There was some awkward dialogue, and John’s repeating thing was a bit much, but I really liked it overall.
This is a great cast, and the dynamics between the characters gives it a unique vibe. As if Bruce Greenwood wasn’t enough, Ed O’Neill takes it to another level.
I saw Dylan from 90210 and immediately changed the channel. This show can’t be good.
I nearly forgot this was on the Tivo in all of this Sopranos discussing. Were the “Twin Peaks” comparisons deserved? Is Al Bundy in it?
I had it on but I spent most of the time talking to folks about “The Sopranos” in person, on the phone, and then on here. I really didn’t give it a fair shot. I don’t know, I guess the premiere will run a few more time this week.
I came home and into the show 15 minutes in so I missed the beginning. All that said, the show has a weird vibe to it. I think that unless people are willing to have a wait and see attitude with it, then the show’s not going to make it. It looks interesting, but the dialogue really seemed to be all over the place. I’ll check out the second episode to see how it goes along, but for the moment it’s definitely a little strange in my opinion. Even with the patriarch of the surfing family levitating from time to time.
I don’t know what it’s gonna add up to, but this first episode was fantastic. Tons of great acting, dialogue by a guy who knows how to fucking write it, and a bizarre setup that I am actually completely on board for (oh shit, I guess that was a pun.)
edit- also, I hope this is cheap to produce, because I see this getting no ratings.
I liked it. It’s Milch, so it gets at least a full season from me. John could end up being the most interesting character on HBO (granted, I haven’t gotten into The Wire yet, but I will catch up on DVD).
I dug it. It’s fucking bizarre, and I haven’t the slightest idea where it’s headed but it’s got my attention.
Plus it’s got fucking Guzman
The fuck was that?
I feel like I’ve dropped into a wormhole back to '88 when every damn movie had a character exactly like squinty John and just for my own edification here’s a rundown - Harry And The Hendersons, Encino Man, StarMan, E.T, Twins, RainMan, I know damn well I’m forgetting a bunch.
Diva, that was Luke Perry’s only scene. Ed O’Neill is fucking great. The cast is a little uneven, otherwise. Not sold on Elvis Gump yet, but still open-minded. When did Guzman get Cassavetes’ cancer-belly?
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| Originally Posted by Phil! Diva, that was Luke Perry’s only scene. Ed O’Neill is fucking great. |
and to be fair, Luke Perry wasn’t bad at all in Oz. I am going to watch this as soon as I can pull myself away from the Sopranos discussion.
I start a thread about a tv show I check the spelling of the title first.
This is a pretty weird fucking town these people live in. They been drinking too much water from down south.
I’m definitely in for this, I thought it hit the ground running, thanks in no small part to Milch’s gift for dialogue and characters that just snatch you up by the collar.
In fact, among the many things that John From Cincinnati does successfully that Big Love failed to do when I was looking for a show to fill the void left by Six Feet Under and Queer as Folk, was manage to keep my attention.
Quote:
| Originally Posted by DyinAintLivin The fuck was that? I feel like I’ve dropped into a wormhole back to '88 when every damn movie had a character exactly like squinty John and just for my own edification here’s a rundown - Harry And The Hendersons, Encino Man, StarMan, E.T, Twins, RainMan, I know damn well I’m forgetting a bunch. |
If you’re talking about the cliche of the innocent whose purity teaches everyone trite life lessons, nothing so far indicates that’s what this is going to be. You’re projecting that, at least right now. I make no predictions, but I highly doubt the Deadwood guy is gonna give us Starman II.
Also, for those saying the dialogue was off, while there’s more than one way to write great dialogue, this was certainly one of them. The sense of poetry/musicality of language was there every bit as much as it was in Deadwood. Honestly the closest thing his stuff reminds me of is Mamet, but it’s not quite as self concious (I don’t mean that in a bad way) as Mamet’s can be at times.
I liked Milch’s paraphrasing Henry James in an interview, regarding the characters:
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| …the question of the final stamp, the pressure that fixes the mark, has yet to be determined. |
Coming from Milch, that’s something to look forward to.
I like it…A LOT (have been waiting for the thread all day as well).
The cast is fantastic (Bruce Greenwood especially) and the dialogue has a great rhythm to it. I can see the bizarre premise alienating quite a few people, but, on the flip side, attracting a cult following.
The scene that really hooked me was the fight outside of the motel. The way Milch creates a swirling crescendo with his dialogue is fantastic. And the final scene with the entire family surfing is quite sublime. I can’t wait to see all of the metaphysical aspects Milch intends to incorporate into this.
O’Neill was in another Milch series for CBS a few years back, Big Apple, a terrific mob/FBI/NYPD drama with David Strathairn and Michael Madsen. Canned after 4 episodes, of course.
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| Originally Posted by Will Kane I liked it. It’s Milch, so it gets at least a full season from me. |
What he said. I loved it. Thought it was funny, weird, with some great performances (I am a Bruce Greenwood fan) and in my opinion some not-so-great ones (de Mornay). The dialogue is at times slightly stilted and awkward, but that is very recognisable from Deadwood, and something I’ve learned to love since Bullock first hung that horse thief in the opening scene. I’m fine with the Twin Peaks comparisons due to the slightly surreal feeling of the show, and they tend to pop up whenever there is something unexplained or supernatural going on. But this is not as spooky or dark. At least not yet.
Oh, and Diva: Dylan 90210 doesn’t fuck anything up in his short screentime. Give it a shot.
i’m in for a few more episodes. i love the dialouge, it’s fun, like to see where this is all going. Is it really gonna be about the epic tug of war between an aging retired surf god and the evil empire of surfing promoters?
and Guzman is getting faaaaaaaaat. Looks like he was auditioning for Knocked Up.