Bah-Humbug!! We all know Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” whether it be through The Muppets, Mickey Mouse, Theatre, Jim Carrey, but those are made for children; this bad boy is NOT. FX pulled out all the stops with this project! The drama not only brings back the traditional story but gives us a deeper character description as well as a stronger premise on why Scrooge is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas.
The big question when FX made their announcement was casting: Who is Ebeneezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, and the three Spirits of Christmas? A few names that were tossed around were Andy Serkis, Guy Pearce, and Tom Hardy.
Where was Tom Hardy? He was an executive producer and his wife, Charlotte Riley (Wuthering Heights), plays one of the ghosts! Guy Pearce is such a miserable mizer as Ebeneezer Scrooge with such a tiny tinge of sympathy with such a sad backstory! Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire) is the most straight-forward form of Jacob Marley that we may ever encounter! Joe Alwyn (Harriet) gives Bob Cratchet an in-depth character that becomes a strong man. Alwyn is accompanied by Vinette Robinson (Sherlock) as Mrs. Mary Cratchet, a strong empowered woman who must decide between virtue and family.
Andy Serkis (Black Panther, Planet of the Apes, LOTR) starts the haunts in an aggressive manner where we learn just how messed up Scrooge’s past is. Charlotte Riley is the Ghost of Christmas Present – also Scrooge’s sister – and her approach is very empathetic yet scientific. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future is none other than Jason Flemyng (Black Mirror).
The big question is: Is A Christmas Carol worth it? YES! YES! YES!! The characters have depth, it feels like the story is complete, the costuming is gorgeous, and the foul language is an absolute bonus! However, if you are a stickler for details then perhaps you may have an issue with it.