Catching Up With THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLIDER

 Article first published as THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER Review on Seat42F.

SPOILER WARNING: This review contains spoilers about the first (and only the first) episode of the series.

Marvel’s second MCU television series premiered on Disney Plus this weekend. THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER, as the title implies, follows Sam Wilson, a.k.a. The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes, a.k.a. The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Doing what, it’s not quite clear in the first episode, as the two do not come into contact. Nor are two more important characters from the films, Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) and Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), anywhere in sight. But the first hour is a set up as to where the two heroes currently are and what their state of mind is before the six-episode story really gets going.

The premiere of THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER starts with a big action sequence featuring The Falcon before it gets personal. I know a lot of people watch Marvel for the big action sequences, and this one should satisfy them. It’s a start-of-the-movie bit, with the hero versus a gang of villains. Not even close to a final showdown, but something to get people excited.

Personally, I thought it went on a little long. Perhaps it did so because there was almost no more action the rest of the episode and they wanted to take care of that segment of viewership. But things got a lot more interesting for me once we checked in with Sam the person, not Sam the hero, and that’s what I hope THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER is primarily about.

Sam is not a man out of time, but he is a man out of step with everything around him. His family has been suffering financially, his sister, Sarah (Adepero Oduye, 12 Years a Slave), having to take care of the family business herself when Sam blipped out of existence for five years. (And can we PLEASE have a series set DURING the blip??? I need to see that!) Sarah doesn’t welcome him back with open arms. Sam is determined to hang onto the past, which causes conflict between them. The question remains, will it be possible for him to do so? Or does he need to move on?

Along similar lines, Sam willingly gives up Captain America’s shield to the Smithsonian, not able to see anyone else but Steve Rogers as the Cap. But by handing over the shield to the U.S. government, he gives up control of Steve’s legacy. So like his family’s business, things may now have taken a turn that he doesn’t have anything to do with and can’t get back.

By contrast, in THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLIDER, Bucky is trying to make up for the past rather than change it. He is in therapy with Dr. Raynor (Amy Aquino, Borsch) and slowly making amends for the wrongs he did as the Winter Solider. This isn’t easy, but he’s trying, and that’s what matters, even if I’m not sure he’s feeling it does. At least this is something that gives him purpose, considering almost everyone he knew is dead and he’s a man out of time.

He also dips his toe into the dating pool with entertaining results, proving just what an old man he really is at heart. It’s the type of comedy mined for Steve in the films, but somehow seems even more amusing when it happens with Bucky.

Of course, there is a villainous group rearing their heads halfway around the world, as Sam’s friend Joaquin (Danny Ramirez, The Gifted) is looking into. This will probably be the mission that brings Sam and Bucky together. Zemo and Sharon Carter are probably connected, too. I’m guessing that will be the main thrust for the next five episodes.

But I hope as THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER takes off, it doesn’t forget what this first installment was about: two men searching for their place in the world. I find that tale more compelling, and that’s the one I want to see more of. Sure, they can go kick butt against supervillains and that’s entertaining. However, rich characters are the heart of the franchise, and with six hours to tell the story, there’s plenty of time to explore that here. Let’s hope they do.

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER releases new episodes to stream Fridays on Disney Plus.

Going ALL THE WAY

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'All the Way' on Blogcritics.

All the Way is an HBO television movie, and like most HBO films of this type, tells a cool story in an interesting way with amazing performances. This one centers on President Lyndon B. Johnson in the first year of his administration, immediately following the assassination of his predecessor and his fight to pass civil rights in an election year. It’s a fascinating take that is neither wholly supportive or condemning of a still controversial president, and you can soon get it on Blu-ray, digital, and DVD.

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) is completely transformed into LBJ, and he’s far from the only one. I may not have been around during the events depicted, so I can’t say how accurately Cranston captures the man, but what I can say is that he is barely recognizable as Cranston in a performance that differs strongly from past roles. This is a unique character, both caring and cold. Someone who knows injustice and wants to stop it, and yet can put politics above morals. Someone who deeply loves his wife, and yet can be mean to her without realizing the pain he is causing.

Cranston is far from alone in both the make up and the acting transformation. Among those playing at his level in All the Way are Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) as soon-to-be-vice-president Hubert Humphrey, Melissa Leo (Treme) as the always supportive first lady, Lady Bird Johnson, Stephen Root (Justified) as paranoid J. Edgar Hoover, Frank Langella (The Americans) as presidential friend-turned-foe Senator Richard Russell, and Anthony Mackie (the Captain America films) as Martin Luther King Jr. Each delivers a fantastic performance.

The story itself focuses on a very a narrow time, just the first year of Johnson’s presidency. The decision to do this is an interesting one as I think most filmmakers would be tempted to take a wider view, and normally I’d wish they would. The reason it pays off here is because All the Way is treated like a character study, zeroing in on who LBJ was and why he did the most notable things he did, which is a question worth examining. It does so without judgment, and with a balanced view. Like Cranston did in Breaking Bad, he manages to convey a portrait of a complex individual that becomes much more fascinating than the story itself, proving the choice is a smart one.

To make the man more interesting is a feat unto itself given the very tumultuous time period in which All the Way takes place. An assassination of a popular leader has just taken place. The politics of a nation is about to undergo a huge shift. Parties fight for their base, which they lose with a momentous decision. While things aren’t as personally ugly as they are in the current election cycle, the racial and social tensions could not be higher. And yet, this is background and context for LBJ, rather than the point of the piece.

There are sadly only a brief pair of bonus features, though they’re both pretty good. “Bryan Cranston Becoming LBJ” is exactly what it sounds like, with the actor discussing his approach to the character, and a look at the make up, hair, and prosthesis needed to complete the transformation. “All the Way: A Walk Through History” speaks to what is actually happening in the world during the era, much of which is included in the movie satisfactorily enough, but I’ll never complain about a featurette that backs up the factual side of what a film shows.

In short, I like the movie itself, and the extras, while too few, are solid, giving me no hesitation in recommending this release. All the Way is already available for digital download, and will arrive on Blu-ray and DVD on September 6th.