There are few films that feel as completely and utterly unique as Beasts of the Southern Wild. Benh Zeitlin's feature-length directorial debut (as best I can tell, the lawyer Ben Zeitlin from Terriers is not named after Benh) is visually stunning. In and of itself, that should usually be enough to at least warrant one's precious time, but Beasts of the Southern Wild is much more than just arresting.
Zeitlin carves out a filmic niche that is unlike nearly anything you have seen. Rejoicing in the world of the contemporary primitive, living on the outside of the modern world, looking on with fear, superstition, and awe, Zeitlin brings us the story of Hushpuppy (played by the ferocious Quvenzhané Wallis), a strong six-year-old girl whose semi-present father, Wink, has fallen ill (with what seemed to me to be pleurisy, but I honestly can't remember if it was ever diagnosed) as a hurricane bears down on the Bathtub, a no man's land in the titular southern wilds of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. As their home is battered and beaten, Hushpuppy and Wink struggle through the wrecked terrain in an attempt to repiece their lives together.
Their perseverance and indomitable spirit are infectious. Their story, fantastic. Zeitlin infuses the film with magical realism that rivals the most successful entrants into the genre, feeling right at home with the best of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. What we are presented with is an outright triumph. It is undoubtedly one of the most original films to come out in years, and rather than tell you more of what happens, I recommend you just watch it. Though I saw it theatrically months ago, it is now available in nearly every way you would want it to be: on Blu-ray, DVD, and Amazon Prime (for only $3.99). Do yourself a solid and take this one in as soon as humanly possible. Beasts of the Southern Wild is undoubtedly in the conversation for best film of the year. Watch it.
I usually don't post anything on weekends, and I sure as hell don't post something as brief as this, but these things matter too much.
First off, it looks like Terriers may get a second shot after all. Two-hour movie. Series. Whatever. I just want more Hank and Britt and give zero shits how I get it. If they do go the Kickstarter route, pony up, jerks. And if you haven't already done so, get off your ass (or on your ass) and watch yourself some Terriers. It's truly one of the best shows of the past five years.
And in airing this weekend news, The Audience Network (available to only DirecTV subscribers) is airing all six episodes of The Hour*, the spectacular BBC drama about a television news program in 1956, complete with an exploration of gender inequality in the workplace and government censorship of the news media in the U.K. with a healthy dose of espionage added to the mix.
*Proper write-up coming soonish.
You can catch The Hour, starting at 2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM CT on Sunday, September 2nd.
Despite their ridiculous obtuseness, the teasers for Justified that seem to have been running on FX since it wrapped up its second season last spring have certainly worked up everyone's feverish hunger for new episodes. As January 17th drew nearer, it grew harder and harder to keep my anticipation in check.
Holy shit was that anticipation justified warranted.
If one is to gauge where this third season may go from where "The Gunfighter" kicks things off, it is hard not to be watching on with baited breath, especially on the heels of Justified's fantastic second season. After a cursory nod to Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens having been shot in the finale of season two, writers Graham Yost and Fred Golan waste no time in establishing the fact that Raylan's years on the job have left him worse for wear, with his aim being off while rehabbing. Despite the fact that Winona is with child (which is played around with well in this first episode), this hints at a metaphorical impotence and as is evidenced here will force him to get by more and more on his wits.
As is usually the case, the show really hits its stride once Walton Goggins struts onto the screen as Boyd Crowder, with his tête-à-tête with Raylan in the Marshals office getting the show off the ground. The best moments in the show often come from their back and forth, and this is no exception with this priceless nugget of dialogue coming from it:
Boyd: Well now, if I found that kind of money, I'd be in Mexico by now.
Raylan: Boyd, I've been to Mexico. I don't think you'd like it.
Boyd: How so?
Raylan: There's a lot of Mexicans.
This is but one in many great moments in the episode. Dear John [the Judd Hirsch series] alum*, Jere Burns's character, Wynn Duffy, is set up to be featured more prominently as the next in line to head up the Dixie Mafia in Frankfort. His return to the show made for a funny exchange and a reneging on Raylan's promise that their "next conversation wasn't gonna be a conversation."
*And more recently, he was featured as the last remnant of The Management on Burn Notice.
The presumed big bad is introduced namelessly as Neal McDonough comes to Lexington representing the innocuously-named entity referred to as 'Detroit.' His character [whose name will be revealed to be Quarles at some point] clearly has both gravitas and panache and should prove to be a formidable foe, even if he only proves to be the tip of the 'Detroit' iceberg. His introduction is an impressive and cold-blooded one and leaves you wondering what could have been had Terriers been given a second season.
The imminent threat in this episode comes surprisingly from Dexter's Desmond Harrington, showing up here as wanted fugitive Fletcher 'The Ice Pick' Nix. While his choice of accent is odd to be sure, he does pull off menacing hitman pretty damned convincingly.
Luckily for all involved, the best moment is saved for last, and the one remaining question mark in the episode is answered with a silent Boyd exclamation point.
By the end of the episode, Justified had successfully resumed its status as the most eagerly anticipated hour of television every week.
Having wanted to watch Terriers since it had begun airing only to have a DVR snafu render that impossible (at least without downloading), I was ecstatic to see that it was finally getting some sort of post-airing treatment, even if that didn't include a DVD release.
Upon finally getting to watch it, all I can say is: Holy shit.
All right, I can say more. A lot more actually.
(L to R) Michael Raymond-James and Donal Logue
Terriers was so damn good, I've actually watched the whole series twice-through since it went up on Netflix less than a month ago.
It isn't particularly groundbreaking, but absolutely everything works. Terriers, much like its ancestral kindred spirit The Rockford Files, has its private investigators living on the fringe of society. Hank Dolworth (Donal Logue) is a cop who was kicked off the force; Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James) is an ex-thief trying to live at least slightly on the other side of the law. They are barely getting by, find themselves in trouble with the police, almost always end up getting screwed over eventually, and usually end up worse for the wear when they're done. Hank and Britt are often their own worst enemies, with self-destructive tendencies that would have a shot at doing them in if they were simply left to their own devices.
All that said, they are insanely likable characters. Their faults somehow manage to endear them more to the audience. Their banter is funny and fresh and would be enough by itself to make the show utterly enjoyable. Hank and Britt's relationship with one another is perfectly complementary. By the time the show has made its 13 episode run, you feel as though you are losing two friends.
While all of this would be fine in and of itself, what sets the show apart is its taut and nimble storytelling. More so than most other shows of its ilk, Terriers excels at balancing its complex season-long story arc with its single-episode cases, doing so more deftly than any other show in memory. Characters and plot points from early episodes prove to be relevant in later ones to satisfying effect. The narrative bounces unpredictably from season story arc plot points to character plot points to single-episode plot points while never leaving these aspects of the show neglected.
Given the fact that Terriers Creator Ted Griffin had experienced Executive Producers Shawn Ryan and Tim Minear* in the fold, the fact that it is damn fine television should not be a surprise, but that it distinguishes itself as one of the best shows on television in the past few years is unexpected to be sure.
*Ryan and Minear have worked together often, having both been writers/producers on Angel. Ryan went on to create The Shield and The Chicago Code while serving as an Executive Producer on Lie to Me and The Unit. Minear's resume includes having been an Executive Producer on Firefly, Wonderfalls, Dollhouse, and The Chicago Code, while having also been Co-Creator of The Inside and Drive.
Laura Allen as Katie Nichols
While much of the show's success owes to the creative forces at the helm, the show would not be set itself apart as it does without its cast. As stated earlier, Logue and Raymond-James are fantastic together, but the supporting cast is full of great performances. Laura Allen, who you may have known from The 4400, All My Children, or Dirt finally gets a role she can sink her teeth into. It has always puzzled me as to why she didn't get better roles, and Terriers only solidifies the bewilderment, as she is outstanding as Britt's girlfriend, Katie Nichols. Rockmond Dunbar, who many will recognize as Deputy Sheriff Eli Roosevelt from this past season of Sons of Anarchy, nails the role of Detective Mark Gustafson, Hank's former partner on the force who was burned just enough by his friend to be permanently gunshy when it comes to having Hank's back. Long-time Upright Citizens Brigade performer Jamie Denbo is perfectly sardonic and grounds Hank and Britt as their lawyer (who they need often). As Hank's ex-wife Gretchen, Kimberly Quinn finds that point precisely where she can teeter back and forth between love and hate with Hank and summons up a performance rife with nuance and subtext.
In all, Terriers is phenomenal. While it is a damn shame its ratings were so dismal, likely owing to both an obtuse name and an advertising campaign that certainly left me wondering what the fuck it was about, the first and only season holds up on its own merits. If a show had to end before it should have, Terriers manages to end on a note not unlike Freaks and Geeks with the road open in front of the main characters. Fortunately, there is enough resolution to have not left the audience with any questions, and we do have 13 amazing episodes to go back and watch whenever we want. It's just a damn shame that we don't get to see the further adventures of Hank and Britt.
I cannot recommend Terriers highly enough. What the hell are you waiting for? Start watching now.
In Empire Records, it was Rex Manning Day. Today at Inconsiderate Prick, it's Terriers Day. This is the Robert Duncan penned and performed theme song for Terriers, as seen at the beginning of every brilliant episode of that show.
Come back around at 3:00 PM for the newest entry in The Queue Continuum.
, DVD
, and Amazon Prime (for only $3.99)
. Do yourself a solid and take this one in as soon as humanly possible. Beasts of the Southern Wild is undoubtedly in the conversation for best film of the year. Watch it.
