Get a peak at this series continuation on film.
The Netflix crime series “Peaky Blinders” focused on the Peaky Blinders crime family, who were inspired by a real life urban street gang in Birmingham, England between the 1880s and the 1920s. It took place after the First World War and lead up to the 1930s when the Nazi Party was on the rise. And now, the show-to-movie transition subtitled “The Immortal Man” takes place in 1940 when WWII was kicking in. Therefore, this series becomes generational with how the crime family handles the times and their surroundings.
Originally aired on the BBC and allowing American viewers to stream it on Netflix, the show earned a lot of appeal from fans and concluded during the sixth season. But I guess like “Downton Abbey,” “Peaky Blinders” might either want to continue its story or give it a different kind of finale. It all depends on how fans can take “The Immortal Man.”
But don’t worry, I won’t give out spoilers, while it’s still in theaters and waiting to be released on Netflix next week. I’ll just give you a general outline on what to expect and appreciate. You’ll still listen to the rock music that sets the atmosphere and action sequences, and you’ll still sense the style and cursing.
Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby, who is writing a book and whose eldest son Duke (Barry Keoghan) has taken over the Peaky Blinders. The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. Tommy is also haunted by the spirits of the people he has killed and the family he has lost along the way, like his brother Arthur and daughter Ruby. He just can’t put his violent past behind him. I mean how could he? But he might be given a chance to finally be at peace.
How?
Because Rebecca Ferguson is in a dual role as twin gypsy sisters-the dead Zelda, whom Tommy impregnated with Duke, and Kaulo, who warns him that his son is in danger of working with the Nazi Party sympathizer John Beckett (Tim Roth). She’s willing to let him live out his life in peace, despite all the people he has killed, if he puts things right. So, he puts on the suit, the watch, and pocket watch and returns to the game.
Despite his ambitions as a gangster, Duke is slightly less evil than Beckett, who is using him as part of his plan to help Germany win the war. So, that means he can finally collaborate with his father to set things right.
And don’t worry, Stephen Graham is still in the mix as the union convenor Hayden Stagg, as are Sophie Rundle as Tommy’s sister Ida and Packy Lee as his Romani cousin Johnny Dogs.
Directed by Tom Harper (who besides his movie career also directed three episodes of the series) and written by series creator Steven Knight, “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man” does move a little too fast in the screenplay, but it does have a lot of fun with the transition and knows the stakes of these gangsters in this time period. I’ve only seen parts of the show with my mom being a faithful viewer, but I know when a crime story wants to get violent and use tough dialogue. I guess we should thank “The Godfather” and “Goodfellas” for inspiring many entertaining crime stories in other films or shows.
Murphy is committed to his TV character and he plays him right on film with his emotions, consistency, and sense of style (the best moment regards a hand grenade). His “Dunkirk” co-star Keoghan shares the same qualities, as we see him dealing with his opposers and how the father and son have a dirty fight. And Roth is charming as the villain, as if he wants to channel Christoph Waltz’ Hans Landa in “Inglorious Basterds” without trying so hard. And I like how he says: “Heil F***ing Hitler.”
This TV-to-movie transition may not challenge the fans as much as the series has done for them, but they still may appreciate where it’s going after the finale. Or maybe this is a different finale. I don’t know. It still has Murphy in the lead role, though.
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