Stephen Graham has been called the ‘greatest British actor of all time’ after his new Netflix series dropped and received a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Graham was already beloved amongst UK Film and TV fans, with his performances in This is England, Snatch, and Boiling Point considered three of the best in British history.
According to viewers though, Graham has done it once again.
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The actor has teamed up with the director of Boiling Point for a series he co-wrote, and it’s immediately hit the top of Netflix in both the UK and worldwide.
Called Adolescence, the series follows Stephen Graham as a father whose son is arrested on suspicion of murder.
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As with Boiling Point however – every episode is shot in one take, something which makes the acting of each character even more impressive.
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The series’ 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes places it in esteemed company in a feat not even achieved by Breaking Bad.
Graham has seen particular praise for his nuanced performance, with one tweet saying: “Stephen Graham is undoubtedly the greatest British actor of all time. Everything he touches is absolute gold.”
Another said: “Just watching Adolescence on Netflix. I know it's been said a million times but Stephen Graham is an absolutely spectacular actor.
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“All you have to see in that scene where his son is strip searched is his face and it conveys every emotion necessary.”
The scene in question focuses entirely on Graham’s face for an extended sequence when you hear the description of his son being strip searched at the police station, the whole time focusing on his motionless face.
Behind the scenes footage of how they filmed the show revealed that, in addition to doing full hour-long episodes in one take without any editing or stitching together, the actors were given only ten to fifteen tries each to get it right.
Netflix used just the second try on the first episode of the series.
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Peter Travers of ABC News believes that awards are in store for Graham for the performance, saying: “An emotional powerhouse that sneaks up and floors you. The young TV season sets a new gold standard with a series sure to rank with the year's very best.
“Polish up Emmys for Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper as the father and son at the heart of the tale.”
Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter had similar praise, saying in their review: “The camerawork mostly complements both a plot with unsettling contemporary resonance and the human characters, played exceptionally well by the likes of Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty and spectacular newcomer Owen Cooper.”
Adolescence is available to watch on Netflix now.
Topics: Netflix, Stephen Graham, TV, TV and Film, Rotten Tomatoes
Michael Slavin