Political Intrigue Surrounds ‘Brass Ring’

“The Big Brass Ring” ends on a disappointing, false note that has everyone doing the right thing. That’s tolerable, however, because the journey across this dark political mystery on Showtime is replete with interesting twists and ambiguity.

Based on a screenplay by Orson Welles and Oja Kodar, the plot is essentially rather simple: Missouri gubernatorial candidate Blake Pellarin (William Hurt)--a smart, charismatic, seemingly principled politician with aspirations for the White House--appears ready to sweep into office when a scandalous secret from his past threatens to scuttle his bright future and send his alcoholic, deep-pockets wife (Miranda Richardson) packing.

The nature of that secret and the tantalizing way it’s revealed by director George Hickenlooper in the script he wrote with F.X. Feeney are what make this story so captivating. Murky flashbacks and overlapping realities add to the fascination, as somewhere in the shadowy background a figure from Blake’s past (Nigel Hawthorne) is pushing levers that threaten him. That pressure intensifies when an aggressive TV reporter (Irene Jacob) begins stripping back the camouflage of his life.

Hurt underplays effectively, Hawthorne makes the most of his showy provocateur, and Jacob is fine as a manipulator with ideals, while Richardson is mostly squandered in the thankless role of fourth banana.

When going for enigma, “The Big Brass Ring” at times stumbles into a bottomless pit of convolution. And there’s one pivotal character whose presence and motivations remain obscure at best. Nonetheless, this is one of those times when inkiness on behalf of intrigue pays off.

* “The Big Brass Ring” will be shown at 8 p.m. Sunday on Showtime.