Good morning, fellow Lemuelites. Anyone been watching the McConaughey/Harrelson program, True Detective? It shows on Sunday nights, and is rather good. Thoughts?
An acting tour de force by the pair and, as a denizen of Louisiana, the depictions of the land and life around "refinery row" on the banks of the Mississippi from Baton Rouge to New Orleans are spot on.
(Note: They cheat somewhat when they mention places like Erath, Eunice and Opelousas which are all well to the west of the areas where the action is purported to take place, i.e., within sight of the refineries [shown] near Baton Rouge on either side of the river. In fact they shot mainly around up-river rural Orleans Parish. Erath, for example is on the western side of Lafayette some two hrs from B.R and Opelousas is 30 min north of Lafayette while Eunice sits along-side old HWY 90 paralleling I-10 to its north Half-way between Opelousas and B.R.)
I don't have HBO but that is no problem because there are a few other very good Sunday night shows thruout the year include Shameless, Walking Dead, Homeland and Mad Men.
PS: I should have been more specific, Deb. The actual filming takes place largely off of the old Airline Hwy (used to be main 4-lane from B.R to N.O prior to I-10) near the major refineries at Norco, La. just up-river from N.O.
Yeah, I know re Woody and his disgusting politics, but both of their performances are ABSOLUTELY outstanding examples of capturing the essence "of that time and of that place." I've managed to look past that--probably as the subj matter is my beloved adopted state.. Do yourself a favor and follow by watching the past episodes on the net.
Is it Harrelson's political views? I'm unaware of them. Aren't most actors big old lefties, anyway?
It's funny how some people don't like actors for other reasons. I was surprised once when I recommended Nobody's Fool with Paul Newman to my dad, and he said he didn't care for Newman. I myself don't care for Robert Mitchum, and a few others I can't think of now.
I think Harrelson is pretty much a hoot. It's McConaughey that's gotten kind of stale to me. But he goes a whole new way in this show...just great.
I'm with DBQ on Harrelson; just can't watch him. For me, it's because he always comes across as nightmarish creepy. Something about his eyes and frozen smile. [shudder]
It is his [Harrelson's] political hypocrisy, smug attitude, stupid grandstanding during Katrina, 9-11 truther, rabid environmentalist, general all around wackadoodle .
Mostly, like Lydia, I get a creep, stalker, psychopath vibe from him. He was perfectly cast in Natural Born Killers.
I don't get HBO. I get a free trial once in a while and if I remember to check it out it's like, really, do I need to see Meet the Fockers and/or The Hangover Part deux AGAIN? There are perennial HBO faves that I just cannot stand. No. I re-upped to watch Game of Thrones one year. Might do that again. Woody Harrelson is creepy and weird. Even on Cheers he was creepy and weird. Overdid the nice midwestern boy thing. I always figured he murdered Coach.
But DBQ it's EXACTLY the "creep stalker psychopath vibe" that makes him so deliciously effective in this role. Now, true enough, it's not acting, but just his basic nature, but that is what superior casting is all about. The longer I live the more I have come to view it as the key to effective cinematic offerings..
The fact that the production is being staged out of New Orleans rather than Baton Rouge demonstrates the triumph of creature comforts and superior nightlife of New Orleans over verisimilitude. The countryside around B.R is almost the same as are the refineries and they could have worked in some interesting shots of both the old original neo-gothic medieval castle-like State Capitol sitting on the banks of the Mississippi overlooking the river and also shots of the 30s era Huey Long built art deco skyscraper that is the present one, as well as some shots of LSU's Tiger Stadium as seen from either the river or as a drive by. As our protagonists are supposedly based out of B. R it would have added even more verisimilitude as well as exposing the general public to an aspect of Louisiana they rarely see..
PS virgil, that's not to say there won't be shots of Baton Rouge later on. For now, I think we're supposed to exist in the deserted, eerie, and mysterious cane fields, arrow-straight highways, and buildings that Andrew left behind.
20 comments:
An acting tour de force by the pair and, as a denizen of Louisiana, the depictions of the land and life around "refinery row" on the banks of the Mississippi from Baton Rouge to New Orleans are spot on.
(Note: They cheat somewhat when they mention places like Erath, Eunice and Opelousas which are all well to the west of the areas where the action is purported to take place, i.e., within sight of the refineries [shown] near Baton Rouge on either side of the river. In fact they shot mainly around up-river rural Orleans Parish. Erath, for example is on the western side of Lafayette some two hrs from B.R and Opelousas is 30 min north of Lafayette while Eunice sits along-side old HWY 90 paralleling I-10 to its north Half-way between Opelousas and B.R.)
I don't have HBO but that is no problem because there are a few other very good Sunday night shows thruout the year include Shameless, Walking Dead, Homeland and Mad Men.
So you're in Louisiana, vx? The show's cinematography is amazing.
AJ, definitely catch it on DVD.
I don't know. this video might be offensive to Crack.
You might be conjuring the wrath of Crack ;)
Lem, do you need an intervention? You appear to be addicted to Crack ;)
It has Woody Harrelson in it so....no.
Plus I don't have HBO.
PS: I should have been more specific, Deb. The actual filming takes place largely off of the old Airline Hwy (used to be main 4-lane from B.R to N.O prior to I-10) near the major refineries at Norco, La. just up-river from N.O.
@DBQ/
Yeah, I know re Woody and his disgusting politics, but both of their performances are ABSOLUTELY outstanding examples of capturing the essence "of that time and of that place." I've managed to look past that--probably as the subj matter is my beloved adopted state.. Do yourself a favor and follow by watching the past episodes on the net.
Is it Harrelson's political views? I'm unaware of them. Aren't most actors big old lefties, anyway?
It's funny how some people don't like actors for other reasons. I was surprised once when I recommended Nobody's Fool with Paul Newman to my dad, and he said he didn't care for Newman. I myself don't care for Robert Mitchum, and a few others I can't think of now.
I think Harrelson is pretty much a hoot. It's McConaughey that's gotten kind of stale to me. But he goes a whole new way in this show...just great.
It's a perfect setting to enhance the mood of the show, virgil.
I saw the first two episodes. Interesting but kind of talky, needs more action. I'm hoping it gets better when the Zombies show up.
I'm with DBQ on Harrelson; just can't watch him. For me, it's because he always comes across as nightmarish creepy. Something about his eyes and frozen smile. [shudder]
It is his [Harrelson's] political hypocrisy, smug attitude, stupid grandstanding during Katrina, 9-11 truther, rabid environmentalist, general all around wackadoodle .
Mostly, like Lydia, I get a creep, stalker, psychopath vibe from him. He was perfectly cast in Natural Born Killers.
I don't get HBO. I get a free trial once in a while and if I remember to check it out it's like, really, do I need to see Meet the Fockers and/or The Hangover Part deux AGAIN? There are perennial HBO faves that I just cannot stand. No. I re-upped to watch Game of Thrones one year. Might do that again. Woody Harrelson is creepy and weird. Even on Cheers he was creepy and weird. Overdid the nice midwestern boy thing. I always figured he murdered Coach.
As I said above, it's a matter of taste and interpretation. I've never had a problem with him.
Also, someone once said Robt. Downey, Jr. had dead eyes, and someone agreed with her...never saw that.
Gustam something something something.
But DBQ it's EXACTLY the "creep stalker psychopath vibe" that makes him so deliciously effective in this role. Now, true enough, it's not acting, but just his basic nature, but that is what superior casting is all about. The longer I live the more I have come to view it as the key to effective cinematic offerings..
PPS to Deb/
The fact that the production is being staged out of New Orleans rather than Baton Rouge demonstrates the triumph of creature comforts and superior nightlife of New Orleans over verisimilitude. The countryside around B.R is almost the same as are the refineries and they could have worked in some interesting shots of both the old original neo-gothic medieval castle-like State Capitol sitting on the banks of the Mississippi overlooking the river and also shots of the 30s era Huey Long built art deco skyscraper that is the present one, as well as some shots of LSU's Tiger Stadium as seen from either the river or as a drive by. As our protagonists are supposedly based out of B. R it would have added even more verisimilitude as well as exposing the general public to an aspect of Louisiana they rarely see..
Thanks, virgil, great info.
Rabel, that's Helix :)
PS virgil, that's not to say there won't be shots of Baton Rouge later on. For now, I think we're supposed to exist in the deserted, eerie, and mysterious cane fields, arrow-straight highways, and buildings that Andrew left behind.
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