True Detective - Part One

Smokin Rust

I think I've just watched the TV event of 2014. True Detective sounded boring to me and the poster was hardly sellin it to me either. It was only after watching Dallas Buyers Club (inspirational renegade movie in the vein of Milk & Erin Brockovich where Matthew McConaughey put in a sterling performance), that I became sufficiently motivated to finally watch True Detective. This show is pretty much a philosophical debate thinly disguised as a Cop Buddy/Southern Gothic Horror drama.

There's a fair bit of "I'm Marlon Brando!" "No, I'm Marlon Brando!" where the two leads McConaughey and Woody Harrelson try to out mumble one another. Talk about actors pushing each other to new heights; they both put in outstanding, career-best performances. The script is dense, funny, thought provoking and unlike anything I've seen or heard on TV recently. There's a definite southern Twin Peaks vibe happening here as the show opens with a dead girl in the middle of nowhere, followed by the ensuing murder investigation. Not to mention diaries and esoteric/occult themes. The academics and theorists must be loving it, as I can see a million essays on what the true meaning of all the chit chat between the two leads really means. Which philosophy wins and who do you side with, etc. Nihilism, existentialism, religion, atheism, some cosmic supernatural shit and everything inbetween all get a look in. I'm still getting my head around the flurry of concepts thrust at me during the eight, hour long, episodes. Oh and apart from all that, it's a really bloody intense, scary and thrilling show.

Watching Breaking Bad you could basically ignore any subtext and just dig on the propulsive, event-laden, minimal plot - which I think I did. That show for me was ultimately pure visceral entertainment in excellis possibly never to be rivalled. True detective sets out to make you think from the minute it starts but this doesn't detract from the unfolding dramatic plot. For those of you feeling bereft after the conclusion of Breaking Bad you will be able to find some solace here in True Detective, particularly around episodes three, four and five where it rivals the predecessor's edge of your seat thrills. Other parallels can be drawn here particularly with Bryan Cranston and Matthew McConaughey both transforming themselves into actors beyond what we could have ever imagined them becoming. Sure, now I look back at Malcolm In The Middle and realise that maybe Hal was genius too but I don't think I'll be going back to How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days and thinking similar things of McConaughey's performance. Then again I've been reliably told he has been building up to this since 2011 with his previous six films. This is all a moot point, as they are now the two best actors of their generation and seemingly peerless.

Tony Soprano's Legacy

To put it simply Tony Soprano acted by James Gandolfini set the benchmark for characters in television drama. This in turn has had an incredible affect on the acting and drama that has followed since on the small screen. It's a funny turn of events that has led to the best acting now being on the telly and not in the movies. Me & the Mrs would watch Sopranos and say 'Can you believe this is not real?'  Tony had other characters surrounding him that were as brilliantly acted as he was. Carmella, Paulie, Christopher, Ralphy, Uncle Junior, Johnny Sac, Janice, Adrianna, Dr Melfi, Tony's mum etc. That's an incredible list of characters whose actors were so good that you believed they were real.

It was Tony's show though and his multidimensional and nuanced performance is monumental. Apart from making the Sopranos the classic that it is Gandolfini has raised the stakes so high that he has caused an unprecedented eruption of great character acting.

Walter in his Whites.

Music may have died in the new millennium so this late flowering of tv drama is perhaps how we'll remember the 00s and the 10s as the new golden age of tv drama. Who'd have ever thought that? We hardly watch tv like we used to. With our i-phones, i-pads, wiis, xboxs and computers up the wazoo does the telly even get turned on?  So this peak in tv drama has come at an odd and unstable time for tv. I'm sure downloads & dvd sales insure it occurring. In my home at least these series are consumed in seasons via the dvd. Last weekend the entire season 5 (part 1) of Breaking Bad was watched. That's 8 episodes. Right there you have some of nows greatest actors. Who can believe that Walter White is the same guy as the dad in Malcolm In The Middle? Then there's Jesse, Gus, Tuco, Hector etc. Without Tony Soprano would these characters have existed? Maybe he made writers and actors see the potential for the quality standards we could have. McNulty, Kimia, Bunk, Omar, Bubbles, Marlo, Prez, Snoop, Avon, Stringer Bell to list just a few of the unforgettable and incredibly acted characters from The Wire a show that followed in The Sopranos wake.  I didn't even realise two of these guys were actually posh British actors. This cast took The Sopranos mantle and possibly even surpassed it. They certainly equalled their standard as have others like the aforementioned Breaking Bad as well as Six Feet Under, Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire et al.

I guess Tony Soprano was a catalyst for premier acting and we all get to reap the benefits. David Fisher played by Michael C Hall in Six Feet Under is possibly my all time favourite but hang on what about Clare and Brenda from the same show? The list goes on...Nicky, Margene, Alby, Roman, Frank and Rhonda from Big Love.... Al Swearagen, Alma Garet, Trixie, Calamity Jane, Joanie Stubbs, The Doc, Charlie Utter, Mr Wu, EB Farnum are also all great characters beautifully acted in Deadwood... I can keep the lists coming.

The Sopranos and the shows that followed are going to be seen like late 60s LPs are seen by the likes of Rolling Stone and Mojo. These shows are going to be your Sgt Peppers, Pet Sounds, Blonde On Blondes  et al. They will perennially feature in the top 10s of all time, be endlessly discussed, have their order shuffled every few years and be revered as peaks of popular culture because they are.

Is The Sopranos The Sgt Pepper of telly?

Faust, Bono & Benedict Cumberbatch

Wake me when all the bad nows have turned to good nows. Listening to Faust's Faust on my ipod reminded me 'Did I need to get that Can triple cd I think it was called the lost tapes maybe....It's probably awesome....must get that tomorrow I think...That'll have some good nows and some good thens.

'We've arrived in the 70s again man.'

Reading about Scratch Acid yesterday on the interweb on a man without shame reminded me that The Drones sometimes remind me of them along with a band I barely recall The Laughing Hyenas, am I right? Who the fuck knows? Tried to watch 2001 the other day on the digital telly thinkin yeah this'll be great. Half an hour in I wanted to smash in the screen. Watched the new HBO show VEEP and thought it was just tryin to be an American The Thick Of It. Watched The Newsroom as well. It was so cheesie i almost liked it. Jack whitehall does Bono have to apologise to you personally for tryin to make the world a better place? It's a fucked up world that belittles people trying to abolish poverty! Am I like CJ from Eggheads? He likes all the same stuff as me. Five shirts arrived from London yesterday and I haven't even opened them all.....CJ would probably like them. I've lost the new Umberto album. 2013 seems like the least yeary year in my life. Are the 2010s the 2010s or the tens or has everyone given up on decades. I loved decades but they must have been a 20th century thing. What about female popes? When are we gonna have one of them? Can I become an Ecclesiastical Tailor? That's an impressive job title! Dug out Just Keep Eating pretty funny....Hey man without shame! Rapeman were a top band.... Is Game of Thrones good or a pile o shite? I like the sex and violence but I'm not so sure about the supernatural stuff and well c'mon dragons... I'm not 5.  Do I need to be more of a geek? Hey I've watched the first two seasons though. Where is dvd of season 5 part 1 of Breaking Bad mofos?? m b v turned up on my doorstep tonight. What shall I do with it? It's just sittin there mocking me saying "Gee that's $42 well spent." I was nearly over it and it turns up on a Friday nite! Benedict Cumberbatch ....

Boardwalk Empire/25 Years Of Telly

Nelson Van Alden - Good Christian fellow

Just finished watching the 2nd season of Boardwalk Empire and I'm loving it. There are some great characters in there, some really good creeps. It got me thinking how slow crime used to take 90 years ago. The show is hardly as action packed as something like Breaking Bad and nor should it be. Today with mobile phones, computers, cctv and tracking devices crime happens within an instant as does the news of it but in The Boardwalk Empire days they may have had to wait weeks if not longer to pull off a crime or receive news of a crime or a cross. Some people may perceive Boardwalk Empire as slow but its pacing suits the era in which it is set perfectly.

Gillian Darmody-a good mum





Richard Harrow



While in Sydney I read a pretty good article, for a mainstream newspaper, in the Sydney Morning Herald on the best telly shows of the last 25 years and it was fairly spot on. Not the order of course that was ludicrous. Why do they have to rank such lists? Mad Men seems to be mostly appreciated due to its set design and wardrobe. Can't I just look at a picture book for such things or watch an episode of Bewitched? All my drama faves (most of these are comedy dramas I guess) were there though Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Twin Peaks, Blue Murder and Breaking Bad. Some of my favourite American sitcoms were listed too including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld and the cult comedy Arrested Development. I also must admit to enjoying reruns of Frasier in recent years, something I could never have imagined/been horrified by in my 20s. I am wondering where Northern Exposure is? What about 30 Rock?

Do you think I'm sexy?

Only one British comedy makes the list from the past 25 years - The Office, which of course is a fine choice. It had me thinking is this a Sydney thing being so focused on America? Would the list have been more anglophile if it were compiled by a Melbourne paper? Just a thought to entertain. Some of the greatest British tv comedies of all time are from the last 25 years namely Ab Fab, Knowing Me Knowing You, The Royale Family, The Fast Show, Reeves & Mortimer, The Mighty Boosh, I'm Alan Partridge, Little Britain, Father Ted (Irish I know), Ali G, Black Books, Spaced, Peep Show, Help and The Trip to mention just a few. The Australian (so called) comedy Frontline makes it in but you've got to wonder how well that would stand up to viewing today considering it's sibling The Hollowmen was unwatchable when it was aired recently.

The Royale Family
Is this the most loved British comedy from the last 25 years?

I've never seen The West Wing. Lost well that lost me somewhere between season 1 and 2, I just didn't care. The X files is for other people. I watched Buffy up until about the end of the 3rd season I think then she got that military sort of boyfriend then it was never the same. Anyone for Wilfred? What about Flight of The Conchords? Where's The Blue Planet??? No variety?? No Letterman?????...........

Breaking Bad

Pretty funny!

Sad thing is I don't have cable!

Breaking Bad 5th & Final Season

V excited for this.

How cool is the poster?!!

Breaking Bad

I've e just finished watching the DVDs of the fourth season of Breaking Bad and fuck me it did not disappoint. It kept me guessing right till the end with their great use of red herrings. Even after the final ep of season 4 I've still got unanswered questions and cannot see where the final 5th season will go. I'd like to write something really smart about the show but i dunno.....It's some of the greatest actoring ever acted. There are no week links in that cast. It's like the longest best movie ever made. The Mrs thinks each episode is like a mini movie and that Walt could in fact be a superhero. It is one of the most enthralling shows I've ever seen. An absolute peak in telly drama.

Unrecognisable as the dad
from Malcolm in the Middle

The creepiest psychopath

in tv history!

                                                                                                                                                                                



I also just watched the #3rd season again of Deadwood. That's another pinnacle of telly drama. I don't know how the fuck they came up with those characters. Each one a fully rounded fuck up of a person and so real.....well did anyone ever really talk like that?.... I dunno but I like it. It's like you're one of them, you really feel like you're sittin' in the Gem Saloon drinkin' whiskey or maybe I just wish I was. Anyway we are living through a golden era of TV drama. I hope it continues because well... have you seen a good movie lately? Didn't think so.

Complex moron.
E.B.

George Hearst.
A bit Grumpy



The Doc.

...more on 2011...

*When I first heard Peaking Lights' 936 I thought what is this shite? It sounds like lo-fi z-grade trip hop, who'd wanna listen to this?  Dunno what kept me comin' back but now I love 936's hazy vibes.

*I must admit when i first heard Rangers I thought this just sounds so generic or like Ducktails.  Anyhow something made me keep goin' back to their brilliant Suburban Tours many times last year......whatever happened to Ducktails anyway?

*Replica to me was disappointing.  Rifts and Returnal were big faves of mine.  On Replica I just kept thinking 'Why make this beautiful music less so, by making it more difficult?'.  I thought maybe Oneohtrix had been reading his own critics, who wanted less kosmiche and more noise.  Anyway if it was anyone else I'd probably be praising it to the hilt. It's still growing on me.

*Now a bit about the telly.

Breaking Bad is still my favourite drama even though the last couple of episodes of season 3 seamed a bit directionless  Is there a season 4? 

The Trip- I saw it at the cinema and thought it was great, barring the heavy handedness of the director's contrast of the two characters. Then I caught episode 4 of the telly version and was shocked by some bits that weren't in the film.  These really changed the context of Rob Brydon's character.  In the theatrical version they left out the ultra sleazy Delilah scene.  One of the most awkward 'OMG please don't be coming onto her!' scenes in the history of TV.  Making him much more respectable in the film. Why did they even edit the series into a film?  After watching all 6 telly episodes the film seamed pointless.  Get the telly version on DVD it's longer, better and more funny.  An instant classic.

30 Rock- 5th season was good but were they getting tired or something?
100th episode though was pure gold.