Murderous mums in millionaires’ paradise with a real killer cast
Big Little Lies was always going to be a hit thanks to an all-star cast, a seaside millionaires’ playground and a classic whodunit murder.
As line-ups go it doesn’t get much better than this – with Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon taking the lead roles in the slick drama.
The screen adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s best-selling novel also boasts a supporting cast including Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgard, Laura Dern, Adam Scott, James Tupper and Zoe Kravitz.
Set in the affluent California beachfront community of Monterey, it revolves around a fundraiser for a local school which has gone horribly wrong.
The show opens with a murder and the story is told in flashback through a series of police interviews.
JEALOUSY
The interrogations expose an epic power struggle and a world of jealous insecurities.
It’s less a case of who’s the richest than who’s the saddest of them all. Uptight Madeline Mackenzie (Witherspoon), her bestie Celeste Wright (Kidman) and single mum Jane Chapman (Woodley) are all implicated
The gossip mill cranks into top gear as it emerges that the battle lines leading to the fateful night were drawn after a fight between Jane’s son Ziggy and Amabella, the daughter of ambitious Paypal executive Renata Klein (Dern).
The drama is beautifully shot – hardly surprising since it’s HBO which already boasts The Wire, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire on its CV.
The promo blurb tells us that “in the tranquil seaside town of Monterey, California, nothing is quite as it seems”. “Doting moms, successful husbands, adorable children, beautiful homes: What lies will be told to keep their perfect worlds from unravelling?” This all sounds a bit Desperate Housewives and there is a nod to Wisteria Lane – but while it’s bitingly funny, this is a lot darker.
It also has shades of The OC, Stepford Wives, True Detective and the Real Housewives thrown in with stunning beachfront properties to drool over. The second episode airs tomorrow night with Madeline up in arms over a slight from Renata while dealing with family issues at home. Jane deflects Ziggy’s questions about moving to Monterey, while Nathan and Ed try to calm troubled waters. Big Little Lies airs on Sky Atlantic tonight at 9pm