“Sharp peaks” is a series that, despite the modest scale of the original idea, was able to gather an audience of several million viewers and permanently consolidate its position as a status picture in the field of gangsters, criminals, tragedy and theatrical fullness of characters. The first season since its inception immediately showed the potential of the picture. The audience empathizes with the heroes, despite the frank stiffness of certain representatives of the Shelby family, which became the main criminal force of Birmingham at the beginning of the last century. HBO channel extended the project for another 2 seasons, and the main creator of the picture, Stephen Knight, promises that it will only be more interesting next. But is everything so rosy? Is it possible to turn a promising project into another ordinary “gimp”? Let us turn to the reviews and reviews of critics.
Series idea and first drafts
In an interview taken by journalists after the premiere, Stephen Knight noted that the project was based on a real story about the criminal "bottom" of Birmingham in the 20s of the last century. Against the background of several ordinary gangs, one gang stood out, which later became one of the strongest "players" in the illegal business of England.
The author of the project has repeatedly stated that his own parents more than once returned to childhood memories, which took place literally during a crime rampage. One can involuntarily notice that the director seems to be delighted with bandits, peculiar gentlemen from the streets. In many ways it is, since the picture was to become an allusion to real events from ordinary inhabitants.
Criminal prototype
As a prototype of the gangster group, a really existing youth band “Sharp Peaks” acted as a nickname due to the blades sewn into the visor of the cap. According to another version, the bandits simply preferred this style of dress, and the visibility of the blade was due to the shape of the visor. This image was called "Manchester." In the series, a direct emphasis is placed on this weapon, more than once used by bandits in a brawl.
The actual group did not have territorial affection for Birmingham and operated throughout England. If the project also focuses on the fact that the Shelby clan is gypsies, then there are no references to the nomadic people in the history of the prototype. However, according to reviews and reviews on the series Sharp Visors, such a move by the creators was successful. Some additional changes were also welcomed.
Family and cult of continuity
The lion's share of the plot is based precisely on the relationships within the family. A kind of cult of continuity really existed in the real prototype. The bandits sought not only to “crush” a large part of the illegal turnover, but also supported “their own people”. The director emphasizes the existence of a "code of honor", concepts of decency and their own rules for criminals.
In reviews of the series "Sharp Peaks" one can also find the censure of creating a halo of romanticism around bandits, however, given the fact that we are talking about the author’s idea, and not documentary timing, such an omission is completely justified and acceptable.
Story and narrative reviews
In the first season there are only 6 episodes, so the story turned out to be extremely fast in many ways. In the reviews of the series Sharp Visors, you can find several statements about the compressed disclosure of the background of each character. It will be fair to say that the director did not count on the resounding success of the project, so he planned to release the most complete story within the framework of the accessible format.
At the center of the story is the Shelby family, to be more precise, the two brothers Arthur and Thomas, who are returning from the First World War. The eldest, Arthur, nominally acts as the head of the clan, however, Thomas, the middle son, directly concentrated all matters in his hands. Together with her aunt, they do business in the bookmaker, winning on the setup at the races. The family also has its own bar.
Heroes
The plot plot of the audience aroused mixed feelings. Throughout the first and partial second season, the past of the brothers in the war is indicated in passing. The director later reveals the details. Arthur was shell-shocked and therefore periodically falls into uncontrollable rage, unless he takes pills that turn him into impotent.
Thomas tempered himself and left behind all weaknesses, including love and empathy. At least until a girl appears on the bar, Campbell's assistant, the new inspector, appointed by Churchill to investigate the high-profile case of theft of military weapons. It just turned out to be in Shelby’s hands, so it can become the main ticket of the clan up to new opportunities.
Characters and reviews on them
In many ways, the series "Sharp Visors" was remembered by the viewer precisely because of his characters. They are colorful, charismatic, they want to empathize. Thomas is strong and dispassionate, a knight who, by the will of fate, became a villain. For the sake of the family, he is capable of much, but even more strongly he does not want to strengthen the clan, but its exaltation. "Big Mafiosi" really gets such a chance. Despite the fact that there is a certain cliché in the image of Thomas, for quite some time he remained one of the most recognizable and popular antagonists of the genre.
Killian Murphy was previously unknown to the general public, but this only played into the picture, as it made it possible to get an actor ready to completely surrender to the only role - Thomas Shelby.
Families First?
Unlike his middle brother, Arthur is extremely aggressive and resembles a sufferer of infantilism. Thomas only has to watch “his dog”, but also protect him. Their aunt believes that Arthur only plays the role of “muscles” for Tommy, who never took his family into account in all seriousness. However, this image, like other major and minor ones, is extremely organic and fits perfectly into the story.
Inspector Campbell, played by Sam Nill, exposes the owner's own rotten gut, in public showing ostentatious decency. If there is a criticism of the romanticism of criminals in the reviews of the series Sharp Peaks, then it is fair to say that there are no truly pure and bright characters in this picture. Moreover, they are not needed there. One of them, perhaps, can be considered Grace, Tommy’s love, but the series about criminals, smelling of “snow” and giving away fumes, must be dirty.
First season
The release of the series "Sharp Visors" was a "gift of fate" for all fans of gangster cinema in the spirit of Tarantino's films or Scorsese's Underground Empire. The same gentlemen, English humor, stiffness and the spirit of “knights from the high road” can first scare away the viewer. But very soon, behind the external pump and pomp, the hard core of the project and the great atmosphere of the series open.
The first season was exciting. Tommy is at the dawn of his formation, challenging the right to race with Italians. He seeks to legalize and does not want to quarrel with the police. But Campbell has his own plans for the Sharp Visors. Pretty soon, the gang is dragged into a national showdown.
Despite trying to hide the plot, the narrative is developing too fast. The director is not exchanged for trifles. “Overboard” remained the background of the heroes, the formation of the family and the flight of Father Shelby. All the details of the plot will be revealed later, when Tommy finishes his war and moves on. All seasons of the series "Sharp Visors" is a struggle. For power, money, strength, and in the end - peace, which, however, the heroes of the series can not see at least another 2 seasons.
Second and third seasons
If in the second season the Shelby family was still considered as "dirty gypsies", now they are power. If the first chapter of the narrative was vast in scope for the future, and the second - the formation of an already full-fledged grouping and the restoration of business, then the third drew a line under Tommy's ambitions. Relations with Russians, Italians, Jews and his own relatives, the death of his beloved put Tommy on the brink of existence. He will have to pay off everyone, including siblings.
It is worth noting that reviews of the series "Sharp Peaks" have repeatedly emphasized the comic nature of the Russians. The nobility of the empire is not in the best light. One can hardly argue whether such an image is actually reliable, but it was he who partially caused a somewhat cool reaction from critics. Nevertheless, the series came to a logical stop in the plot and clearly demonstrated the groundwork for the future, in which Tommy is left alone.
Continued?
In 2016, HBO announced the release of two more seasons. The premiere of the 4th season of the series "Sharp Visors" is scheduled for November 15, 2017. But so far, the events that will be described in it are unknown. However, the company does not deny a possible continuation even after the story of Tommy is completed. Sharp Visors left an excellent basis for furthering the story. Ultimately, if we compare the project with the Underground Empire, then both films about the spirit of the gangster past in the largest countries were in demand by the audience. The release date of the series "Sharp Visors", namely its last seasons, will be announced by the company later.
Thus, the continuation of the series promises to be interesting. Most reviews eulogize and rank Sharp Visors as the best series in their genre among their recent counterparts. Despite the fact that the project grew out of a good, but not an original idea, and the popularity that it received, the tape has the potential to be called the best in the genre. Costumes, characters, sets, and dialogue are thought out to the smallest detail. Everything was created to convey one idea - the spirit of the dashing times of gangsters, when absolutely everything could be taken with one means - power.