And We Knew It Was Entertaining: He Knew He Was Right (2004)****

Reviewed by Shu Zin

One forgets what an old softy Anthony Trollope is in the end...HE KNEW HE WAS RIGHT reminds us. A tale of psychotic mistrust fired by insecurity and inconvenient coincidences that mislead, this British television effort is a lushly produced, well acted, smartly scripted drama: dark, but enchanting and humorful from beginning to end. And speaking of end...you never heard it from me, but did Hollywood study Trollope's version of the ending that sells? This is an understated but turgid tale of English Victorian manners, love, jealousy, mischief and redemption, and these themes dance through misteps and leaps to a very satisfying ending. The women are engaging and appealing, but my very favorite character is the no-nonsense uncle from Gloucester. Bill Nighy as a rascally godfather is a close second. There's a moral to the story, but I'll let you figure that out. Lovely entertainment all round. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Shu Zin