Quote: Godot Taxis @ September 24, 2007, 6:26 AMThere are a number of instances in this series and the last where the show has suffered a little because Linehan is directing. A little example is last weeks show when Jen goes for a taxi at the end. It's not quite punchy enough because the original take isn't long enough but the editor has to hold it. The first series had a few scenes where the characters' heads are too close to the top of the frame because Linehan had ordered too tight crops. Another good example is when the jap businessman jumps on Jen's feet in the DMs, the cut away of the outside of the building doesn't work. It's Linehan trying to get the same effect from the Father Ted scene when the AA man tries to stop Jack drinking and it jump cuts to an ambulance. He's a good director of actors and he gets the most out of his lines but like many writers who direct falls down on shooting 'coverage' and the technical stuff.
I totally agree with AJP about the episode being contrived and a bit lazy, although it was very funny. It definitely feels as if Linehan didn't have the ideas for this series or he was working on something else at the same time. And now we know why Chris Morris isn't in it any more.
But do you really think the average person notices or cares about some of the technical stuff you've mentioned?
