Review – Underbelly: Razor
Underbelly: Razor – Nine – 8:30pm Sunday – AUS
Episode 1: The Worst Woman In Sydney / Episode 2: Whips & Scorpians
Arguably the most anticipated drama series of the year, Underbelly: Razor roared to life on Channel 9 tonight. The Underbelly series has suffered through a pair of muddled, uninteresting seasons that failed to reach the heights of the original. Compared to those seasons Underbelly: Razor was a step back in the right direction, and while it was still a fairly dopey affair, light on wit and character development, it looked nice and moved briskly. Razor still bore all the hallmarks of the Underbelly series, including a modern day narrator, a few flashes of boobs and wall-to-wall music but it was a more enjoyable watch, especially compared to the dreary second season, mostly because it was far more amusing, even when it wasn’t intentionally being so.
Each passing season of Underbelly brings with it a small village worth of characters that we’re introduced to via helpful title cards, and some press release photos that pop up at random during the episode. We met Tilly Devine, Kate Leigh, Wally Tomlinson, Big Jim Devine, Frank Green, Squizzy Taylor, Norman Bruhn, Tom & Sid Kelly, Nellie Cameron, Snowy Cutmore, Frank ‘Jack’ Hayes, George Wallace, Guido Caletti and Phil ‘The Jew’ Jeffs. Surely, treating your cast of characters like guests at a high-school reunion by issuing them all nametags just makes it harder for viewers to keep track. Instead of just noting in our heads the important names as we hear them, we’re told that Snowy Cutmore is just as important a name to remember as Tilly Devine. Nevertheless the only characters who were really of note in this first double episode were Tilly (Chelsie Preston-Crayford), Kate (Danielle Cormack) and Norm (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), although we learn from our spoiler-happy narrator that Norm will be dead in 100 days, so he won’t be important forever.
By relaunching each new season of Underbelly with a whole new story and a whole new cast of characters Channel 9 have encountered the problem that is the ever dwindling pool of Australian talent. The big name stars that headlined the last few seasons are sitting Razor out, with the cash saved on known names going towards the production design. As such our three leads for this double episode are of varying quality, Danielle Cormack does the job as Kate whilst Jeremy Lindsay Taylor growls his way through a one-note performance as Norm and his permanent scowl. Chelsie Preston Crayford is the clear standout in the cast, although not always for the right reason. As Tilly, Preston-Crayford is endless fun thanks in part because of her slightly ridiculous, obviously put on accent. Still, she’s having a ball absolutely hamming it up and it’s one of the few performances that fits perfectly with the tone of Razor.
Underbelly: Razor is as much a comedy as it is a action drama, and while it may not always try to be funny there’s really only one way a sped up fight scene set to a bubbly 20s tune can come across. How else are we supposed to cope with dialogue like “Give us a butchers at your frumpy bits!” and “Where’d you get the clobber?” except to laugh at it. Underbelly: Razor is completely over-the-top and this two parter was most enjoyable when the show just went balls out crazy. Less successful was when the show tried to transplant modern day humour on top of the action, as in the early ‘dog swap’ sequence that included words popping up on screen reading ‘THE SWITCHEROO!’ and ‘THE WRONG POM!’ It was jarringly out of place, mostly because the device never appeared again.
What is obvious about Underbelly: Razor is that it doesn’t really care all that much about being a historically accurate look at gang life in the 1920s. I’m almost positive there’s somebody busy penning a letter to Channel 9 listing every anachronism they can find but here’s two to get us started: according to a quick Wikipedia search filtered cigarettes weren’t widely distributed until the 50s, yet nearly every cigarette that appeared on screen had a filter. Shocking, I know. Also, I’m fairly positive after she’d been dubbed Queen Tilly, Tilly stood in front of the mirror, looked longingly at herself and said “Mirror, mirror…” presumably quoting the Queen from Walt Disney’s Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, a movie that wouldn’t be released until ten years later. Again, this only gets in the way if you try to take Underbelly: Razor seriously, and if you try to do that where’s the fun to be had. Even when the show tries to be serious about paying homage to the era, it comes across looking daft – especially in that awkwardly shot scene where an out-of-place CGI partially built Sydney Harbour Bridge stood out in the background.
If your problem with Boardwalk Empire was that it had too many good actors, its production design was too fantastic and it was far too intelligent than Underbelly: Razor is the 20s gangster series for you. Underbelly: Razor is to Boardwalk Empire what Spartacus is to Rome; it is the heavily stylized, overly camp, dim-witted, blood drenched, pulpy cousin. Underbelly: Razor moves along so quickly, tearing from plot point to plot point, that it barely finds time to breathe. This is a series that doesn’t really want to spend any time to get to know its characters beyond a quick introduction. As long as the show stays full of frothy fun and doesn’t start taking itself too seriously Underbelly: Razor could be a return to form for the series, and if not at least we can spend each episode laughing at the silly accents.
Good, Alright, Bad Or Ugly?
Alright
This review is part of Change The Channel’s episode by episode coverage of Underbelly: Razor. The full list of episode reviews can be found under Series.
Unfortunately, I am one of those people who picked up soooo many anachronisms that I could not enjoy watching.
What some take for fun I take as lazy production values and zero (or totally ignored) research. There are so many fantastic primary sources on Kate, Tilly and Sydney in the 1920s and 30s available that would give a true look and feel to this production. There are also Sydney props businesses and antique shops full of accurate 1920s and 30s props.
Productions like “Come in spinner”, “The Shiralee” and “Harp in the South” absolutely nailed their historical settings and the feel of the times. The new “Underbelly: razor” looks and feels like an Australian version of the kids musical “Bugsy Malone”.
If I sound like an old curmudgeon, sorry, I’m not. I just expected better from this totally missed opportunity.
Oh I totally agree that it has lazy production values, and zero research. I enjoyed the show more by laughing at it, than laughing with it.
The whole show had a definite ‘we’re playing dress up!’ feel, rather than a ‘we’re actually living in the 1920s’ feel.
Underbelly couldn’t even accurately portray 1995 when they did the first season, so is it any wonder 1927 finds them completely out of the depths and looking stupid?
Also has Bruhn apparently leaving Spencer Street Station in a NSW train – carriages and C36 Loco. No Standard Guage link between Melbourne and Sydney for another 40 years.
Haha. Awesome.
I really hope they do a DVD release with a commentary where people list all the historical inaccuracies in every scene.
HBO- Boardwalk Empire is ten time better then this crap
Totally predictable review of yet another half-arsed Aussie production.
I didn’t like your comparison of Spartacus, however. Although we’re all entitled to opinions :p
Don’t get me wrong, Spartacus is a lot better than this show – or at least the second half of the first season of Spartacus is, once it found it’s footing and really delivered.
The main difference is that Spartacus quickly became self-aware, understood that it was a campy, twist-filled, schlock-fest. I highly doubt that Underbelly: Razor will find that same self-awareness, and it will probably take itself way too seriously when it should just embrace it’s stupidity. (Again, I don’t think Spartacus is stupid, or rather, if it is stupid, I think it’s stupid on purpose… ahh, you know what I mean).
Talk about inaccurate, the magic mirror has been a part of the Snow White story long before Disney got their hands on it!
Yes, but are the words “Mirror, mirror” from the Brothers Grimm or were they popularized in the Disney film. I think that was my point.
I stand humbly corrected – apparently ‘Spieglein, spieglen’ translates directly to ‘Mirror, mirror’. There you go. Still, I’d bet money the writers first thought was of the Disney film. But you are correct sir. I will leave my comment in the review so we can all laugh at MY inaccuracies.
Unwatchable for many reasons – production values and almost high school acting in parts. But it is Tilly’s accent which is unforgivable. If an actor cannot do a reasonable accent, fire them. Vaudeville at best, the Underbelly series is dead. Bring back Bert’s top 20, it can’t be any worse.
When reading Larry Writer’s ‘Razorhurst’, the features that captured my imagination most were the filthy, overcrowded conditions of Sydney during that time and locations which can still be seen today. While I understand that it would be difficult and expensive to film or replicate some of these locations, I’m sure there could be more authentic set representation in Channel 9′s production. As for the filthy din of the city and gruby characters, well, this is completely overlooked and outshined by the actor’s immaculate teeth alone! Why even bother representing an era like this if you’re not going to make it somewhat believable.
I didn’t mind Razor as a bit of light entertainment, but picked up a few errors in relation to props. The most glaring fault was that all the actors (those who smoked) were lighting up KING SIZE FILTER cigarettes. Please, King Size didn’t hit the market until around 1960 or maybe a year either side. With all the fan fare leading up to the show, I would have thought a little more research would have gone into it, if only for the sake of realism. After all, with so many “F” words to make it more in tune with the times and type of people, surely getting a lousy smoke right would be child ‘s play..all the cigarettes in those days were either plain or cork tipped and much shorter….and certainly no filters..
A few errors can be overlooked. I’d just like to say that 6 years of research went into this season of Underbelly because information about Queen Kate and Queen Tilly was very hard to find and quite rare. They even spoke to their descendants so they could revive their tales and create this series based on a piece of Australian history that was rarely heard of (until the series).
They had an arthouse version of 1920s Sydney in The Tender Hook which was pretty bad. Razor may be OTT and very corny but it was still a bit of alright.
Was a bit confused though – are the accents authentic -when did ‘received ocker pronounciation’ kick in?
man, how the director of golden mile and razor keeps getting work, I just can’t grok.
the same 90′s music video shots that it sounds like are also in razor [I'm not gonna watch this bullshit, simply because it had that awful repetitive ad] are cringe worthy.
I was looking forward to seeing this show as I like period dramas. Also the build up hype and promos with the Adele song was getting a bit too much. Not sure who’s idea it was to use a Mental as Anything song for a 1920s drama?! I thought some of the early sequences had a bit of a Guy Ritchie feel(Lock Stock, Snatch). Still its good that this part of Australian history is not forgotten. I liked the Tilly character – cor blimey!
I think I watched just past the CGI of the sydney harbour bridge during its construction. Just too cute for words, and WHAT a distraction.
But its not the main reason I tuned out.
The difficulty ive found is yes the show moves at a fast pace which is a positive, but in some scenes it seems to be light weight and fun, then, the switch is ficked to high-powered drama.
This genre switch for me is just stretching everything just a bit too far. Making the big picture of Underbelly Razor a little too lightweight.
In the end, its a bit of a “who cares” tv drama.
It has been years since I’ve watched this show – not since the first one – and was blown away by how stupid it thinks its audience is. Was it always this heavy on the narration? I know the constant naming of new characters with their own little posed cutaways isn’t new to this series, but the part that really made my jaw drop was near the start where we get text telling us that a certain moment is “KATE’S BIG MISTAKE”.
Really? Do we need this hand-holding? Was this sort of thing in any of the previous seasons?
I think I’d enjoy it more if it tipped further into outrageous camp but right now there’s still a little too much self-seriousness for how dumb the show is.
The ‘KATE’S BIG MISTAKE’ moments is something that I’ve only seen in Razor. You’re right, it is absolute stupidity. The one constant throughout the four seasons of Underbelly is that Underbelly thinks everyone is a simpleton who can’t remember character names and can’t follow plot without a narrator helping us a long. Only fun thing about the completely unnecessary narrator (and yes, it’s always had this much narration – if not more) is how they’ve just given up trying to link her to the story that’s taking place. First she was in the story, second she was the daughter of a character in the story, then she’s just some lady who likes to tell stories about gangsters for some reason.
It’s really odd. And it’s quite a shame that the narration is so ever-present; there’s enough story there that it shouldn’t be necessary, if the show is willing to put in the effort of showing and not telling. A little bit of narration would be fine, as that seems to be part of the brand recognition, but it’s absolutely insane at this point.
It’s such a crutch that shows a real laziness. Right now, it feels like a show to be laughed at, when it wants us to be laughing with it.
Did anybody else pick up on the tune they were playing in the opening scenes in the bar? The good ol swinging 20′s with a band playing a rather good (if i may say) version of Mental as Anything’s,
“The nips are getting bigger”. Wow Greedy Smith hides his age well.
The creator, writers, producers and directors, please go back to film school. Be CREATIVE, make it REAL! NOT this bullshit story with pretty actors! Does Channel 9 thinks that Australian society is superficial? 2 unattractive female actors would have shocked us more as the story is simply boring but using “pretty” actors, it doesn’t make sense. Whoever made this idea is a completely FOOL!
Its a television show created for entertainment and although it may be based loosely on real events and real people it doesn’t mean its real. Stop treating it like a nomination for Sundance and just enjoy getting entertained instead of getting your panties in a knot about the historical accuracy. Taking life too seriously is bad for the health as is taking Underbelly seriously, if you want historical accuracy go and read a fucking book.
If you think a series that brags about being based on real events and is based on a non-fiction book shouldn’t be taken to task for failing to uphold even the vaguest sense of reality then maybe you’re the one who should spend more time reading books.
note the word ‘based’ that you have used
Is the point you’re trying to make ‘Underbelly is stupid, poorly made and they haven’t put a lot of thought into it but we should appreciate its lack of effort because it’s just trying to have fun’?
oh please guys, just relax would ya? next you’ll be reliving all the inconsistancies between the lord of the rings books its films. The costmes and MUAH are gorgeous, and the cast and crew are having fun. And so should you.
The weird thing is us ‘not relaxing’ shouldn’t change your enjoyment of the show. If you like it this dumb that’s fine, the rest of us would prefer it to be smarter and if it was smarter we’d all be happy.
If we criticized everything, then nothing would be good enough. If we were all that smart, nothing would be enjoyed or entertaining, it would all be over-analysed.
I watched the pilot episode with some anticipation. My friend said he was going to record the series…I rang him the next day and told him not to bother….
If we export this one overseas they’ll think this is our latest “Skippy”.
Only the acting was better in Skippy.
I was looking forward to this especially after I saw the ‘Femme Fatale’ exhibition at the Police Museum in Sydney and learned about the female characters that resided in Sydney. I also bought the book ‘Razor’ by Larry Writer which portrays the harsh reality of that time. However, ‘Underbelly Razor’ is very disappointing and annoying to watch, with the acting skills at its lowest form and authenticity of historical events not even acknowledged.
Not to mention the pathetic music from Aussie bands. Who thought up that idea?! Also the women in those days were not that attractive according to the mugshots that were taken of them. Some had lice and were forced to sell sex in order to survive or being pimped and exploited by a boyfriend or husband, not by choice. And do you think that ‘Tilly’ would be doing her own housework and serving slop stew to her man? Not bloody likely!
Was really looking forward to Underbelly Razor. Can’t believe they chose to cast 2 “pretty actressers” as Kate & Tilly. Why? To sell it?, sex it up? Weren’t you guys around in the 80s? Think “Prisoner”!! Great actresses who knew how to portray “crims” (and no offence to the cast of “Prisoner” – not always the prettiest) And while we are on the eighties, who ever came up with the bright idea of putting “80s songs” in a series set in the 20s-30s, not innovative – L A Z Y. Love the costumes, some of the sets (didn’t mind the CGI bridge) & love Felix Williamson. They had the chance to redeem themselves (especially after the dreadful “Golden Mile” thread), with some really rich Aussie history about 2 great old “broads” who ruled Darlinghurst/The “Loo” with an iron glove that put paid too any male intrusion & instead serve up another lame “melodrama”. Think it’s time to bury “Underbelly” – this cash cow is well and truely D E A D .
Why would anyone write a crime show set in the 20s – early thirties, with great sets and costumes and include “This is Australia” by Ganga Jang (1985) and “Boys Light Up” by Australian Crawl, when there should have been music pertaining to that era???
If you think too much into any TV series, there will always be things that are not right. TV shows aren’t to criticize, they are to enjoy. So if you don’t think to much about what is done wrong, the shows are very entertaining.
“If you don’t think to much about what is done wrong, the shows are very entertaining.” I think that says it all really.
Through criticism we can learn more about what makes the enjoyable TV shows so enjoyable and we can appreciate shows that take the time and effort to create better characters and a more compelling story.
What you say is very true but I believe that it was a compelling story. It was suspenseful and very captivating. You want to know what happens next. Thats all you can ask. The series makes money and thats because people can overlook the minor things and that is why it is successful.
stop bagging the show, you’re all full of shit.
Love it! Great series. Very captivating storyline. The actors did an extremely great job acting out the parts. It felt like you were in their life as a viewer. It felt like you were in the 1920′s with them. Can’t wait for the next one!
Something I forgot to add. The music just adds to the series. Love it. Also, people complaining about the regular Underbelly characteristics, it wouldn’t be Underbelly without them. If you don’t like it, then don’t watch it. The narrator and the introductions to all the characters and the newspaper articles always popping up were great!