The world of Peaky Blinders has become a vast achievement in streaming content. Debuting from the BBC and then moving to Netflix in 2014, the show became a landmark property for the streaming service. After six seasons, no one expected Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man to even happen. For diehard fans of the series like myself, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man proved itself as a blessing in disguise. Set in Birmingham 1940 during World War II, renowned former gangster Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is in a self-imposed exile. That exile is short lived, when his past comes calling back. This past involves his son Duke (Barry Keoghan) who is now leading the infamous Peaky Blinders, forcing Tommy to face his demons.
To make one thing clear, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man may not be for casual viewers. The film as a whole is specifically designed for the die-hard fans of the television series. Besides numerous references to the series and specific teases for the franchise, fans will be pleased. It’s an exciting continuation of the world, giving characters moments of emotional catharsis. Such a description can be easily read as the film being well-executed “fan service.” If you’re not already a fan of the franchise, there simply may not be much in the film for you. What is undeniable is an effective two-hander of performances. Amongst that, you have to start with Cillian Murphy.
Cillian Murphy has made Thomas Shelby an iconic television character. Over six seasons, he created a richly complex and detailed take on a gangster. In Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, Murphy easily slips back into that persona like a glove. Viewers find the character in an emotional exile in his former estate, essentially haunting it like a ghost. For fans of this series, that quality is something familiar from this character’s mythos. They will appreciate the intensity he delivers, expanding the character’s depth in the process. Those nuances and complexities will do more than just appease fans of the series.
If you have never watched the original Peaky Blinders series, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is not the most accessible film. The film is designed as a continuation of the television series. For non-fans this performance alone is enough to recommend the movie. The ability of acting without speaking is anything but an easy feat to accomplish. In his silences, Murphy conveys so much of the character’s tragedy, that you cannot take your eyes off of him. It’s a multilayered and intricate portrayal that is deeply felt and exciting to watch. What makes the performance even more bountiful are the supporting performances around him. There is no better place to start celebrating these performances than Barry Keoghan as Duke Shelby.
Taking over the performance of Conrad Kahn in the television series, Keoghan makes the character his own. On a surface level the casting is simply note perfect with Keoghan looking like Cillian Murphy. Buying these actors as both father and son requires much more than similar appearances. Similarly to Thomas Shelby, Duke as a character is imbued with his own kind of rage. When these two opposing forces are placed against each other, the results deliver compelling drama. Watching that dynamic makes the film feel like more than just a continuation of the television series. Instead, it feels like something truly big and cinematic on the screen.
With such strong central performances, the film is not without its flaws. The problems with Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man involves its incredibly languid pacing. Similarly to the television series, there is more of a focus on character over the plot itself. That kind of focus will be what divides the series versus non-series fans. Not knowing this world or characters going into the movie can make the story feel slow. This issue shines in the sequences with the gypsy Kaulo (Rebecca Ferguson), as a key figure from Tommy Shelby’s past. For any viewer who feels that way (fan or not) it’s not hard to fault them. At its core, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is a character study over an outright drama. Granted, that does not mean the film lacks exceptionally tense and exciting moments.
The film clearly understands the “legacy” of the Thomas Shelby character. People either fear him, or he is given moments to exude his ferocity. Those results deliver genuine intensity, that is a sight to behold. When it is counterbalanced against some of the series best action sequences, the film becomes more than sum of its parts. The action is almost cathartic thanks to an opposing presence of John Beckett (Tim Roth). As an agent of the Nazi’s, Roth oozes an almost disgusting charm every time he’s on screen. The character is a worthy opponent striking a sense of menace against everyone he comes across. The role and Roth’s performance fitt with ease into the pantheon of the series. It’s the sort of performance that, when used in the action sequences, is exhilarating.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is more than an extended episode of the television series. The film is an expansion on the show’s themes and ideas, wrapped up in a cinematic package. It’s dramatically compelling, filled with rich character moments thanks to an excellent cast. Add in strong action sequences and the film is leaps and bounds ahead of the “sequel film from a television series” sub-genre. My only regret having seen Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man in a movie theater is that folks did not have a chance to see it the same way. While far from perfect, the film has plenty to offer diehard fans and casual filmgoers.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is now streaming on Netflix.
Learn more about the film at the IMDB site for the title.
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