HORACE AND PETE

Article first published as TV Review: 'Horace and Pete' on Blogcritics.

 

With little fanfare and no prior announcement, Louis C.K. dropped a new television series on the world two weeks ago called Horace and Pete. Set in a bar run for a century by various related Horaces and Petes, the current owners struggle to keep the doors open and fend off a left-out family member. Is this the end of the establishment, or simply the regular challenges that occur regularly over the course of a lifetime?

The story is simple enough. Horace VII passed away a year ago, so now the bar has fallen under the care of Horace VIII (Louis C.K.), an accountant, and his medicated brother, Pete (Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire). When their sister, Sylvia (Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie) brings a lawyer (Stephen Wallem, Nurse Jackie) in to assert ownership, the politically incorrect previous Pete, known as Uncle Pete (Alan Alda, M*A*S*H), tells the storied history of the place and defends the status quo.

One wants the status quo defended, as the titular drinking hole is a universe unto itself, removed from the city outside. Its regulars, including Horace VII’s last girlfriend, Marsha (Jessica Lange, American Horror Story), Leon (Steven Wright, Reservoir Dogs), and Kurt (Kurt Metzger, Ugly Americans), may enjoy debating current events, but it’s hard to imagine them discussing such things anywhere else. Those that come in less often, such as Horace’s daughter, Alice (Aidy Bryant, Saturday Night Live), and a few hipsters looking for an experience, don’t understand.

Horace and Pete can be humorous, but it’s not a comedy. It’s much darker than Louie and there is a sadness that permeates the proceedings. It’s thoroughly enjoyably, beautiful, and stylistic, but it’s not laugh-out-loud funny, and at times, it’s downright depressing. It’s the natural extension of what Louis C.K. has done before, deepening the pathos.

Calling Horace and Pete a television show stretches the definition of that term. True, I did watch it on my television (by buying the episode from C.K.’s website, downloading it to my laptop, then transferring it to my TiVo, where it still looks fantastic in 55 inches), but it does not broadcast on any station, nor is it available via streaming services like Netflix and Amazon. Instead, as he has done with recent stand-up specials, C.K. controls the experience, providing a single portal through which to get it, giving him total control over the presentation, and allowing him to release the first one while still filming the second.

Some may balk at the $5 price for episode one, when most buy-alone shows are $2.99 (for high definition) per episode. C.K. has pledged to sell the second installment for $2 and subsequent ones for $3, so it’s only the pilot, which clocks in at an extra-long 67 minutes, that costs a little more. But it’s totally worth it.

What the viewers get with Horace and Pete isn’t just a show, it’s an experience. The drama feels like a Broadway play. Filmed multi-camera with no background score, there’s a constant white noise one would expect when watching a recording from a theatre. The cast is top-notch and very New York, lending to the impression of a live performance. The script is by C.K., and while most of the dialogue could easily come from his FX comedy series, Louie, by giving his words out to a varied ensemble and delivering them in the right manner, they become the lyrics of a playwright, not sitcom fodder.

None of this avant-garde art is totally unexpected for C.K. Perhaps this specific format is not what one would have predicted, but it’s been a long time since he’s allowed himself to be defined by convention. C.K. is constantly pushing boundaries and doing something no one else has before, if only because of a clever bend. Horace and Pete is that from beginning to end.

Portlandia Season One comes to Blu-ray and DVD

     IFC launched a new sketch comedy series last year, produced by Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels, called Portlandia. Now season one is available on Blu-ray and DVD. It will likely not surprise you to learn that it stars a SNL cast member, Fred Armisen, known for playing Barack Obama and Joy Behar, among others. Fred is joined by musician Carrie Brownstein. The show is made up of a series of shorts featuring odd characters, some stand alone, some recurring in multiple episodes. The jokes are much more understated than SNL. The unique catch here is that all the bits take place in Portland, Oregon, and the show tries to capture the spirit of the city. Having never been there, I can't say if it does so accurately. I can say, I have enjoyed watching it.

     In the first two weeks alone, Fred and Carrie visit a free range chicken farm populated by polygamists, an uber-feminist bookshop, engage in an adult game of hide and seek, write a theme song for Portland at the request of the mayor, and do a huge opening number for the premiere! And that's just the tip of the iceberg! The humor is unexpected, and fun. For instance, the sketch about writing the song is back and forth random ideas between the pair. What makes it rise above average is that Carrie falls in love, accidentally kills the guy, and attends his funeral while giving her thoughts. It is never mentioned, but really elevated the whole sketch. It's fresh, unique fun.

    Celebrities, too, seem to like the show. Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), Aimee Mann, Jason Sudeikis (SNL), and Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) are among those who stop by to join the pair in their odd stories. This sort of proves the respect the duo has within the performing community, and makes it all the more fun to see who will pop up next!

     The tone of Portlandia speaks to the outsider. Whether you are an outsider yourself, or just enjoy a light hearted poking of such people, there is something for you in this series. Portland may or may not be made up of young people who "go there to retire," but the grunge and indie spirits of the 1990's thrive in the city, or at least this fictional version of such. Thus, Portlandia routinely goes into territories other comedies merely touch on, if that.

     One may question whether or not to buy the Blu-ray version of Portlandia Season One. The price difference isn't big, so why not? True, owing to the low budget of the series, not everything is as crystal clear as other Blu releases. The blacks are not particularly rich. But the creators do pay much attention to detail, and you wouldn't want to miss that. Also, it isn't a cheap conversion, so why the picture does go soft at times, there is a quality different over the DVD. As far as audio goes, it does lack the surround sound many Blu releases have, but he mixing is done nicely, and with little action, many will not even notice.

     Bonus features are sadly lacking on this set. The audio commentaries aren't particularly insightful, and do drag on a bit. Deleted and extended scenes, almost twenty minutes in length, are mainly a snooze fest. There are a couple of gems within, but it's not worth sitting through the others to get to them. A commencement speech given by Armisen is included, but he looks uncomfortable, and his humor is uneven. A couple of sketches of the former Armisen / Brownstein project, Thunderant, are pretty cool, though. And the packaging, with an tone-appropriate environmental package and great graphics, is neat.

     Even without a ton of extras, Portlandia Season One is worth the purchase for the episodes alone. Pick up your copy now and prepare for season two, which premieres on IFC in early January.

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The Island hits Blu-ray

     Coming to Blu-ray Tuesday, June 21st is The Island. This 2005 Paramount movie stars Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer, Big Fish) and Scarlett Johansson (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Iron Man 2) as Lincoln Echo Six and Jordan Two Delta, two individuals living in a very structured hive, safe from the contaminated post-apocalyptic outside world. The residents hope for the day they will win the lottery and get to move to The Island, the only place that is still safe outside of their living quarters. But then Lincoln realizes that not everything is as it appears. For instance, the outside world is not post-apocalyptic. Lincoln and Jordan escape from the compound, pursued vigorously by a private security firm hired by compound director Dr. Bernard Merrick (Sean Bean, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings). Can they alert the public to their plight before they are killed or captured?

     If you missed this movie when it came out, it would be a good idea to check out this Blu-ray release. It's action packed, as expected for a movie directed by Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon), but it also has a lot of heart. The story of two naive individuals who figure out their world is wrong, and are willing to do anything to save not only themselves, but everyone else being manipulated, is a wonderful tale. Their plight is central to the story, and the Bay signature touches merely enhance the experience, rather than drowning it out.

     Also, performances by not just McGregor, Johansson, and Bean, but also by supporting cast Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire, The Big Lebowski), Dijimon Hounsou (Gladiator, Blood Diamond), Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile, the upcoming FOX series The Finder), and Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager) are all flawless. These actors give some of their finest work. I'd elaborate, but I hate to spoil the twists and turns of the plot. Trust me. It's obvious once you watch what I refer to for each one. 

     At around 135 minutes it may seem long to some, but the pacing is good in the first half, and frantic in the second, so there is little chance of getting bored. The special effects are top notch, and the futuristic hive is well designed. It is set in the future, but not very far, and still relatable. The new technology imaginings seem a bit far off for 2019, but still possible in our lifetimes.

     Blu-ray is definitely the right way to experience The Island, as the extended freeway chase comes alive, with all of its crashes and explosions highlighted nicely in the 1080p high definition. Of course, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound really puts the viewer in the center of it all, assuming you have a system to take advantage of it. The action sequences get a little loud, so keep the volume control handy, but it's all realistic, and picture and sound are crystal clear. It's just hard to imagine that the film will look half as good without the proper technology to experience it, because of the sweeping vistas and high octane effects. 

      That being said, the bonus features are a bit thin. There are subtitles available in English, French, and Spanish, and a commentary track by Michael Bay, but including none of the actors. Three featurettes give a look at how the action sequences are shot and the futuristic architecture designed, but none last more than fifteen minutes. They are interesting, but far from satisfying, leaving you wanting more. Luckily, the price point is relatively low, so you won't feel ripped off, even without many extras.

     Go out and buy The Island on Blu-ray, available this Tuesday, June 21st.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

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

Portlandia Uniquely Amusing

     IFC has a new sketch comedy series produced by Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels called Portlandia. It will likely not surprise you to learn that it also stars a SNL cast member, Fred Armisen, known for playing Barack Obama and Joy Behar, among others. Fred is joined by Carrie Brownstein.

     The show is made up of a series of shorts featuring odd characters, some stand alone, some recurring in multiple episodes. The jokes are much more understated than SNL. The unique catch here is that all the bits take place in Portland, Oregon, and the show tries to capture the spirit of the city. Having never been there, I can't say if it does so accurately. I can say, I have enjoyed watching it.

     In the first two weeks, Fred and Carrie visited a free range chicken farm populated by polygamists, an uber-feminist bookshop, engaged in an adult game of hide and seek, write a theme song for Portland at the request of the mayor, and did a huge opening number for the premiere.

     The humor is unexpected, and fun. For instance, the sketch about writing the song was back and forth random ideas between the pair. What made it rise above average was that Carrie fell in love, accidentally killed the guy, and attended his funeral while giving her thoughts. It was never mentioned, but really elevated the whole sketch.

     Celebrities, too, seem to like the show. In the first two episodes alone, Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), Jason Sudeikis (SNL), and Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) stopped by to join the pair in their odd stories. I don't know who will be next up, but I'm excited.

     Check out Portlandia Friday nights at 10:30 p.m. on IFC.

Article first published as TV Review: Portlandia Uniquely Amusing on Blogcritics.

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Boardwalk Empire is pretty good...

     HBO spent $65 millions dollars on Boardwalk Empire. Yes, that's right. Sixty-five million on a television series! They actually built the entire boardwalk of the title from scratch in Brooklyn, and worked hard to ensure that every detail of the show is authentic to the 1920s, when the story takes place. Although parts of it are fictional (the main character's last name is Thompson, while the real-life man who ran the boardwalk had the last name Johnson), much about Boardwalk Empire rings very true. And the production values paid off, as the sets, costumes, and scenery are fantastic.

     Sadly, however, I can only call the series pretty good. In the pilot, the plot meanders along, and much of the screen time doesn't advance the action. The dialogue is fun, but not much is memorably quotable. Steve Buscemi does a fair job in the primary role, and proves he can handle a television show. I know it's about time that he got top billing. Yet, I couldn't help but feel something was lacking. It could have been better. Reviewers who have seen more than one episode have suggested that perhaps Martin Scorsese, who directed the pilot, is better at directing the big screen than the small, and future episodes with other directors flow better. I hope so, because this show has a lot riding on it, and I do want it to succeed.

     I hope my opening didn't scare you off from BE. There is much that is laudable, besides the setting. Buscemi plays Nucky Thompson, the treasurer who runs things on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. As the series begins, Prohibition has just begun, but Nucky is keeping the libations flowing liberally. He is also facing a bit of a crisis, as the world modernizes and he is a little slow to change with it.

     The biggest threat to Nucky is his loyal but ambitious driver, Jimmy Darmody, played excellently by Michael Pitt (Dawson's Creek). This week, Jimmy helped a very young Al Capone (Stephen Graham) topple the balance of power in Chicago. He gave a cut of his dealings to Nucky, but angered plenty of other people.

     The third apparent star of the show is Kelly Macdonald (Trainspotting) as Margaret, a love interest for Nucky. Clearly there is some deeper attraction for Nucky, something to do with his childhood and babies, that brings him closer to the pregnant Margaret, but his fascination with her continues after she loses the baby. Now that Nucky got rid of her abusive husband, I'm interested to see how the relationship develops.

     Boardwalk Empire has eleven more episodes in the can, and will air Sunday nights at 9pm on HBO. 

Article first published as Boardwalk Empire Is Pretty Good on Blogcritics.