Thursday, February 20, 2014

"Let's make the car a place of silent reflection from now on."

Are you watching this freakin' show?!  True Detective on HBO?

I'm so damn addicted!

No spoilers - I'm catching up to the most recent episode, but oh my gosh Matthew McConaughey is mesmerizing!  For those who have no idea, this show is about two Louisiana State Police detectives who were investigating a serial killer in 1995.  The show is framed around current day interviews with the two detectives who are obviously no longer on the job.  They are being interviewed about the case (separately) because supposedly all the files and records were destroyed in a hurricane.  The then-and-now intertwines and intermingles and soon you realize there is more going on here.  The acting is phenomenal, the writing is airtight, and the photography is stunning.  I haven't been this excited about television since The Sopranos.

A couple of friends at work told me I needed to watch this show:  "It's the most tightly written show I've ever seen!", one said.  The other told me she's had to watch episodes a couple of times to catch everything.  I find this to be true.  I'm so caught up with the photography, the scenery, and the filters they're using I miss dialogue.

It is just so Louisiana.  My friend said, "That's what is so cool about it.  It IS Louisiana; it's the flower in the swamp."

From Shane Ryan at Paste:

This is McConaughey in long hair, beat down by life, trying to convince himself and the detectives interviewing him that whatever state he finds himself in is a kind of “victory”; he knows himself, he says, after years of toil he has resolved that he’s a drunk living in the middle of nowhere, waiting for death. But the charisma of this man … this is where words begin to fail, if they haven’t already. McConaughey is almost too goddam massive for the screen. Watching him act, as latter-day Rust, is one of the most intense experiences I’ve ever had with TV. He’s beaten-down, but he can’t hide the life force that struggles to emerge. The medium can barely contain him; he belongs in a spaceship among alien beings. There’s something bursting out, and when he delivers certain lines—“start asking the right fucking questions,” for one—the experience is so visceral your own blood starts to pound. And Fukunaga, who, thank God, is directing all eight episodes, knows the weapon at his disposal. He lets the camera linger on Rust’s face at length, allowing McConaughey to dance from emotion to emotion with a word, with an expression. Working in tandem, they only need a moment to devastate.

I'm kind of like this reviewer: I'm almost speechless about this show.

If you aren't watching this show, get HBO, find a friend with HBO, something, but watch.  It's amazing.  But don't leave any spoilers in the comments if you're already watching!  I'm going now to get all caught up.

9 comments:

BoR said...

Watching it on HBOGo - only because you recommended it. Not usually a fan of detective shows. I am on episode three and ... still not sure about this show.

Pat Austin Becker said...

I love it! Totally obsessed. Now I'm reading The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers. All the symbolism has me in hog heaven. Added bonus: Matthew McConaughey is doing a kick ass job in this role.

BoR said...

There's a book? Both actors are doing a great job. Very believable. The locations are really well done as well.

Pat Austin Becker said...

Not exactly; there are multiple references to The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers. It's an amazing collection of short stories In its own right. Many clues.

BoR said...

But here's the thing that is holding my attention. When you study Shakespeare character juxtaposition and certain archetypes in literature, critics seldom apply that measuring stick against modern writing, especially for TV. But here you have the on family man being lauded as "good family man" and "Good Detective" when he is actually neither of this things, at odds with the Mathew M character who is (I think) actually a good man if the clues are valid, but under suspicion, disliked and generally perceived to be a bad man. That scene in the car where Woody ask Mathew the question about them being bad men and Mathew responds that the world needs bad men like them to keep even worse men at bay. Scenes like that coupled with characters so keenly defined over time keep me pondering the show long after the episode ends.

BoR said...

The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers free on Kindle - just got it

Pat Austin Becker said...

So far "The Mask" is my favorite!

Pat Austin Becker said...

Yes, with regard to the "bad man" quote, I think that's where this is all going. That's the spiral symbol. Deep inside we all have the capacity to be evil - original sin - and even if/when these two guys find the "yellow king" they will never actually solve the problem of abuse against women or children (evil). I'm fascinated with the symbols and allusions throughout.

Mike Thiac said...

I just watched the first episode of House of Cards around 800 pm last night...I'm about to watch the 5 tonight. I'll check this later after I'm finished my HoC marathon!