Cinematography discussion in TV criticism can be all too rare. It lends the perception that TV is all about story and acting, when really there are a number of creative television auteurs who devote careful cinematic craft to shot composition, what’s in the frame, and what is out. David Simon, creator of The Wire, is …
Deadline reported Wednesday that HBO has officially greenlit Show Me a Hero, a six-hour miniseries from David Simon (co-creator of The Wire). The miniseries will star Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, and the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII) and Catherine Keener (Captain Phillips, Being John Malkovich). Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby) is set to direct. The …
Treme finished its four season run this week with “… To Miss New Orleans”, an appropriately reflective and celebratory hour. Unlike last year’s potential series finale, “Tipitina”, this episode focuses on each character’s journey not to a specific place, but forward in their life. Surprisingly, and happily, this episode leaves each character in a good place. Not everyone winds up in New Orleans, but they’ve all made positive motion in their lives and are surrounded by people who understand and support them. Davis has a responsible job he’s good at, but still finds time to still write a new Godzilla vs. MLK single. Antoine may still be fooling around on Mardi Gras, but he’s involved in his sons lives for the first time in the entire series. Terry and Annie leave town, but Terry gets to be with his children and Annie continues to blossom as an artist. Everyone gets a win in some way or another this week and this fond, perhaps overly sunny farewell is more than most viewers will have hoped for.
The reflective tone of last week’s episode is crystallized in “Sunset on Louisianne”, as characters ponder their legacies and impact while Big Chief Lambreaux quietly passes. Viewers expecting a dramatic, emotional goodbye for Albert may be disappointed, but they shouldn’t be surprised. Treme, like The Wire before it, prizes honesty over melodrama and an expected, comparatively peaceful death while sleeping is much more in keeping with this than the tearful goodbyes, waterworks, and last minute revelations of so many other cancer-related deaths on television. Over the past few episodes, Albert has grown increasingly tired and has started to fade.
Season four continues along its bittersweet track this week, with everyone holding on for dear life as they say goodbye to 2008 and hello to 2009. Albert’s health is deteriorating, Janette continues to struggle with her new restaurant, and Terry feels the consequences of his season three evidence swap. Antoine reconnects with Jennifer, who’s drifted away from band after the death of Cherise, but he also gets a startling reminder of a certain portion of the population’s thoughts on race and history. At the moment, Treme looks like it’ll be going out not with the triumphant coming together of the season three finale, but a more sober statement on endurance. It may not be as much of an audience-pleaser, but it’s a fitting and honest choice.
Treme returns this week in glorious fashion, kicking of its final mini-season with “Yes We Can Can”. With more shows being produced with each passing year and a current frustrating sameness to much of this fall’s programming, it’s wonderful to get to spend even a few more weeks in this unique world. From the characters to the music to the cinematography, this is a show that feels like no other and just hearing the theme song makes any fan of the show feel instantly at ease, welcomed back to the colorful, inspiring, and occasionally harsh world of Treme.
Ep. 3.08, “Don’t You Leave Me Here” Written by Tom Piazza (Teleplay), Eric Overmyer (Story) Directed by Ernest Dickerson Ep. 3.09, “Poor Man’s Paradise” Written by George Pelecanos (Teleplay and Story), Jordan Hirsch (Story) Directed by Roxann Dawson Ep. 3.10, “Tipitina” Written by David Simon (Teleplay and Story), Eric Overmyer (Teleplay), and Anthony Bourdain (Story) …
The Return of Arrested Development Nobody was really paying attention to Netflix’s talk about ‘original programming’ until they snatched up the rights to Mitch Hurwitz’s classic family sitcom, bringing it back for a fourth season after more than half a decade off the air. The details of the season are being kept under wraps for …
Treme, Season 3, Episode 6: “Careless Love” Written by George Pelecanos (Story) and Chris Offutt (Story, Teleplay) Directed by Anthony Hemingway Airs Sundays at 10pm (ET) on HBO This week, on Treme: Sonny screws up, Antoine fights the system, and Big Chief holds off on chemo The common complaint with Treme is that, with so …
Treme, Season 3, Episode 5: “I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say” Written by Eric Overmyer (Story), Lolis Eric Elie and Jen Ralson (Teleplay) Directed by Alex Hall Airs Sundays at 10pm (ET) on HBO This week, on Treme: Amy’s family comes to visit, Sofia can’t catch a break, and Terry does a hell of …
Treme, Season 3, Episode 1: “Knock with Me – Rock with Me” Written by David Simon and Anthony Bourdain (Story) Directed by Anthony Hemingway Treme, Season 3, Episode 2: “Saints” Written by Eric Overmyer Directed by Jim McKay Airs Sundays at 10pm (ET) on HBO Treme is a show unlike any other on TV at …