HOMECOMING Dance

Article first published as TV Review: HOMECOMING on Seat42F.

One might think it would take a unique series to lure Julia Roberts to the small screen. While crossing over from film to television is anything but uncommon these days, there are still some stars that seem too big to make the move. Well, Amazon’s HOMECOMING is definitely unique. And if you’ve forgotten just how good Roberts is, this series will remind you of that.

Roberts stars as Heidi Bergman, an administrator and counselor at Homecoming, a facility to help soldiers reintegrate into society after traumatic active duty. Heidi truly seems to want to help, though she has to balance that desire with the strict, demanding instructions of her boss, Colin Belfast (Bobby Cannavale, Ant-Man). We learn early on that whatever she intends doesn’t pan out, and four years later, she’s working as a waitress. But why? What happened?

HOMECOMING is a twisty, suspenseful tale. Most of the plot is set at the facility in 2018, with the 2022 flashforwards making up only a few minutes of each episode. The tone is that of an old Kubrick or Hitchcock drama, with bizarre directing shots to match. It feels out of time in sort of a semi-reality where you can’t trust anything you see. The paranoia is purposeful and not unique to the viewer, as at least a couple of characters share it, too. The closest thing I can compare it to on the modern landscape is Mr. Robot, which makes sense because it has the same creator, Sam Esmail. The mystery plays out slowly in a way that begs to be binged. Thankfully, Amazon dropped all ten episodes of season one at once (though I’ve only had time to view three so far).

The cast around Roberts is every bit as good as she is, pulling together a remarkable ensemble. Shea Whigham (Boardwalk Empire) is Thomas Carrasco, the man following up on a complaint about the facility in 2022, and gently nudging the spilling of secrets. Sissy Spacek (Bloodline) is Heidi’s mother, Ellen, who tells her daughter she’s lying to herself. Alex Karpovsky (Girls) is an employee at Homecoming. Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding) is Heidi’s boyfriend in 2018, pushed aside in favor of her work.

Then there are the patients themselves. Stephan James (Selma) plays Walter Cruz, the main patient we see and the subject of Carrasco’s inquiry. Walter seems well-adjusted, like he doesn’t belong in the program, but is happy to go along with things. He gets along well with Heidi, developing a camaraderie that is more intimate than I imagine most doctors and patients share (though completely chaste, at least three installments in).  Their bond is immediate and interesting.

The thing that interrupts Cruz’s peaceful stint is his loyalty to fellow soldier Joseph Shrier (Jeremy Allen White, Shameless). Shrier is suspect of everything Cruz takes for granted, insisting that they aren’t even in Florida. Shrier is painted as the crazy man who is probably right, though only time will tell if he’s close to the truth. More importantly, he complicates Cruz’s tenure and treatment, keeping the story quite colorful.

HOMECOMING is based off of a scripted podcast by Gimlet Media starring Catherine Keener as Heidi. Which may explain why the episodes are less than half an hour each, despite being far more drama than comedy. And it’s probably the best adaptation of a podcast I’ve seen. It takes the best elements of that format, and even without having listened (yet, though I definitely will), I can see what parts have been carried over. However, it isn’t distracting as the show also makes full use of the visual medium, seamlessly blending the two in a beautiful, near-perfect marriage.

(Disclosure: I am the creator / head writer of a long-running, scripted, serialized comedy podcast called It’s All Been Done Radio Hour, so I might be a bit more enamored with the medium than most.)

I love HOMECOMING. I think it’s a stellar effort, well done on every level, and the perfect vehicle for Roberts and the rest of the cast. Check out the whole first season on Amazon Prime streaming video.

VINYL Comes to Blu-ray

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Vinyl - The Complete First Season' on Blogcritics.

HBO’s new drama is Vinyl, which only recently completed its freshman run, will soon be available on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital HD. Created by Mick Jagger, Martin Scorsese, Terence Winter, and Rolling Stone contributing editor Rich Cohen, Vinyl is set in the New York City music industry of the 1970s, and although lots of familiar names are dropped, the main characters are fictional. With deservedly mixed reviews, it isn’t HBO’s strongest entry, but I found it worth watching just the same.

At the center of Vinyl is Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale,Ant-Man, Nurse Jackie), an exec trying to sell his struggling company. Richie once had a real love of music, as viewers get to see in flashbacks peppered throughout the installment, but now he’s older and settled. Married to Devon (Olivia Wilde, Rush, House), Richie seems ready to get away from the chaos and cacophony. Were he able to get back to what he loved about the art form, he might stick around, but surrounded by business crap, he’s ready to be done. If he can just make one last deal to get himself out.

Surrounding Richie is a delightful cast. Among those performers joining Bobby at the office are Ray Romano (Parenthood), Max Casella (Inside Llewyn Davis), P.J. Byrne (The Wolf of Wall Street), and Juno Temple (Maleficent). With this ensemble, I would watch just about any series they choose to do.

Despite this, though, like Winter and Scorsese’s last HBO show, Boardwalk Empire, Vinyl starts slow. Really slow. After hour one, I started distractedly playing games on my phone. I feel bad that I wasn’t giving the show my full attention, but it doesn’t seem like anything very interesting is happening, and that is disappointing, considering everything the series has going for it. Richie is boring and the flashbacks don’t really add anything to the present-day storyline, other than to flesh Richie out a bit. It feels tired.

Thankfully, by hour two, things really take a turn. Part of it is Andrew Dice Clay’s (Entourage, Blue Jasmine) character and the events surrounding him. But part of it is that who Richie truly is comes to the surface.

Richie isn’t the bland, typical personality one thinks he is at first. We see him doing drugs and lying to his wife, and it’s easy to pigeonhole him as just another blowhard in a crazy world who puts himself first and gives into his passions. Except, he’s not, and once that is realized, Vinyl comes to life. Once we’re able to see that Richie really does love Devon and is trying to do right by her; once we see the pressure he is under and how much he struggles to cope with it; that’s when the series becomes unique and fresh and makes its mark.

Though, it remains uneven throughout the 10 episodes, never hitting the potential established in the double-length pilot. I kept wanting Vinyl to be something better than it is, do something more. It’s good, but it’s not as great as it could be. Maybe we’ll get to see it reach the peak in season two.

The argument for going HD on this one is how dark many of the scenes are. Set in clubs and nighttime streets, you’ll want to get the best picture quality to see the layers of grey and what’s happening in the shadows. Also, with some great music, it’s worth it to make the best use of the soundtrack. So, as always, I recommend choosing Blu-ray or Digital HD over standard.

The extras are sadly few. We do get an extended version of “Making Vinyl: Recreating the ’70s,” which is appreciated, though mostly seen before if you’re a frequent watcher of the network. We also get the “Inside the Episode” bits that HBO now regularly features as part of their broadcasts. Besides collecting material already released, the only thing new on the discs are audio commentaries. Thankfully, Cannavale, Wilde, Winter, and others participate, so they are worth listening to. Still, I’m hoping season two provides a bit more, this release basically hitting the minimum on bonus features, which far too many seasons do these days.

Vinyl: The Complete First Season is available now for digital download and will be released on disc June 7, 2016.

VINYL Not as Worn as First Appears

Article first published as VINYL Review on Seat42F.

HBO’s newest drama is VINYL, which premiered its two-hour pilot last night. Set in 1970s New York, the series is about the music industry and a particular era of rock ‘n’ roll music. While the main characters are fictional, the band names and music are mostly real. Created by Martin Scorsese, Terence Winter, Mick Jagger, and Rolling Stone contributing editor Rich Cohen, its bona fides are legit.

At the center of VINYL is Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale, Ant-Man, Nurse Jackie), an exec trying to sell his struggling company. Richie once had a real love of music, as viewers get to see in flashbacks peppered throughout the installment, but now he’s older and settled. Married to Devon (Olivia Wilde, Rush, House), Richie seems ready to get away from the chaos and cacophony. Were he able to get back to what he loved about the art form, he might stick around, but surrounded by business crap, he’s ready to be done. If he can just make one last deal to get himself out.

Surrounding Richie is a delightful cast. Among those performers joining Bobby at the office are Ray Romano (Parenthood), Max Casella (Inside Llewyn Davis), P.J. Byrne (The Wolf of Wall Street), and Juno Temple (Maleficent). With this ensemble, I would watch just about any series they choose to do.

Despite this, though, like Winter and Scorses’s last HBO show, Boardwalk Empire, VINYL starts slow. Really slow. After hour one, I started distractedly playing games on my phone. I feel bad that I wasn’t giving the show my full attention, but it doesn’t seem like anything very interesting is happening, and that is disappointing, considering everything the series has going for it. Richie is boring and the flashbacks don’t really add anything to the present-day storyline, other than to flesh Richie out a bit. It feels tired.

However, late in the second hour, things really take a turn. Part of it is Andrew Dice Clay’s (Entourage, Blue Jasmine) character and the events surrounding him. But part of it is that who Richie truly is comes to the surface.

Richie isn’t the bland, typical personality one thinks he is at first. We see him doing drugs and lying to his wife, and it’s easy to pigeonhole him as just another blowhard in a crazy world who puts himself first and gives into his passions. Except, he’s not, and once that is realized, VINYL comes to life. Once we’re able to see that Richie really does love Devon and is trying to do right by her; once we see the pressure he is under and how much he struggles to cope with it; that’s when the series becomes unique and fresh and makes its mark.

I find myself wondering if there is anything VINYL could have done to hook viewers in sooner. I mean, the music is great from the start, and that is what first interests me, before the story starts to drag. Some of the supporting characters are also intriguing, but aren’t in it as much as Richie, and so get forgotten between scenes. But could the audience have understood Richie and his world without getting all the set up first, even if the set up didn’t play out as entertaining as it should have?

In the end, I have a hard time judging VINYL harshly, and actually want to go back and re-watch it more closely. By the credits of the premiere, I am fully on board with VINYL. It just takes awhile to get there. Had the show done a traditional single-hour kick off, it could easily have gotten skipped by me. But with the two-hour format, the program does its job and proves itself. If you tuned out early, go back and give it another chance. It’s worth it.

VINYL airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO.

Nurse Jackie can "Handle Your Scandal"

Showtime's Nurse Jackie has had a rough year. Jackie (Edie Falco ) is going through a divorce which might cost her custody of her kids, all while struggling to stay sober after a too-brief stint in rehab. But things go from bad to worse in "Handle Your Scandal," the fourth season finale, as Jackie finally has the showdown with Dr. Cruz (Bobby Cannavale) that has been brewing.

Dr. Cruz is cruel. Wonderfully balanced between total jerk and compassionate person by Cannavale, Cruz spends most of the year teetering a very fine line. But as the season wraps up, he shows just how vindictive he can be by firing Eddie (Paul Schulze), Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith), and ultimately, Jackie. It's one thing to run the hospital like a business. It's another to take out one's personal disappointments in the office. What Cruz does has just as much to do with his son's screw ups as his own power trips. Because of this, let us hope that Cruz does not return next season, at least not the version of him shown in "Handle Your Scandal."

That being said, it's been great to have a villain like Cruz around. It's tested Jackie in ways that she never has been before, made all the more difficult by her new-found lack of substance abuse to cope with it. Jackie learns to play things cool and hold her tongue, until she cannot take it anymore. And by that point, everyone, both characters and viewers, are one Jackie's side. Her cursing match is earned because of her restraint, and means all the more when it finally does occur.

In fact, Jackie has been pretty heroic all season. She has always been likable, but it's not until she begins cleaning up her messes, acting responsible, and letting people in that she becomes someone to be admired. Allowing Zoey (Merritt Wever) to become a friend and roommate, standing by Akalitus and Eddie, fighting for her kids and sobriety, Jackie is a whole different person. This growth may be too quick, pointing towards a possible backslide, but it is thrilling in the moment.

Everyone always follows Jackie's lead. Now that she participates in the social environment, instead of hiding from it, this is even more true than before. By the time that she leaves the hospital, taking it with more grace than many in her position would, the entire staff roots for her. They clap, and refuse to stop when Cruz yells his head off. They stage a candlelight vigil. Jackie has found her place, and somehow, she must get it back.

Will Jackie, Akalitus, and Eddie return next season? Well, the first two simply have to. Eddie is fun, but expendable. However the series would not be the same without Jackie or Akalitus. Obviously, the former isn't going anywhere, but the latter is vital, too. Will they come back because Cruz eats crow and gets himself in order, chalking up his really bad behavior to a reaction against the now departed Charlie (Jake Cannavale)? Even this might not be enough to redeem the administrator.

Finally, Jackie gets to play the good mom. Kevin (Dominic Fumusa) may mostly be in the right in leaving Jackie, but he's handling the divorce extremely poorly. While he should be sympathetic, he comes across as a bully, instead. It's an interesting choice to demonize him at this point, even though he sort of has to be to best serve the titular character. Still, it would be nice to see if he has the kind of moments that Jackie and Grace (Ruby Jerins) share in "Handle Your Scandal," rather than only being portrayed as taking he low road.

In other stories of romance, Zoey seems destined to get back together with Lenny (Lenny Jacobson). One can see why she decides that she must strike out on her own before settling down. But now that she's had just a taste of life without Lenny, it is clear how deep the affection between the pair is. Zoey might get to show another side of herself if she has to grovel to get him back, but that's totally appropriate in this situation.

Speaking of other sides, Cooper (Peter Facinelli) really steps up to the plate when O'Hara (Eve Best) needs someone. He is still the familiar Cooper, and will probably screw up again, revealing O'Hara's baby daddy. But for now, he is being a caring individual, nurturing what could be a real friendship with his fellow doctor.

It's these supporting characters that really raise Nurse Jackie up to the very high level it is at. Falco is absolutely fantastic, but surrounding her with the rest, which also includes Stephen Wallem as Thor, is why Nurse Jackie is the best half hour show on Showtime. Everyone is just so good at the parts they are playing, and their chemistry is spot on in every single relationship. Enough good things cannot be said about Nurse Jackie, and "Handle Your Scandal" really plays this all out to the Nth degree, banking on the show's many strengths. I can't wait to see what season five has in store!

Nurse Jackie will return to Showtime next year.

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'Nurse Jackie' is the proverbial pot

Showtime's Nurse Jackie returns with "Kettle-Kettle-Black-Black," and the proverbial poop has hit the fan. Jackie (Edie Falco) acts erratically and admits to Eddie (Paul Schulze) that she may have been sleeping with him for his drugs. Then she picks up an addict (Greenday's Billie Joe Armstrong) at a church and takes him home. When the guy dies before Jackie can sleep with him, she finally realizes that she needs help. Lucky for her, Dr. O'Hara (Eve Best), a true friend, is there to help clean up the mess and get Jackie into rehab.

Jackie's drug problems have been a major arc on the series since episode one. It's not surprising that it's taken until season four to get her treatment, given her honed ability to hide her problem. But as bits of her life leak out and fall apart over the past three years, there is an expectation that this arc will come to a head. It does in "Kettle-Kettle-Black-Black."

It is unlikely that Nurse Jackie will cover much, if any, of Jackie's time in rehab. That's OK, because the charming humor, a vital element to the greatness of the show, is mostly back at the hospital. How will things be different for Jackie when she returns to work? How many people, besides Eddie, O'Hara, and Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith) will know the truth about where Jackie has been? Will she be treated with kid gloves by her co-workers? Will she be as effective at her job without her "helpers?" So many possibilities, and no telling which direction the writers will take things.

Jackie seems to make a second important decision in "Kettle-Kettle-Black-Black," and that's that Kevin (Dominic Fumusa) is the man for her. She doesn't try to get with her separated hubbie, realizing that she is not healthy enough to do so. But by shooting down Eddie in such a cruel manner, one assumes that she is leaving herself open to reconciliation. It's hard to believe that, no matter how many dishonest things she has done, Jackie would stoop to sleeping with Eddie so many times just to get something from him. More than likely, she says that so he will move on and she has a better shot at putting her family back together. And the addict she brings home is a stupid mistake during a low time for her, rather than someone she is truly interested in.

Another important occurrence in "Kettle-Kettle-Black-Black" is that the hospital is sold. Dr. Mike Cruz (Bobby Cannavale, Will & Grace, Win Win) is the guy on the ground representing the new owners. He seems nice enough. He is not heartless, but he is there to make things more profitable, and surely that could cause conflict. Really, it's a smart, realistic way to shake things up, and Cruz is the right type of layered persona to use in this situation.

One of the first things that Cruz does is to tell Akalitus that her job is redundant, and she can either go back to being a floor nurse, or take an early retirement at half pension. As a numbers person with no shortage of determination and resourcefulness, that is no choice for Akalitus, who stays. At least Cruz lets her keep her authority over the other nurses.

It will be thrilling to see Akaltius in scrubs, if only because it will give her more interaction with the rest of the cast. There may also be a sense of relief for Akalitus that she no longer has to work tirelessly to keep the hospital afloat financially. Smith plays the part beautifully, but sometimes her character gets a little too shut away from the others. This should give her even more opportunity to shine.

What a fantastic return for Nurse Jackie! Nurse Jackie airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Please click here to buy DVDs and streaming episodes of Nurse Jackie. Article first published as TV Review: Nurse Jackie - "Kettle-Kettle-Black-Black" on Blogcritics.

Blue Bloods Is All About Family

     I will be among the first to stand up and complain that there are too many cop and / or legal shows on the air currently (not to mentioned medical dramas). But amid all of the mediocre shows, a few stand out. I find myself very much enjoying CBS's new Blue Bloods. I think that's because each member of the family works in a different part of the New York City police force or legal system, and there is almost as much family plot as there is murder investigation. I love that every episode includes a scene where the four generations of Reagans sit and debate what is going on in their lives. Those are my favorite moments in the series.

     Last night's episode was called, appropriately enough, "Family Ties". Like most of the series's episode titles, it can mean a couple of different things. One was the mob connection, and the revenge being sought out after a prominent boss's son is killed at his engagement party. Bonus points to the writers for making the bride's mom Jackie's (Jennifer Esposito, who should be a main character!) high school friend. It was a gripping, compelling story all on its own, not to mention that part that will satisfy those fans of cop shows who watch.

     The other meaning relates to a plot following Erin (Bridget Moynahan), who works for District Attorney Charles Rosselini (Bobby Cannavale). Rosselini is running for mayor against the incumbent, Frank Ruzzo (Bruce Altman). Erin is assigned to pursue corruption charges against Ruzzo's deputy, raising Rosselini's profile, and dealing a blow against Ruzzo at the same time. Complicating matters is that Erin's father, Frank (Tom Selleck), is the police commissioner, and anything that reflects poorly on Ruzzo's administration also hurts Frank. And then Rosselini had to go ahead and kiss newly-divorced Erin last night, so there are all kinds of ties!
 
     Side bar, it is no surprise to me that Frank is easily the best character on a show of great characters. Selleck's talent is immense, and he chooses TV roles very carefully. As the boss with impeccable professional detachment, as well as the very loving family man and widower, Frank is one of the best characters around. No wonder Selleck took the part. It will likely be the defining role of the next stage of his career.

     Of course, more than one Reagan frequently has a stake in whatever case is going on. Most often the connection is between Frank and his son Danny (Donnie Wahlberg, who will be touring with his old musical group, The New Kids On the Block, this summer, which seems bizarre on so many levels). This makes sense because Frank is in charge of the entire police force, and Danny's occupation often delivers him the highest profile cases around. In that regard, it's easy to see how their jurisdictions would overlap. In a similar vein, Erin is one of the best assistant DAs, so she often gets involved in those same stories.

    Now the three of them all being on the same case has happened before on multiple occasions, so often that it does begin to stretch believability sometimes. Thankfully, only rarely has youngest son Jamie (Will Estes), a rookie on the beat, gotten drawn in, and usually only when every cop in the city is involved in something huge. Instead, Jamie has been pursuing his own mystery related to the death of his brother Joe, an event that pushed Jamie to give up a promising career as a lawyer and put on the uniform.

     Some critics have complained about Jamie's investigation, feeling that it adds an unnecessary continuing arc through the series, wishing Blue Bloods would instead focus on the more temporary cases of the week. If you read many of my reviews, or follow my twitter account, you know I grow bored of procedurals quickly, and so you should not be surprised to learn that I think those critics are dumb. The show does need that ongoing arc. It has been a little slow moving for my taste. Often episodes, such as last night's, give only one scene for Jamie to find another piece of the puzzle. I feel like Estes hasn't been as good as the other stars thus far, so I don't really miss him when he's not around. I more like his scenes because I love his partner, Renzulli (Nicholas Turturro). However, I'm ready for his plot to take center stage, and provide the chance for Estes to prove he belongs on screen alongside Selleck, Wahlberg, et al.

     While I don't believe Estes has been underused so much, I am disappointed that Frank's father, Henry (Len Cariou), gets so little to do. Sure, he's retired, but he's also a busy body. He likes to know what's going on with his son and grandchildren. I think Blue Bloods might benefit from him getting a little more nosy. Either that, or give him a consulting position with Frank, Frank's office, the Mayor, or the DA. I know Henry left the force under less than ideal circumstances, though they haven't been discussed in detail, but I could see it being enough time passed, and his family being entrenched enough into local politics, to let Henry be a little more active.

     Surprisingly, despite all of that family stuff among the Reagans out serving the city, little attention is paid to other members of the family. For instance, Danny's wife, Linda (Amy Carlson), has gotten an occasional meaty scene, which she always handles wonderfully, but I'd like to see more of her. Erin's precocious daughter, Nicky (Sami Gayle), perhaps annoying mostly because of her age and arrogance, has had more scenes than Linda, and that is a crying shame. How about a more home-focused episode every once in awhile?

     All said, Blue Bloods does touch on the typical legal and law enforcement shows, but has enough other elements to keep viewers who like to think interested. That was not a knock against the aforementioned genre, but shows within that category are frequently seen as mindless escapism, which has its place, but is not generally my cup of tea. The different points of view allow for a lot of flexibility from week to week, and the cast is amazing. Please check out Blue Bloods Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. on CBS.

Article first published as TV Review: Blue Bloods Is All About Family on Blogcritics.

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