns. So this one won’t light up your surround sound, but it is a solid soundtrack. This disc also includes English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
