Review of Lucky Jim

There is a lovely Kingsley Amis interview by Simon Raven available on Youtube that dates from 1957.In it he discusses his masterpiece "Lucky Jim" and puts Jim not so much pro - Socialist but Anti - Tory,a nice distinction that this 2003,TV adaptation conveys very well. Of course,the Socialism on display is anyway very much of the "Champagne" variety beloved of New Labour by then into their second term. Jim Dixon is not,Amis insists,based on himself. Mr S.Tomlinson conveys an unworldliness typical of Academia,that somehow can come over as the absolute certainty that he is right about everything until he finds out for himself that he's wrong. The film is set at the dawn of the New Elizabethan Age when Brits were probably entitled to think that a new era of optimism and affluence was about to begin. Near full employment,the end of rationing,the relaxing of export regulations all pointed to a sunny tomorrow. But chaps like Jim Dixon,bright,Northern,working class,could see through all that to the rottenness at the core of British Society as exemplified by the University System and it blithe acceptance of its own superiority. He appears as intent on upsetting the status quo as Mr R.Hardy and his fellows are on perpetuating it. Beset by contradictions and temptations on all sides,Dixon navigates his way to personal redemption. Mr Tomlinson is excellent,as different from Mr I.Carmichael in the original movie as can be.He does not have Mr Carmichael's "silly ass" persona which gives his Dixon a lot more credibility if not quite so much likability. This is a well - made and considered adaptation of a seminal mid - century English novel by a man who just at present has had a posthumous career setback brought on by politically correct hindsight. In due time he will regain his temporarily mislaid eminence and this 2003 TV film will then be ready for re - assessment as one of the best productions of the first decade of the present century.