Finally some of the mystery begins to unravel in this chilling episode of The Outsider. After Jack’s spooky encounter with “The Outsider” at the barn, he begins acting very odd, disappearing and doing random tasks literally to try to save his own neck. Holly begins connecting Terry to other similar cases in Dayton and New York. While investigating in Dayton Holly met a security guard named Andy Katcavage, played by Derek Cecil (House of Cards, Recount). He becomes a larger asset in this episode as Holly continues to connect the dots, all the while reporting back to Ralph, Howie and the gang.
Holly (Cynthia Erivo) thinking at the hotel bar in ‘The Outsider’ (photo: HBO)
This episode is one of the creepiest thus far. I don’t know if anything can top the horror of Frankie Peterson’s crime scene, but this ep gave it a run for its money! One of my friends even described the episode as “devilish,” as it touches on some folk lore relating to the title of the episode. Without giving anything away, there is some disturbing imagery late in the episode as Holly digs deeper and deeper. Concurrently Glory begins to face more and more fallout from Terry’s death. Her kids have been “asked to leave” the school they attended, and Glory has an incredibly hard time trying to find a legitimate home schooler without any ulterior motives. The tragedy of her husband’s death is increased by the fact that people are hurling threats, in person, at both her and her children. While Howie and Ralph continue to stick up for her, her situation is clearly spiraling quickly.
Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn) poring through security footage in ‘The Outsider’ (photo: HBO)
Again, one of the things I liked most about the episode is seeing how Holly works. Cynthia Erivo does such a great job at maintaining all of these little, weird personal quarks that make Holly who she is. Her investigative mind is further opened up as she opens up more to Andy, who actually happens to be an ex-police detective, which I admit is extremely convenient as far as plot devices go. That being said, Andy is a genuinely nice character and Cecil brings a subtle, polite softness to the character.
Jack Hoskins (Marc Menchaca) and Detective Tamika Collins (Hettienne Park) in ‘The Outsider’ (photo: HBO)
This episode does a great job of finally inserting some of King’s classic supernatural characteristics, which causes some conflict between Holly and Ralph, as he is a skeptic. I think this episode is one of the best looks we will get into our villain’s mind, seeing how truly evil and depraved he really is. The groundwork for Jack’s role in the story really starts to be laid out quite succinctly. “Que Viene el Coco,” yet again, elevates the shows to new (or lower if you’d like) heights keeping the audience thirsty for more. Luckily the next episode is titled “Tear-Drinker,” so I think we’ll have plenty to drink, but I doubt we’ll like what we taste. Until next time, have a wonderful evening, and do make sure to check those windows are closed and the doors are locked.
Rating: TV-MA (Mature Audiences Only) for Adult Content, Adult Language, and Nudity Running Time: 60 Minutes Produced by: HBO
Terry Maitland’s Death Causes Glory to Spiral and Ralph to Question his Judgement
Terry Maitland’s Death in ‘The Outsider’ (video: HBO)
In “Dark Uncle,” we witness the fallout of Terry Maitland’s assassination. While Ralph is put on Administrative Leave and ordered to go to trauma therapy, Marcy, who will further be known as Glory (don’t get me started on this one), deals with the fallout tenfold. Not only has she lost her husband, who she believed to be innocent, but now she and her children begin to suffer as threats pile up against the Maitland family. Ralph, feeling terrible about Terry’s last words, “I didn’t do it, Ralph. I didn’t do it,” continues to investigate Frankie Peterson’s murder and Terry’s possible involvement. In desperation he turns to Howie and his research assistant Alec Pelley, played by Jeremy Bobb (Russian Doll, The Kitchen) to get to the bottom of the deepening mystery, who connect him (finally!) with Holly Gibney. Concurrently, Jack continues to prove himself to be somewhat of a jerk, and also has a chance encounter of eerie proportions at the barn crime scene.
The GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation), led by Yunis Sablo (Yul Vasquez) investigates the barn in ‘The Outsider’ (photo: HBO)
Honestly, the show just keeps getting better. I remember reading The Outsider a few years ago, and I remember thinking that Stephen King has gotten extremely good at mystery novels, and the adaptation is a testament to his writing. The mystery element to the show is fantastic, keeping the audience guessing each episode. The supernatural elements of the show are slowly creeping into the light of day, creating an excellent combination of mystery, thriller, and horror. As The Outsider slowly unfolds, I am continuously reminded of season 1 of True Detective. The cinematography, editing, and chilling score really help elevate the show to fantastic heights.
Alec Pelley (Jeremy Bobb) introduces Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn) to Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo) in ‘The Outsider’ (photo: HBO)
In “Dark Uncle” Ralph and Glory have another confrontation and Mare Winningham finally gets some time to shine as the mediator between the two. The interactions between Ralph and Glory are just wonderful to watch. Julianne Nicholson does a fantastic job of playing the emotionally drained Glory. She is unrelentingly and unapologetically antagonistic, rightfully so, towards Ralph. Ultimately, Mare Winningham’s Jeannie has to play middle-woman between the two in order to get the answers Ralph needs for his investigation. The stand-out actor of the episode was Cynthia Erivo as Holly Gibney. Her portrayal was utterly intense and true to character. Holly is a troubled woman, who has a keen investigative mind, but also has severely crippling social anxiety/skills. Her performance leaves nothing to be desired, as she nails it on every front. I’m excited to see what her character brings to the table as the series unfolds.
Unknown person’s bloody hand in ‘The Outsider’ (photo: HBO)
The show is on track to be a great addition to HBO’s already stacked wheelhouse. Jason Bateman and the producers have done a fantastic job in adapting one of Stephen King’s scariest novels of all time. Even having read the book it’s exciting to watch the series unfold. It’s a testament to HBO for knowing what stories to tell and which cast and crew members to combine together in order to create the best possible product. I really can’t recommend this show enough, but make sure the kids are asleep, because this tale is way too scary for them.
Rating: TV-MA (Mature Audiences Only) for Adult Content, Adult Language, Graphic Violence, and Nudity Running Time: 60 Minutes Produced by: HBO
Martin Scorsese (The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street) is easily one of the best directors of all time. It’s a miracle he has only won the Academy Award for directing only one time, as his worst film could generally be considered better than the average director’s best film. While he has worked with Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull), Joe Pesci (Goodfellas, Raging Bull), and Harvey Keitel (Mean Streets, Taxi Driver) several times before, he has never worked with Al Pacino (The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon) … until now. In what could be considered his final word on the gangster film, Scorsese brings all four of these legendary actors together in his adaptation of I Heard You Paint Houses, by true crime author Charles Brandt (Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business, The Right to Remain Silent). Steve Zaillian (Gangs of New York, Moneyball) adapted Brandt’s book for the big screen (and the small screen, as it is a Netflix Original Film).
Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) and Russell Buffalo (Joe Pesci) in ‘The Irishman’ (photo: Netflix)
In The Irishman we follow Robert De Niro’s character, Frank Sheeran, throughout his life as he swims through the underworld of America’s Mafia. Most of the film is told in the past tense, as Frank recounts his life and his possible involvement in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, played by Pacino. Very much like Goodfellas, this story is a rags to riches sort of tale. Frank starts out as a union truck driver who ultimately works his way through the various ranks within the union. The film is set against the backdrop of the rise of Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters Union.
Bill Buffalino (Ray Romano), Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), and Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) in ‘The Irishman’ (photo: Netflix)
The Irishman is a technical achievement due to the fantastic de-aging effects for the various actors, specifically Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci’s characters. Not only that, but it is easily one of Scorsese’s best works. While the film is just under three and a half hours, it is a very concise story, with little to no wasted screen-time. Although I did find something online which breaks up the film into four distinct episodes, similar to how Netflix split up Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight into four episodes. Watching it this way did feel a little easier, as I know it is tough to find almost four free hours in a day to sit down and watch a movie. Eventually I do want to sit down and watch the movie in its entirety.
The Return of the Copacabana Club in ‘The Irishman’ (photo: Netflix)
The acting in the film is absolutely phenomenal. While Robert De Niro didn’t get nominated, both Joe Pesci and Al Pacino have been nominated for an Academy Award for their portrayals of their characters, Russell Buffalino and Jimmy Hoffa, respectively. Even though De Niro didn’t get nominated (it is a bloated Best Actor race this year) he plays his part to perfection. He plays a sort of tough guy who will go to extreme lengths to protect his family, but the emotion that he shows is palpable even though he never sheds a tear. It’s truly a wonderful performance.
Aged Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) in ‘The Irishman’ (photo: Netflix)
As for Pesci, it is one of his most understated roles I have ever seen him perform. He isn’t the loose cannon, as so many of his other Scorsese-film characters are. On the contrary, he is in complete control of his emotions throughout the entire film, and when he needs to express any emotion, he has somebody do the dirty work for him. Pacino, on the other hand, portrays Hoffa as an absolute stark raving mad lunatic. He is extremely uneven, as anything can set him off, which makes him more like Pesci’s usual roles in Scorsese films. I will neither confirm nor deny what that says about Hoffa’s chances of making it to the end of the film.
Russell Buffalino (Joe Pesci) in ‘The Irishman’ (photo: Netflix)
Tongue-in-cheek humor aside, the film is excellently shot and edited. Rodrigo Prieto (The Wolf of Wall Street,Babel), who has worked with Scorsese since The Wolf of Wall Street, was the director of photography, and his shots work to further the story. On various occasions throughout the film, the camera works to tell the story more effectively than the dialogue. Not only that, but the shots are absolutely gorgeous and pristine. The film was shot half digitally, and half on Arri film cameras.
Angelo Bruno’s (Harvey Keitel) Restaurant in ‘The Irishman’ (photo: Netflix)
Thelma Schoonmaker (Raging Bull, The Departed) has edited every Scorsese film since Raging Bull in 1980, which she consequently won an Oscar for. Similarly to the cinematography, her editing style ingeniously conveys information to the audience that dialogue simply could not achieve. At one point Russel Buffalino tells Frank that a character said something disrespectful to him and that it crossed a line. Instead of showing Frank respond verbally, the very next shot is a god’s eye view of a bed with a bevy of uniquely and neatly arranged firearms. The implication is very clear. This guy is about to get whacked. Schoonmaker has made a career by working with Scorsese, and it is one of the reasons the majority of his films are so well received. It makes sense, as she has won three Academy Awards during her standing collaboration with Martin Scorsese.
Russell Buffalino (Joe Pesci) and Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) and wives in ‘The Irishman’ (photo: Netflix)
Similarly to other Scorsese gangster films, the music in the film is a rag tag combination of popular songs that fit the mood of the scene, with a little score added in to make the film unique. Robbie Robertson (The Wolf of Wall Street, The Color of Money) works in the music department as well as composing the repeating themes throughout the film. The score is a bluesy harmonica mainly playing throughout the various montage sequences, which usually foreshadows a killing or dark action of some kind. The other main theme is “In the Still of the Night,” by The Five Saints, which plays throughout the film in various degrees as well.
One of many smoke breaks in ‘The Irishman’ at Howard Johnson’s Ice Cream Restaurant (photo: Netflix)
Overall, I believe The Irishman is an extraordinarily good film. I’ve seen it on plenty of top ten lists, but I’m not sure I would put it on mine, as the gangster film is kind of overdone at this point, and a little unnecessary in my opinion. It’s essentially the same story as Goodfellas and Casino. That being said, it is a technical achievement and one of Scorsese’s most well-done films, although the ending is a little weird, in this author’s humble opinion. Either way I recommend it to fans of gangster films and Scorsese fans in general. You won’t be disappointed… just make sure you have the time to watch it!
How to watch ‘The Irishman’ as a mini-series (Photo: Twitter user @dunerfors
MPAA Rating: Rated R for pervasive language and strong violence Runtime: 209 Minutes Producers: Tribeca Productions, Sikelia Productions, and Winkler Films Distributed by: Netflix
The Second Episode of the Two Part Premiere of HBO’s ‘The Outsider’
It is clear why the show had a two-episode premiere. While “Fish in a Barrel” raises the stakes for all the characters, “Roanoke” brings them all crashing down. The biggest and most important development is by far the slow deterioration of the Peterson family. Their youngest son becomes victim to a truly heinous crime, but further tragedy befalls the rest of the Peterson family, setting in motion an unstoppable chain of events. Ralph begins to question whether or not his very public arrest of Terry was a good idea, while Terry’s defense assures him the case will be thrown out at his arraignment, given the circumstances of the evidence placing him out of town on the day of Peterson’s murder. Meanwhile, the supernatural aspects of the show take form as the Maitlands’ youngest daughter, Jessa, played by Scarlett Blum (Reprisal, The Walking Dead), begins talking to an “imaginary man” in the Maitlands’ home.
Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) and Jeannie Anderson (Mare Winningham) in ‘The Outsider‘ (photo: HBO)
If the first episode of the show was a volley, the second episode is a spike. Brilliantly written and directed, the episode introduces some new characters, while peeling back some of the layers of the main characters. Ralph secretly visits Terry in jail to further question him, creating one of the best one on one scenes yet. The scene in question showcases Mendelsohn and Bateman’s acting chops are prominently displayed in arguably the most emotional scene we have seen yet in the series. The music and cinematography remain consistent, although it will be interesting to see what happens in the next episode, “Dark Uncle,” as there will be a shift in almost all of the major creative roles. Essentially the only consistency will be the score, which will still be composed by Bensi and Jurriaans.
Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) and Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) in ‘The Outsider‘ (photo: HBO)
What I am excited for most is the introduction of Holly Gibney, who will be played by Harriet star Cynthia Erivo (Bad Times at the El Royale, Widows). Her character also featured in both the novel and tv Mr. Mercedes series, and is one of King’s best written characters. Her uniquely idiosyncratic personality makes for a very awkward individual with a keen, investigative mind. Where she lacks in her social skills, she most definitely makes up for in her Sherlockian brilliant mind. It will be interesting to see how she interacts with Ralph Anderson, a self-identified skeptic of the supernatural.
Jeannie Anderson (Mare Winningham) and Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) in ‘The Outsider‘ (photo: HBO)
The two-part premiere does a fantastic job of setting up the rest of the series, which will air every Sunday night at 6 PM PST. The Outsider is a supernatural murder mystery, written by Stephen King and published by Scribner on May 22nd, 2018.
Rating: TV-MA (Mature Audiences Only) for Adult Content, Adult Language, Nudity, and Violence Running Time: 60 Minutes Produced by: HBO
Stephen King’s ‘The Outsider’ Begins With the Discovery of a Grisly Crime-scene
The Outsider Official Trailer
So I would like to try and review more than just movies, and I believe HBO’s The Outsider, which is one of Stephen King’s (The Shining, It) most recent novels, is a great place to start. The first thing I want to note is how well adapted this series is already turning out to be. Aside from a few characters’ names being altered, the show is almost a shot for shot recreation of the book. I’m sure that is partially due to Stephen King being getting a screenwriter credit, according to IMDb. He shares this duty with Richard Price (The Night Of, The Wire) who has a good relationship with HBO, working on many of their most acclaimed projects. Together they have written an impeccable show based on a despicably horrifying novel.
Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) and Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) in ‘The Outsider‘ (photo: HBO)
In The Outsider, Detective Ralph Anderson, played by Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Captain Marvel), investigates a grisly crime scene. A local 10 year old boy, Frankie Peterson, is found mutilated and violated in the woods, and all the physical evidence leads to one person: local baseball coach, Terry Maitland, played by Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Ozark). The only problem is that there is also physical evidence which shows Terry was over 60 miles away on the day and time that Frankie was horrendously murdered. Ralph Anderson, with the help of DA Bill Samuels, played by Michael Esper (Ozark, Ben is Back) hopes to convict Terry with this terrible crime. Meanwhile Terry’s wife Marcy (or Glory?? They’ve called her both, so it may be a nickname), played by Julianne Nicholson (I, Tonya, Black Mass), and the family lawyer, Howie Gold, played by Bill Camp (The Night Of, Joker), hope to clear Terry’s name.
Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) and Marcy Maitland (Julianne Nicholson) in ‘TheOutsider‘ (photo: HBO)
For the sake of entertainment, I’ll leave it at that, but the story gets crazier and crazier, and all of that has been played out on screen. The opening scene of the show sets the bar for the absolutely gorgeous cinematography we are going to get over the 10 episode limited series. Set to Mozart’s hauntingly beautiful “Piano Concerto No. 23: II. Adagio,” it builds up the suspense, slowly revealing the indescribably grotesque crime scene. As for the score of the series, it is dark and sinister, composed by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans (Boy Erased, Enemy).
Frankie Peterson’s shoe in ‘The Outsider‘ (photo: HBO)
Jason Bateman is an executive producer in addition to starring, as well as directing the first two episodes. “Fish in a Barrel” really demonstrates Bateman’s excellent direction. Every second feels necessary, with nary a wasted second. Jack Bender (Under the Dome, Mr. Mercedes) is the other primary executive producer, who clearly has plenty of time playing in Stephen King’s demented sandbox, and he is also going to EP for the upcoming mini-series for Stephen King’s latest novel, The Institute. I am loving the direction this show is going and the introductory episode does a great job at setting the tone for the series going forward.
Rating: TV-MA (Mature Audiences Only) for Adult Content, Adult Language, Graphic Violence, and Nudity Running Time: 61 Minutes Produced by: HBO
Experience the Safdie Brother’s Latest Underworld Odyssey Featuring Adam Sandler in New York’s Diamond District
The Safdie Brothers (Good Time, Heaven Knows What) have directed a near-perfect crime drama/comedy which has resulted in an outstanding performance from Adam Sandler (The Meyerowitz Stories, Punch-Drunk Love), loads of breakout roles by newcomers like Kevin Garnett, The Weeknd, Keith Williams Richards, and Tommy Kominik to name a few, and a guaranteed two hours of being on the edge of your seat. The film revolves around an eccentric Jewish jeweler in New York’s diamond district with a serious gambling addiction named Howard Ratner, played by Adam Sandler. While owing money all over town, including his brother-in-law Arno, played by Eric Bogosian (Talk Radio, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory), Howard struggles throughout the film to keep the various loan sharks at bay in order to make one giant score with a rare (and questionably legal) Ethiopian black opal. Howard is also dealing with a failing marriage, his children don’t seem to care for him except his eldest son, and he is having an affair with a far younger woman who works at his shop. When he finally comes into possession of the afore-mentioned black opal it seems his monetary problems are over, until he is talked into letting Kevin Garnett, who plays himself, borrow the rare and valuable stone for good luck as he faces the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2012 NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals. The film is a non-stop thrill ride filled with relentless suspense as Howard delves deeper and deeper into an abyss of greed and depravity in order to emerge victorious… and alive.
The film is beautifully shot by Darius Khondji (Se7en, The Ninth Gate) with a gritty and realistic look. The graininess to the film and digital shots (Khondji shot on both) is fantastic and creates a seamless look throughout the film. While I noticed a few shots seemed to be slightly out of focus, overall, I think the film looks gorgeous compared to some of the unbelievably oversaturated “popular” films of the twenty-tens. It gives the film an 80’s feel to it, as if it were taking place in another decade. If you’ve seen Good Time then you’ll be prepared for the cinematography of Uncut Gems, which includes plenty of extensive zooms, long lenses, and tracking shots. The trailer does a good job of rounding out a lot of the different shot types that are achieved throughout the film.
Daniel Lopatin (Good Time, The Bling Ring), aka Oneohtrix Point Never (no, I’m not making that up), composed the music for the film. While it arguably works wonders to create an exhaustingly stress-ridden film, it is very similar to his score for Good Time. Contrary to how it sounds, this is a compliment as both scores complement the style and substance the Safdie Brothers are going for. Both films work on many levels to make the audience feel as anxiously claustrophobic and trapped as their protagonists. The score of Uncut Gems is an interesting blend of synths and jazzy sounds, which creates a unique feel to the film and the story. The score is as unconventional as the Safdie Brothers’ themselves.
The performances in the film are outstanding. The hype for Adam Sandler is well-deserved, as he gives thepowerhouse performance of his career. It’s a shame he wasn’t nominated at the Golden Globes, but I’ll hold out hope for his chances at the Oscars. The newcomers all did a fantastic job as well. Kevin Garnett and the Weeknd play over-exaggerated versions of themselves, while the two real standouts have to be Arno’s henchmen Phil and Nico, played by Keith Williams Richards and Tommy Kominik. The sheer intensity of both their characters have Howard and the audience constantly reevaluating the stakes and the levity of the situation Howard is in. Another standout was Idina Menzel (Frozen I & II, Rent) who plays Elsa in the Frozen franchise. In Uncut Gems she plays Howard’s estranged wife, who constantly seems to be apologizing on Howard’s behalf, while simultaneously berating Howard’s constant and numerous failings. Her acting is made stronger by the lack of words she has for some of Howard’s ridiculous situations/actions, which is conveyed through her subtle facial expressions. She is clearly used to his many fuck ups and it’s obvious she has had enough of his shit. LaKeith Stanfield (Get Out, Knives Out) plays the accurately named Demany, who works for/with Howard by bringing customers to the store and selling stolen watches on the side. He absolutely crushes it in this role as an unlikeable foil to Howard’s struggle to get the black opal to auction. The film is rounded out by the main antagonist of the film, Arno, played by Eric Bogosian and Gooey, Howard’s father-in-law, played by the excellent Judd Hirsch (Ordinary People, Independence Day).
Needless to say, Uncut Gems is anxiety personified. The entire film works similarly to Good Time, creating an unending source of stress and anxiety for its’ protagonist as well as for the audience. In both films we follow an unlikeable protagonist who we can’t help but to root for. The Safdie Brothers are interesting filmmakers who seem to have a handle on telling unconventional stories. Combined with their ability to defy audience expectations, it is a film definitely worth seeing. Just make sure you take your blood pressure medication before you see Uncut Gems, because you’re gonna need it!
MPAA Rating: Rated R for pervasive strong language, violence, some sexual content, and brief drug use Running Time: 135 Minutes Produced/Distributed By: Elara Pictures, IAC Films, A24
