REVIEW #27 The Night Manager (2016)

The Night Manager is a series directed by Susanne Bier, which follows the former military man Pine as he is recruited by a British intelligence officer to infiltrate the inner circle of one of the biggest arm dealers in the world.

CAST & THE ACTING (9/10)

Tom Hiddleston is the lead actor playing the role of Jonathan Pine, he was perfect for this role. He does very well in the combat choreography but also shows range in being able to shift from the military trained soldier to the polite and composed night manager at a number of different high society hotels, which is how this story starts. I can understand why this role has had him heavily linked with the notorious James Bond job! Hugh Laurie plays Roper the international arms dealer, with Olivia Colman playing Angela Burr, the British intelligence officer who hires Pine. Both showcase their incredible talents and acting experience. So I believe a high score is justified here, the entirety of the cast done so well at portraying believable characters who you can really get drawn into.

PLOT & THE STORYLINE (9/10)

I really enjoyed the storyline in The Night Manager and I really liked how everything comes full circle within the series. Starting in Cairo where Pine originally gets involved uncovering the underground arms dealing going on in Egypt, to then finally, having infiltrated Ropers inner circle, returning to Egypt where the storyline finally comes to and end (trying not to give any spoilers away). This really does have a Bond feel to it, which is why I was originally recommended this series in the first place! But I did appreciate the more stealthy, undercover agent approach this series employed rather than all out action and crazy firefights. Which is why I think Hiddleston was perfect for this role. My only criticism is maybe there could have been more detail about why Pine ended up working as a night manager in high society hotels because it’s quite the career change from a soldier. Don’t get me wrong, him being the night manager sets the story up nicely but I needed a bit more detail as to why!

CINEMATOGRAPHY & SPECIAL EFFECTS (8.5/10)

The camera work used was good enough for a series of this nature and the main effects I noticed were the huge explosions used at some points in the series. One scene in particular is the weapon demonstration when Roper is trying to sell arms to a militia leader. The visuals were really well thought out for this scene, it was also smart to have it set a night time because it meant any CGI that was used could be done discreetly and unnoticeably. Everything was done well and looked very convincing, so I believe a good score here is deserved.

OVERALL (8.8/10)

I would strongly recommend this series, Tom Hiddleston is perfect for the role of Pine and the storyline keeps you entertained in every episode. The fact Pine is undercover for 90% of the series means it keeps you on the edge of your seat at all times. Always wondering if it’s the time where he’ll finally be caught by Roper. The effects used are all very convincing which makes the story very believable. I was recommended this series as part of an argument as to why Hiddleston should be the next James Bond and now I can certainly see why he is one of the main contenders. Give it a watch and see for yourself, it’s on Amazon prime!

Thanks for reading!

Callan