Hawke - the telemovie

[Dogwatcher]

Kelty to Hawke: 10 bucks Bob? When was the last time you bought a round?

[CK]

Might as well post it here, too...

Disappointing.

A collection of scenes searching for a narrative.

Should've either made a mini-series where they could explore stuff more.

Or focused the story more. Hawke v Keating. Too much was skimmed over.

Some of the out-of-era dialogue particularly grated. C-U-Next Tuesday? Leave that to Sex & the City where it belongs.

One-note caricatures didn't help, especially Keating.

Bob's larrikinism strayed into parody a little too often...

Interesting to hear other points of view on it. I do agree there was a reasonable focus on Bob and Blanche, but this was to be expected, with her book being one of the main bases for the movie.
I thought Felix Williamson was outstanding as Keating and Richard Roxburgh brilliant as Hawke. The risk of both was crossing that very fine line between portrayal and caricature. I can't agree with you about one-note caricatures on that point, Magpiespower. Take the point about Hawke's larrikinism, but from growing up with him as PM, I thought, if anything, the movie downplayed this side. Another 30 minutes would have been good though, and the election wins themselves were skimmed over, as was his relationship with the likes of John Howard and Andrew Peacock.
All in all, though, one of the highlights for me of political movies and this is after just finishing "The Dismissal" on DVD.

[Magpiespower]

Pulled 1.6m viewers.

That's a drop of 600K after MasterChef (2.2m).

Reakon Ten would've been expecting around two-mill...

[Gozu]

Actually they're excellent figures, Ten would've been content with anything above 1 million. Usually the only stuff that ever rates around 1.6m other than Masterchef is the 6pm news.

[Magpiespower]

Actually they're excellent figures...

Sure it'll be in the top ten shows of the week.

But with that lead-in, Ten would've hoped for Rafters/Underbelly type numbers.

Most big-budget dramas don't get green lit for an audience around one mill.

They get axed.

Unless it's considered the network flagship like Ten do with Rush.

Of course, Channel 9 is the great exception but then they're a basket case...

[Psyber]

I saw about 10 minutes of it, later in the programme, at a friend's place before I got bored, finished my Cab Sav, and left.
It seemed a bit over simplistic without the complexities that were apparent in living and working through that era, and wrestling with salvaging what you could from the economic stuff up.
[I sold up everything but my home and cleared all my debts during 1987 before the collapse of property values in late 1987 and early 1988.]

[mighty_tiger_79]

was hoping for more detail. Still ok but just felt it was rushed. Wouldve been better over two nights and more detail

[Gozu]

FWIW Glenn Dyer's comments on Hawke from Monday's Crikey email:

The Winners

1.MasterChef (Ten) (7.30pm) — 2.188 million.
2.Seven News (6pm) — 1.660 million.
3.Nine News (6pm) — 1.631 million.
4.Hawke (Ten) (8.30pm) — 1.606 million.
5.RBT (Nine) (6.30pm) — 1.448 million.
6.Dancing with the Stars (Seven) (6.30pm) — 1.327 million.
7.Send in the Dogs (Nine) (7pm) — 1.237 million.
8.Merlin (Ten) (6.30pm) — 1.140 million.
9.60 Minutes (Nine) (7.30pm) — 1.006 million.

The difference in audience numbers between MasterChef and the rest says it all. Ten however showed up the other networks with the gamble to pick up the idea of a biopic on Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. Hawke was more dominant over the two hours than MasterChef was on its hour. Hawke had a commercial share of around 53% vs. MasterChef’s 49%

Ten backed up with Hawke (1.606 million). Ten has aired programs covering the most important post war political events such as The Dismissal and now Hawke. Ten is obviously more of a risk-taking network than Nine or Seven, or the ABC have been for years.

[A Mum]

was hoping for more detail. Still ok but just felt it was rushed. Wouldve been better over two nights and more detail

Agree.

How do you fit that many years into a few hours.

While I also thought it was 'ok' a little disappointing for me.

[Gozu]

Keating!-The Musical is on ABC 2 this Saturday night at 11:35pm.