BIG LITTLE LIES Big Fun With Little to Complain About

Article first published as BIG LITTLE LIES Review on Seat42F.

HBO is known for attracting top talent, especially for their limited-run programming. Nowhere is that trend more apparent than in the new miniseries BIG LITTLE LIES, premiering tonight. Written by David E. Kelley (The Practice), directed by Jean-Marc Vallee (Dallas Buyers Club), and boasting an all-star cast, this seven-part story is the less-cheesy version of a primetime soap. It takes place in an affluent neighborhood, and focuses on the mothers of first graders. And oh yes, there’s a mysterious murder.

BIG LITTLE LIES doesn’t tell you who’s dead and who did the killing right away. Its hook is based on suspense. We know something bad happened slightly in the future, but we don’t know why or to who or even who did it. The whole thing is told on an earlier timeline, which makes viewers pay more attention to every interaction between characters, seeing if they can figure out the twists before they are revealed.

The fact that the show is a miniseries, rather than an ongoing program, is also a benefit in drawing in eyeballs. The stakes are higher when the audience knows that nobody is coming back for a second season. That means we can’t just dismiss a star or main player from being the criminal or victim out of hand. There is no motivation to keep anyone’s hands clean, and that makes it all the more compelling.

Reese Witherspoon’s (Walk the Line, Wild) Madison Martha Mackenzie seems the most central role. In a marriage she values with a steady man, Ed (Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation), she still can’t get over her ex, Nathan (James Tupper, Revenge), nor does she care much for his new wife, Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz, Max Max: Fury Road). In the meantime, she’s dealing with a rebellious teenager, hanging out with her two best friends, and battling another mother for dominancy at school.

Madison’s pals are Celeste Wright (Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge!, Lion) and Jane Chapman (Shailene Woodley, Divergent, The Secret Life of the American Teenager). Jane is new in town, and is slow to give up information about herself. Celeste has been around for awhile, and quit her law career to stay home and raise a family for her younger husband, Peter (Alexander Skarsgård).

None of the three seem all that happy, especially when they come into contact with the mother on the other side of their war, Renata Klein (Laura Dern, Enlightened, The Founder). Each deal with their own issues, and while they seem relatively sweet, it’s also easy to see how any of them could either be pushed to murder, or be murdered by someone else.

On paper, the plot seems a lot like ABC’s Revenge, which I gave up on midway through. Comparing BIG LITTLE LIES to Revenge is the best way I can think of to illustrate the extreme examples in the genre of what works and what doesn’t. Revenge may have been fun, but it never rose to Desperate Housewives levels of quality, a like-minded show I’d put in the middle of the rankings. This one is at the top, giving us the juiciness audiences want, while still making a quality series by nearly any measure.

I like BIG LITTLE LIES. It’s wonderfully acted, beautifully shot, and has a terrific style and tone. It deals with material that would be very easy to make cartoonish, and yet keeps it from being so. Even the child actors, though less talented than their adult peers, are well selected, adding to the drama, rather than distracting from it. After watching two hours, I am fully invested in seeing this through to the end.

BIG LITTLE LIES premieres tonight at 9/8c on HBO.

Enlightened may not be the "Agent of Change" it hopes

Article first published as Enlightened may not be the "Agent of Change" it hopes on TheTVKing.

HBO's Enlightened brings its second season (and possibly series) to an end this week with "Agent of Change." The proverbial crap hits the fan as Jeff's (Dermot Mulroney) article about Abaddon becomes public knowledge. Amy's (Laura Dern) part in it is fully exposed, costing her her job. Before she goes quietly or triumphantly off into the night though, she burns a few more bridges.

Amy is a polarizing character you tend to either love or hate. Despite enjoying the show, I don't like the lead very much. I don't know if this is a testament to Dern for creating such a specific persona, one who is realistic and recognizable, even if not very likeable, or if they series' writers misjudge just how far Amy can be taken. I feel like this is why the show struggles to build a following.

That being said, I do still want Amy to have a happy ending. She is the protagonist, and we've spent enough time watching her. She is a pain and her self-righteousness causes more harm than good. But, at the end of the day, she should still find her niche. "Agent of Change" doesn't get her there, but it does leave her in a place of success, at least on certain fronts.

It's funny when Amy gets a meeting with the head of Abaddon, Charles Szidon (James Rebhorn, White Collar, Homeland). It takes no time at all for Szidon to convince Amy that he's a good guy who's trying his best. His earnestness and apparent sincerity could sway fans of the show, too. Yet, Amy should not be moved, given the evidence she's seen. She should be able to look past his words and remember his crimes, figuring he only offers her the dream job because it makes him look good. The fact that she doesn't, changing her mind at the drop of a hat, exposes the flimsiness and weakness of her personality, a lack of utter conviction about anything.

This wishy-washiness extends to Amy's romantic life, too. She is plenty willing to blow off Levi (Luke Wilson), a man who has gone to great lengths to get his life together for her, and whom she has strung along for awhile, when she is sleeping with Jeff. Yet, when Jeff asks for a break, whose house does she go to for comfort? Yep, Levi's. Her actions are not fair to either man.

I don't believe that Jeff doesn't care for Amy. I'm not convinced he's in love with her, but it does seem like he's asking for the time apart for professional reasons, not because he is using her for information. The glowing way in which he writes about her in his article, as well as his query as to whether she is OK after everything blows up, shows us this. If Enlightened does get a third season, it could be interesting to watch Jeff and Levi fight over Amy, especially when the "winner" who gets her could, in actuality, end up the loser.

The most uncomfortable thing Amy does in "Agent of Change" doesn't come from her guy troubles, or her final showdown with Szidon, where she grows a backbone at last. No, the worst scene is when Amy ruins her fragile relationship with Krista (Sarah Burns). Just when they rebuild a friendship, Amy storms into Krista's hospital room, not long after Krista gives birth, and lobbies angry accusations and profanity against an innocent woman. It's totally in character, but it's exactly why Krista has distanced herself from Amy in the first place. There is most likely no coming back from this for Amy.

The best moment of the episode, in my opinion, is when Dougie (Timm Sharp) tries to help Amy get out of the building with her evidence against Abaddon. He tells her that she's been a terrible employee, but he still wants to hang out with her, and he supports her mission. Friends can be found in the most unlikely of places, and to see them come together is heartwarming.

It's also nice that Amy salvages Tyler's (Mike White) budding arrangement with Eileen (Molly Shannon, Saturday Night Live), and, after kicking her daughter out of her home, Helen (Diane Ladd) finds something to be proud of Amy for. These are the touches that makes Enlightened worth watching, even at its most uncomfortable moments.

What would a third season of Enlightened look like? Obviously, Amy would not be at her job any longer, and that would make it hard to keep all of her co-workers in the cast. Tyler and Dougie, at least, lost their jobs, too, so maybe they would latch on to whatever Amy does next. But Krista would likely be gone, which, while I liked her, would not be a big loss, since her arc comes to a close so neatly this week. And obviously Amy would have another cause to go after in some half-thought out way.

"Agent of Change" is nice because it really brings things to a close in a way that makes sense. There may be some things that end uncomfortably, and plenty of balls left up in the air, but if Enlightened should be done, there is enough finished to not be too disappointing.

New Trend: Parents Playing Parents?

Article first published as New Trend: Parents Playing Parents? on Blogcritics.

Acting is a craft honed with many years of practice and a large degree of talent. But talent alone may not be enough if the actors have to work with other performers with whom they just do not have chemistry. One of the greatest challenges in casting a series is picking people who have the right fit with one another, who can make it seem like their relationships go back way further than the show's timeline.

Hollywood seems to have a new solution to that problem. Why fake a relationship, when you can use one that already exists?

In HBO's Enlightened, which just began its second season, the main character of Amy is played by Laura Dern. Amy's mother is played by Diane Ladd. What may not be obvious to those who haven't bothered googling the two women is that Ladd is Dern's actual mother. They don't look a lot alike, but considering that Ladd is the person who raised Dern, it's no surprise that they can pull off a great dynamic on screen.

Their characters are antagonistic towards each other in the series, and this isn't too far-fetched to believe. Dern once sued her mother for emancipation so that she could do a movie to which her mother objected. Clearly, the two have a rocky back story, and have some real life material to draw upon for their mother-daughter roles, and this isn't the first time they've played opposite one another.

Maybe they've worked past those differences; everyone grows up. Everyone spats with their parents; not everyone sues for emancipation, but not knowing the family, I couldn't say what what motivate such an action, or how it was received. Those of us on the outside can only guess at Dern and Ladd's actual relationship.

That isn't really the point, though. The point is, these two women, both terrific actors in their own right, have found a way to use their relationship in their careers. Being on set together gives them an opportunity to spend time together. It also gives them a very authentic feel for their characters.

I wonders how much of their real relationship goes into the parts? Do they work better if they keep the characters purely on a fictional plane, or do they have no trouble pulling things from reality, in order to make the scene even more realistic? This is personal choice, of course, and there is not formula that will work for everyone.

Thinking about how it would be to work with my parents, I feel like it risks quite a bit of unprofessionalism while filming. I mean, I can't see my parents willing to set aside the fact that they are my parents, even if they are happy to help and work together. It would definitely make for a different dynamic once the cameras stop rolling, and with Dern having some creative control over the series, does that cause any tension between them?

I guess what I'm trying to say is, whether this will work or not depends on the individuals, how they feel about one another, and what the established hierarchy is in the project. It's not a choice everyone can make, even if both parent and child happen to be in the same industry. But it works for others outside of acting, too, such as when a kid takes over a retiring parent's business, and spends years training to prepare for that day, so it's about time that this is tried in the world of television.

Dern and Ladd are not alone in this arrangement. Recently, after guesting once last summer, Martin Sheen has joined the cast of FX's Anger Management, which also just began a second season. He plays Martin, the father of real-life son Charlie's character, also called Charlie. Keeping the same names blurs the lines even more. Is this a play for ratings, or did the pair really just decide they wanted to work together? 


Not so long ago, Charlie (the actor, not the character) had a huge public meltdown, which few could have missed. Martin got involved then, too. This will only fuel rumors about why Martin is now on set, and what might be going on. It could also potentially be disruptive to the filming process down the line, so it seems like a tenuous pairing, especially on a television show committed to cranking out 90 episodes over the next two years, making for a high stress, very busy environment.

Then again, maybe it's not a problem. As I said before, we can't know for certain what their relationship is, and as long as their bosses trust that whatever happens will not interrupt the production process, and it works for the network, good for them. I am certainly enjoying both casting choices so far.

There are all sorts of implications if this should become a full-blown trend. Will it be one that works, making for better television and films. Or are these two pairings just anomalies, a footnote in the history books? Could one or both of them flame out miserably because adults don't always work well with their parents? Or will it lead to them having even better relationships and more respect for one another? These four could be a bell weather if others are considering the move.

Or I could be making something out of nothing.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Still not Enlightened

This season, HBO's Enlightened is going dark, with Amy (Laura Dern) seeking revenge on her company, hoping to bring them down. Well, she claims in this week's premiere, "The Key," that she is not motivated by any need to get even, but I think that the lady doth protest too much. The question is, will her stated noble reasons to hurt her employer win out, or will her emotional state ruin the mission before it even gets started?

As Amy approaches reporter Jeff Flender (Dermot Mulroney, New Girl, My Best Friend's Wedding) with information she obtained from hacking executive e-mail accounts, she appears confident that she has enough dirt to bring the whole corporation crashing down. While watching, though, there is little suspense. Viewers know that she can't possibly have what she thinks she has, because that's just not the type of person Amy is. She doesn't succeed like this.

The choices Dern makes in playing the character are interesting. She overreacts, and forces drama where there need not be, at least, not as much as she makes present. She has a holier-that-thou attitude, but her flaws are obvious, and constantly on display. She gets completely ahead of herself, such as in "The Key," where she is printing a few e-mails, and already imagining herself as Time's person of the year for being such a great whistle-blower. She thinks she is clever in fooling her boss, but she's not.

We all know someone like her, but they are the person one avoids. Centering an entire series around her is a bold choice.

I admit, it has taken awhile for Enlightened to grow on me, likely for just such reasons. There's plenty of television programs that serve up a delicious anti-hero, but Amy is an annoying and whiny girl, who doesn't easily get audiences to root for her. I feel like this year's mission to actually turn her causes into something worthwhile may be an attempt to connect and build a fan base. It remains to be seen if that will work.

Yet, there is something that has kept me watching all this time. Maybe it's the wonderment that Dern has so fully committed to and fleshed out the character of Amy. Maybe it's the side characters, who get drawn into Amy's plans, and the need to see them make it out of her influence and be OK. I'm not quite sure why, but I do end up enjoying the show.

Sadly, Amy's vendetta has got to have some casualties. Most likely, that will be in the form of Tyler (Mike White), whose password she uses to hack the e-mails, and whom drives her across down to meet with Jeff, but then Amy leaves him in the car. Tyler's a long-suffering sidekick, and while he probably won't be going anywhere on Enlightened, that doesn't mean his character's job isn't in jeopardy.

I am not worried about Jeff. He's a smart, shrewd individual who knows exactly what he is doing. He is willing to work with Amy because he can use her to get the story that he wants, and he's not going to waste time with the drivel that she initially gives him. There may even be a little spark of attraction between them, him seeing something in her that he likes in the way that she is disgusted with her company's terrible, but not illegal, practices.

The question there is, will Levi (Luke Wilson) return home and compete with Jeff for her affections? Levi doesn't appear in "The Key" because the action picks up soon after last year's finale, and he is away at the retreat. Or is he? I'm honestly not sure, because he doesn't seem like the kind of guy that would benefit from Amy's favorite place in the world. However, when he does come back, and if he wants Amy again, there could potentially be some organic competition there. That Amy will most definitely blow way out of proportion.

Enlightened airs Sundays at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

Anyone want to be Enlightened?

     In the pilot of HBO's new half hour dramedy, Enlightened, Amy Jellicoe (Laura Dern, Jurassic Park), has a mental breakdown at work. This is likely due to her co-worker/lover, Damon (Chip Esten, Big Love) dumping her, and quite possibly costing Amy her job. Amy goes to Hawaii for three months and finds inner peace. Returning with a positive attitude, she goes back to her company, who, afraid of a lawsuit, finds a place for her within the building.

     It's hard to know what to make of Enlightened. Amy is in a precarious mental state. Even after her "enlightenment," she still shows signs of her previous instability. She tries to make peace with Damon, who calls her crazy, sparking her to cuss and yell again. As such, Amy's character is still an unknown. Has she really begun a new path? Or is the "inner peace" just cover for the turmoil raging within her, being kept bottled up? Or is she, like most people in reality, somewhere in the middle, still figuring out her path? Will she be happy with the crappy little position she takes over at work, or will she rebel at the demotion?

     It isn't hard to see why Amy has trouble connecting and communicating with others. Upon returning from Hawaii, Amy temporarily moves in with her mother, Helen (Diane Ladd, Kingdom Hospital, Chinatown). Amy tries to read Helen a letter she wrote at her retreat about her feelings towards her mother. Helen refuses to listen, making excuses to avoid the confrontation and authentic exchange. Yet, Helen still cares, as evidenced by Amy finding her asleep with Amy's letter. So no wonder Amy is socially awkward after being raised by such a distant woman. Maybe Amy can find a way to help her while they live together.

     Damon will not continue to be a love interest for Amy. In fact, if anything, he is an obstacle. Since he still holds a high position within the company, might he make her work life even more miserable than it's sure to be? Or might Amy crack a little further and use their affair, and the threat to tell his wife, as leverage against the slimy weasel? The latter would be most welcome, even if it costs Amy some progress.

     No, Amy's love interest is ex-husband, Levi (Luke Wilson, Old School, The Royal Tenenbaums). There is still clearly much affection between the pair, and Levi isn't, unlike Damon, hostile towards Amy. Unfortunately, Levi doesn't have his life together either, as evidenced by snorting a line of coke during polite conversation. It is no wonder two such messed up people couldn't make it work. One must take care of oneself before supporting another. But, maybe if Amy does begin to find a real stability, she can help Levi find himself Enlightened.

     Despite the confusion over what Enlightened is about, and the uncertainty whether it will be worth watching or not, there is one thing that can be said for sure: Dern and Wilson are giving amazing performances. They both knock it out of the park separately, and their chemistry together is wonderful. With this in place, it seems the series deserves a chance.

     Finally, it's hard to know what to make of Amy's co-worker friend, Krista (Sarah Burns, I Love You, Man). Five months pregnant, she's awkward when admitting such to Amy. Might Krista's baby be Damon's, rather than her (former?) steady guy's? Her evasive speech indicates that something is up, and that could explain the unease around Amy, as their affairs with Damon would overlap. This could be a serious stumbling block to Amy's readjustment.

     Enlightened airs Mondays at 9:30 p.m. ET on HBO.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as TV Review: Enlightened - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.