studioAT Take a likable cast and put them in a dull political thriller that never really works. That is pretty much all there is to say about 'Burn Up', a show that aired in the UK in 2008.I like Neve Campbell, I think she's underrated, but this role does nothing for her. Bradley Whitford certainly knows his way around a political drama, after his 7 year stint on 'The West Wing', but even he manages to be utterly flat here.A bit of a flop sadly.

pmillsom The plot reverberation with thunderous force of oil politic. The script was gift to the cast who seemed to be enjoying the opportunity to convey the serious message and the message was all too prophetic. Frighteningly prophetic consider the script was written some years earlier. If you read "Carbon Wars" by Jeremy Leggett you will learn that the politics of climate summits is all too real and you'll appreciate that anything published ever by the IPCC is diluted dribble and at least 10 years behind the real consensus of honest scientists and heartfelt politicians.One key message it drives home at the finale moment (that maybe I should have realised before now) is that many US citizens really believe their country will survive or maybe have an overall benefit from climate change. So whilst much of the rest of planet will suffer greatly they have no need to sacrifice there living standard. "Six Degrees" by Mark Lynas tells us that another beneficiary will be Russia, but they risk getting invaded by China for their oil and expanded cultivatable farmland. And so the other key message in the programme's is that climate change and oil shortages could spark world war three. If you live in Europe may not need to worry so much unless - you are under 25. But don't buy a less then 2 meters below sea as it may depreciate in value as the populace becomes more aware of the future risks. This was a great drama with rich dialogue that I could watch again several times. That's the test of a good TV production, the 'watch it again' score.

Framescourer At once fulfilling and confounding expectations. It has half the cast and all the production values of BBC flagship dramas (Spooks and Hustle) that fall short of their superior American counterparts. But it has backed its ambition with money on wonderful location shoots, Lukas Strebel's feature-grade photography and a trump card of political drama casting.Bradley Whitford tears around this 'TV mini-series' in a Michael Douglas-in-Falling Down buzzcut, making himself the least likable, most watchable character on screen. His gravitas, warped into delivering the ideological heart of the script - not simply that climate change is bad but rather the sociopolitical implications for dealing with it are extremely serious - is the sine qua non of this film's success, such as it is.The principal cast grouped around Whitford dispense the narrative drama ably enough. I found myself more impressed with Neve Campbell than with her British counterparts (Penry-Jones & Marc Warren). Here and elsewhere the script demands a sort of infomercial mentality though which always grates. British TV drama still isn't quite there. 5/10

Cru3 BURN UP is a sharply made four hour mini-series co-produced between the UK and Canada that tackles environmental issues - chiefly global warming - and wraps them up in a cracking conspiracy thriller. The series begins with a mass murder in the Saudi Arabian desert and climaxes at an environmental summit in Calgary. The main thrust of the plot is that evidence exists proving global warming is much farther along - and far more severe - than was previously believed, but is being suppressed to protect the economy. Acting honors belong to WEST WING vet Bradley Whitford as a morally vacant oil executive (dubbed the "High Prince of Carbon") determined to keep the oil flowing no matter what the damage or cost, and Marc Warren (HUSTLE)as an amusingly blunt British politician fighting against the tide. Fine work is also done by SPOOKS star Rupert Penry-Jones as a young oil executive awakening to the evil he is part of, and Neve Campbell as an environmental advocate working for him. A number of the personnel from SPOOKS worked on the mini-series, including director Omar Madha (doing an exceptional job here), and the intelligent script is by FULL MONTY scribe Simon Beaufoy. Lavishly produced (it actually looks better than a number of films I've seen in recent years) BURN UP is never boring, and achieves what it sets out to do: present a story that engages and thrills the viewer.