TV Review: BBC America’s ‘Occupation’ Features Great Performances

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CHICAGO – The American perspective on the war in Iraq has been well-documented in feature films and TV movies, but I was intrigued at the idea of seeing a British film about the Middle East, especially one with great actors like James Nesbitt and Stephen Graham. Sadly, “Occupation” is a bit of a disappointment. The lead actors almost save it but a weak script, lackluster supporting cast, and stupid scheduling choice hurt the project.

Television Rating: 3.0/5.0

“Occupation” is not your typical Iraq War movie - and, yes, there have been enough already that there’s usually a model for these things. Most of them fall into one of two categories - “over there” or “back home”. The most interesting thing about the set-up for “Occupation” is that it’s a little bit of both, telling a story of three men who leave Iraq but find that they’re drawn back to the Middle East.

Occupation - Mike Swift (James Nesbitt)
Photo credit: Kudos Film and Television and BBC

One is drawn back by love, another by money, and a third by the belief that he can still do some good in this war-torn section of the world. The opening scenes introduce us to the trio in early 2003 - Sergeant Mike Swift (James Nesbitt, so good in “Jekyll,” “Five Minutes of Heaven,” and more), Corporal Danny Peterson (Stephen Graham of “Public Enemies”), and Lance Corporal Lee Hibbs (Warren Brown of “Shameless”) - as they try to sneak up on the enemy in Iraq. A little girl is injured and it brings Swift across the path of an Iraqi doctor (Lubna Azabal) and brings him international fame when he saves the youngster’s life.

Occupation - Lee Hibbs (Warren Brown) and Mike Swift (James Nesbitt) Photo credit: Kudos Film and Television and BBC

Months later, the men are home but find themselves drawn back to the country that has forever changed their lives. Swift is essentially doing a PR tour for the good that soldiers are doing over there with the girl he saved and the beautiful doctor by his side. The married Sergeant falls for the Iraqi doctor and volunteers to go back in country just to see her some more, only to learn that she too is married and living in a country where women aren’t even allowed to talk to British soldiers, much less have affairs with them.

Meanwhile, Peterson and Hibbs are starting to crack. Danny is a lonely, tragic figure who, while hanging off his balcony and contemplating suicide, decides to join in on a money-making venture as a mercenary in Iraq. Hibbs, turned off by his sister’s constant questioning of what they actually did over there, joins Danny and becomes tragically disillusioned as sectarian violence takes over the country and he’s asked to look the other way when someone he cares about is killed.

Essentially, the three characters in “Occupation” are unraveling from the minute a little girl is nearly killed in the opening, theatrical-caliber action sequence. The other nearly-three hours (four with commercials) is merely a downward spiral to tragedy. Danny is such a hothead that the viewer knows he’s going to make a bad decision. The affair that Mike has can’t possibly end well. And Lee is clearly the tragic figure, the sweet kid ruined by war.

Occupation - Lee Hibbs (Warren Brown), Danny Peterson (Stephen Graham), Mike Swift (James Nesbitt) Photo credit: Kudos Film and Television and BBC

On a writing level, the predictability of the character arcs in “Occupation” is only one of the problems. The dialogue is weak, the supporting characters feel like devices, and the final act has a ridiculous, manipulative, melodramatic twist that nearly sinks the entire piece. I started to resent the fact that everyone in “Occupation” was interconnected, as if there are only a few dozen people in Iraq and all the action takes place in a square mile or two. I wanted a supporting character or two that resonated beyond how they would link our three major characters and writer Peter Bowker (“Viva Blackpool”) doesn’t take the time to make the ensemble interesting beyond the leads.

Part of the problem is in the casting of the extended ensemble. I never found Azabal effective dramatically or romantically with Nesbitt and I found Nonso Anonzie, Danny’s partner in their mercenary-for-hire business, completely miscast and unbelievable.

It also baffles me that BBC America is choosing to show “Occupation,” which aired in three parts overseas, on one night. Four hours of brutal, painful Iraq-centered drama is a lot to ask of a viewer and I feel like these characters might have resonated more if I was allowed a bit of breathing room between the chapters of their lives.

All of the problems I had with “Occupation” from the writing to the ensemble to the scheduling should be enough for me to say that it’s something to avoid, but I have to admit that I was consistently impressed by Nesbitt, Graham, and Brown. All three completely deliver, doing their best to elevate the script and make it three-dimensional. Nesbitt is simply one of the more interesting actors working today. I was less familiar with Graham and unfamiliar with Brown but thought both of them completely sold their character arcs. They’re the reason to spend so much time with “Occupation” on a Sunday night. It may be ultimately disappointing, but it features acting of a caliber not often seen on television and, for many, that will be enough.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com