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.

Just KIDDING

Article first published as TV Review: KIDDING on Seat42F.

Jim Carrey returns to television in the new Showtime series, KIDDING, which has thus far aired two episodes. Carrey plays Jeff, who is a very successful children’s television host known as Mr. Pickles. Sort of a Mr. Rogers-type with the marketing reach of Disney, Mr. Pickles is not just a person, he’s a brand. But when one of his twin sons dies in a tragic car accident and his family falls apart, Jeff fights with his boss to take the show a little darker and deal with his loss on-air.

Carrey is a fantastic actor who hasn’t always done projects worthy of his talent. KIDDING is not a dumb comedy by any stretch; it’s a smart, complex look at grief and different ways of dealing with it. Jeff is a very odd person, his on-screen persona his true personality, not an act, and he has a unique viewpoint on the world. Carrey is a rare actor who can make that seem sincere while also allowing the pain to peek through. It’s a really excellent performance.

KIDDING would be fine as a one-man showcase, and indeed, Carrey has earned such a series. However, he is surrounded by a fantastic ensemble that really enriches the story being told. Frank Langella (The Americans) plays Sebastian, Jeff’s boss who is also his father, making that relationship a lot more layered than it would otherwise be. Puppeteer Deirdre (Catherine Keener, Being John Malkovich) that works on the show is also Jeff’s sister. His estranged wife, Jill (Judy Greer, Arrested Development), is a nurse at the Mr. Pickles Cancer Wing. This blurring of the personal and professional really informs on Jeff as a character, and they all carry their own weight rather effectively, more than just there to serve him, though they do that, too.

The series is both grounded and slightly fantastical, mostly in the way it applies to its lead character. Jeff doesn’t have a firm grasp on reality because he always sees and assumes the best. His show can exist in a place like that, and he’s been able to get away with it because of the lucky life he’s led. But when issues crash down on him, it’s very interesting to see how someone like Jeff weathers the storm.

I love that this is a very dark drama, but that it has room for small bits of comedy. And I do mean small. The opening sequence of episode two, which involves a car theft, is the funniest thing in the initial pair of installments, and no main characters are really part of it. It’s telling that the story has to step away from its leads to find something so hilarious, because their lives are not equipped to handle it currently.

And yet, there’s something about this show that I’m just not sure about yet. Partly it’s because Jeff’s viewpoint, which the audience is mainly guided by, is definitely not the true telling. Partly because we’re still missing key pieces of the emotional story. Partly because Jeff might very well be a powder keg that is going to explode before long. And partly because there are small hanging threads from episode to episode that beg to be resolved. KIDDING seems like something you’d have to make it through a whole season of before you could properly judge it.

I like this show a lot, mainly because of the actors and the basic premise. In the details, sometimes it can be a little slow, sometimes a little obtuse, but overall, it’s interesting and feels unique. I am very curious to see where it goes and if Carrey can keep his performance reigned in, as the subtlety is very much working for him.

KIDDING airs Sundays at 10PM on Showtime.

Trust on Blu-ray

     Now out on Blu-ray from Millennium Entertainment is Trust, or trust_, as the cover says. It is the story of 14-year old Annie (Liana Liberato, The Last Sin Easter) who befriends her dream guy (Chris Henry Coffey, Downsized) online. They spend months chatting, and when Annie finally goes to meet the boy, she discovers he is actually about twenty years older than her. Going back to his hotel room with him, she gives him her virginity in a less than enthusiastic way. Her best friend relates the story to the authorities, and most of Trust is about the impact the events have on Annie and her family.

     Do not be fooled by the slow start. Yes, a significant portion of the beginning of the film is just Annie texting the guy, and seems trite. But if you stick with it, there are great performances later in the movie. Liberato does better than expected, capturing the nuance of mixed up teenage girl feelings, including love and anger. She makes it easy to relate to her desire for the sexual encounter to mean something, even as she realizes how wrong it is.

     Clive Owen (Duplicity, Closer) gets the meatiest role as Annie's father, who wants revenge on the man who took his daughter's innocence, and doesn't know how to be supportive of her. Many thoughts war within Clive, including a need to act out in a violent way, but his emotional moments are best. For fans growing weary of Owen's recent bad movies, this will help ease that pain. Catherine Keener (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Being John Malkovich) also gives a typically brilliant performance as Annie's mother, though she unfortunately gets less focus.

     Supporting the main players are Viola Davis (Doubt) as Annie's guidance counselor, who attempts to help Annie deal with her feelings, and Jason Clarke (The Chicago Code) as the federal agent assigned to the case. Both are very talented performers, and manage to convey that in limited parts.

     It may surprise you to learn that Trust is the directorial debut of Friends star David Schwimmer. He does a relatively capable job with this gripping story. As mentioned before, the beginning section of the movie, before the statutory rape, comes off as a cheesy movie about a melodramatic teen girl. But once events begin rolling along, Trust becomes a great film, with much credit to go to the director who sets the tone wonderfully.

     Picture and sound quality are fantastic. This release is in 16x9 2.35 anamorphic widescreen with 1080p high definition and Dolby True HD. Perhaps I've become immune to what sets a good Blu-ray release apart, as most television and movies are now viewed in HD, at least in my household. Trust looks and sounds fantastic - just like everything else in high definition. This movie has no big special effects, so it's hard to pinpoint some great examples. But must of the lighting and tone has a dark feel, especially after the rape, as is appropriate, and the blacks are rich. The picture is crystal clear, as is the sound. As far as technology goes, there should be nothing to complain about in this release.

     There are English SDH and Spanish subtitles included. The only special feature is a sixteen minute conversation with the people involved in the film, which does give some good insight into the process and the characters. I just wish there was more.

      Besides Blu-ray, which is the recommended format, Trust is also available on DVD and both standard and high definition download. Click here to buy Trust,

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Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Trust on Blogcritics.