Regular Guy Review: True Detective S2E2

I guess a shotgun shot to the gut isn’t as bad as getting your twig and berries shot off at point blank range with one. Well, this episode was a definite step up from last weeks disappointing season premiere. The wheels are turning and some have apparently stopped already. We get much better pictures of our characters this week as well as a better grasp on the plot. The writing was still a bit too heavy handed, but the acting is still through the roof. I am beginning to have a few issues with the cinematography, but they aren’t too bad. Also, I hope the show isn’t going to deliver shockers like the one in this episode on a regular basis. It worked very well tonight, but I hope they don’t try and twist and yank us around all season. So, with all of this said, let’s begin our autopsy for this week’s episode of True Detective.

What Worked?

Vince Vaughn

We begin this week’s episode with a scene of Vaughn and his wife/girlfriend (I don’t know if it’s been officially disclosed which she is). He is staring at the ceiling contemplating his current situation and how it connects with an extremely pleasant childhood memory. I speak of course about his story about his drunk father locking him in the basement for 6 days in the dark with little to no food, a shitty light bulb, and of course rats. There’ll be more on this anecdote later. Although, I had some issues with the story being told, Vaughn was extremely believable as an unhinged gangster remembering the days that shaped him into who he is now. He is telling a great story with his eyes during this scene. You can seem to see him actually recall these events as if he were using a personal story for his character. Later in the episode, you can see his desperation wiped away. In the first episode, one of my criticisms was that he didn’t seem like a believable gangster. Now that he isn’t playing nice anymore, I can see what the casting director obviously saw. He is very reminiscent of Vincent D’Onofrio from Daredevil. Much like Kingpin, Vince Vaughn is forced to get tough with those around him who are trying to screw him over. Much like D’Onofrio, Vaughn is charismatic and unhinged. I’m excited to see him get his hands even dirtier. I like his reluctance to get back into the underworld, but you can tell that this is where he thrives. I’ll be keeping a close watch on his eyes, because that is where Vaughn is telling his story.

Colin Farrell

Can you keep breaking my heart, making me hate you, and making me root for you? Up until he was shot and presumedly killed at the end of this episode, he was, pun intended, murdering his character. Farrell has created a character so dynamic that it's almost excitedly, exhausting just keeping up with his storyline. He shows you all the sides of his character whether ugly, good, bad, beautiful, or sad. The whole episode this week just seemed to shit on him, and he just took it in stride. He considered the idea that perhaps he wasn’t all bad, just to then get shot right in the fucking gut, twice. I really hope he isn’t dead. I don’t think the show would kill off its easily most compelling character. It just wouldn’t make sense for them to kill the character we feel the strongest connection to. I really think he is wearing a vest. If he were to die, I would be extremely sad to see his character leave the show with having only thought of redemption rather than attempting some sort of act of redemption.

Character Filth

We all love this show for the horrible pictures it paints with its characters. The side characters we see this week are creepy, gross, and corrupt. The psychiatrist we meet is extremely unsettling with his mannerisms and tone. He obviously knows much more than he is letting on, and perhaps could play a much bigger role in this season than just this small part. Also, the fact that he knows Rachel McAdam’s father is another hint/nod that the cult/commune her father leads could be much more nefarious than previously believed. We know that True Detective doesn’t just reference things offhandedly.

Also, the mayor is just such a despicable leader and overall corrupt person. His demeanor is just so revealing about what he is all about. He obviously isn’t bothered by what is going on because he is in a safe position, however, when he needs to show power or make a point, he sits up in his chair and makes pointed eye contact. This just asserts the level of talent all of these actors have, but it just oozes what True Detective is all about. We want to see the worst in the world and how it operates, and this week we saw just that.

Plot

I can happily say that I have a better grasp on what is actually going on now. Vince Vaughn lost all of his capital because Caspere screwed him over, and then died. Now Vaughn is not only out millions of dollars, but out of the deal that he and Caspere were working on regarding the high speed railroad. We know that Vaughn is also in deep water with some of his more nefarious investors such as the russian mobster we saw last week. Rachel McAdams is also now the task force leader in the investigation to solve Caspere’s murder. Taylor Kitsch is still the same brooding man he was before and has a fucked up mom who is oddly sexual towards him. Farrell is, with the prospect of losing his son, reevaluating his involvement in the criminal underworld. He now wants to actually solve this case rather than obstruct it in favor of the mayor and police chief. Obviously now, Caspere’s murder will be the catalyst all of these characters need in order for them to develop and change. I am now intrigued and wanting to see and learn more about Caspere’s murder as well as what he was involved with whether it be another cult, or some other sort of criminal enterprise.

What Didn’t Work?

Cinematography

Ok, seriously how many fucking aerial shots do we need in one episode? Literally after 99% of the scenes in this episode it is immediately bridged by a roaming aerial shot of the L.A. traffic landscape. It does nothing to help me get in the mood for what is to come, or help me understand anything. All it does is take me out of the moment that the previous scene just worked so hard to get me in to. It just makes me think, “Hmmm. L.A. traffic does suck. Glad I don’t live there.” True Detective is usually much more pointed with their scenery. It usually means something, or is supposed to make you feel a certain way, but it is having the opposite effect on me now. I hope this begins to change, but I have a lingering feeling that it won’t.

ClUnkY WritInG

This is exactly how I feel when listening to some of the bullshit written for these compelling characters to say. The opening anecdote that Vaughn tells is completely unnecessary and circular. I don’t feel like the story led me anywhere, and in fact, just repeated what it said in the beginning with the same lack of substance as it had the first time. He begins to talk about the world feeling like paper mache which then leads to a fucked up story about the abuse he endured because his father is a drunk and got arrested. Then the two completely separate issues are connected by nothing more than the fact that Vince Vaughn is speaking about both. They have no connection whatsoever, and if it weren’t for Vaughn’s excellent acting during this scene, I would have turned the episode off. Then later on, some of the dialogue between characters was so good and funny, only to be immediately ruined by dialogue that didn’t seem like it fit the characters at all. There was obviously lazy writing interspersed with great dialogue and storytelling. I hope this uneven writing doesn’t continue to happen, but so far we are two for two.

Overall Assessment

This was a large improvement from the season premiere. I am officially excited and intrigued by this new season. I am invested in the characters and care what happens to each, except for maybe Taylor Kitsch. He needs a bit more development. This episode delivered some admittedly disappointing elements, but they were fortunately out-weighed by the phenomenal acting and interesting plot. I hope Colin Farrell isn’t actually dead, nor do I really think he is, but who knows. This ending is one way to keep me watching! (I also loved the shoutout to Gilroy, CA, my hometown, in the episode!)

Score: 6.7/10

As always let me know what you think? Am I being too harsh on True Detective? Were you surprised by the explosive ending? Do you think Farrell is really dead? What is your impression of the season so far? Please be sure to follow me on Twitter @HaneyCasey, check me out on MoviePilot.com/HaneyCasey and read what else I have on my site SlackerNerds.com where we talk Tv, Movies, Comics, and Video Games! Thanks for reading!

Regular Guy Review: Inside Out

Inside Out? More like tear my heart out from the inside out. Pixar does what it does best here. It pulls on your heart strings and plays sweet sweet music with them. Inside Out makes you cry, laugh, and cheer just like most Pixar movies do. However, I will say that perhaps expectations were too high and this movie felt like a bit of a let down due to some of the press surrounding it. So, let’s hop on the control panel, and decide what emotion describes how I felt about the movie.

What Worked?

Characters

Let’s face it. Pixar’s ability to feel a spectrum of emotions during their movies wouldn’t be possible without their creation of such memorable and relatable characters. Riley, the little girl in the film, was much like any of us were as children especially at her age of 11. I remember acting out, feeling sad, wanting to run away, the overwhelming nervousness of a new school, and trying to face each obstacle with a smile on my face. She really reminded me of myself, and I feel like most people could relate to her as well. The real finesse on Pixar’s part comes in the form of their embodiments of emotions. Each major emotion is a living being who helps take control of Riley’s body and decisions. These characters could have fallen flat and seemed one dimensional especially since they are inherently one dimensional being that they are the physical embodiment of one emotion. Each one interacts and works so well off of the other though that you really get to see the full spectrum of human emotion. Even the side characters are ones who play an integral part in helping our heroes much like most side characters in Pixar movies. They ensemble reminded me of Finding Nemo, where each new side character was vastly different than the last, but each one helped fit a role that needed to be filled.

Plot

It was very interesting and unique to see an adventure within Riley’s mind, as well as the consequences of that adventure in her real life. It was a great dynamic. Joy and Sadness’ journey to save Riley’s long-term memories in order to maintain her personality was one that you grow to care about very much. It made me even reflect on some aspects of my former self that I may have lost or let go. Also, Riley’s subsequent reactions to each decision made in her brain by the emotions, whether it be running away, quitting hockey, crying in class, or yelling at her parents, all made for a trip that played out like a rerun of my own life. I think most people probably felt similarly. Joy’s journey to understand that each emotion must live in tandem was also a great lesson learned that played out very lovely. Each piece of progression in the plot, although thickening the main plot, had a great message of its own. Most movies can’t do that as smoothly as Pixar managed to do in this film.

Visuals

As usual, Pixar just crushes it when it comes to visuals. Every aspect of their animation is just so unique and flawless. They delivered on their definite style while also feeling different enough from previous movies that it wasn’t distracting.

What Didn’t Work?

Plot Layout

Although I enjoyed the journey very much, and I like each lesson that was learned, it was a little too predictable. The film literally has Joy and Sadness run from each personality island in order just to have each one crumble before they get there. It just seemed unnecessary to have each one go down in order. Also, the visual representations of these islands, long-term memories, and thought train, made it too obvious that they were going to take a very specific route out of the control center, and back there again. This isn’t a huge grievance, but usually Pixar is a bit less on the nose about where they are going with a plot whether it be visual cues or even verbal ones.

Pace

They started out much like they do in every movie, with a little 5 minute introduction scene to get you invested in the characters before they jump into the main story. However, once we jump into the regular story, things just didn’t seem to slow down enough for me, and it made everything feel rushed. It didn’t help that the plot itself dealt with a time constraint, but perhaps the pace was set fast on purpose in order for the audience to feel rushed to have Joy and Sadness return to the control room. I just didn’t think it worked to well. I felt literally exhausted at the end of the film because there was just so much emotion, and so little down time to process it.

Overall Assessment

Of course this movie is great. It’s really good. However, I wouldn’t agree with a lot of hype asking or stating that this could be Pixar’s best movie yet. I highly disagree with that. It comes in softly as my 5 on my top 5 Pixar films of all-time. To be fair though, Pixar is like a guy who only shoots and hits net. Every once in a while though, they hit the backboard or the ball circles the rim and still goes in. Pixar rarely misses, but sometimes their shots look a little better than others. This was definitely a make, but it just wasn’t quite as great as their phenomenal films. You should really go see it, but don’t feel too distressed if you can’t make it to the theaters. You can wait for this one to come to Redbox or something else. Just be sure to see it.

Score: 8/10

As always, be sure to tell me what you think? Have you seen the film? Will you being seeing it in theaters? Do you think it's Pixar’s best so far? Please make sure to follow me on Twitter @HaneyCasey, check out my website SlackerNerds.com, and check me out on MoviePilot.com/HaneyCasey.

Jon Bernthal is the Punisher!

Well holy shit. After I had finished Season 1 of Daredevil, I had written an article about who we could see next in Season 2 of Daredevil that you could read here. In that article, the one character I was most excited for was the Punisher. He is one of my favorite Marvel characters and plainly just one of my favorite characters. Now, not only is the Punisher coming to Daredevil season 2, but he is being played by none other than Jon Bernthal. He is perfect casting for Frank Castle, and I’ve been waiting for him to finally get a role in the superhero genre. I was a huge fan of Thomas Jane, and in my eyes he will always be the Punisher, however Jon Bernthal is the perfect marriage between Thomas Jane and Ray Stevenson. Let’s break down some of the reasons why we should be excited for Jon Bernthal’s upcoming portrayal of the Punisher.

1. His Physique
   
   
   Jon Bernthal is 5’ 10” and is 169 lbs. The Punisher is supposed to be 6’ 1” and 200 lbs. Although Jon Bernthal is not the exact size he has a body type that looks very similar to Frank Castle. Charlie Cox who is also 5’ 10” is not quite as imposing as Jon Bernthal. I think we’ll see a similar dichotomy between Cox and Bernthal as we saw with Bernthal and Andrew Lincoln on The Walking Dead. Also, Jon Bernthal is just as built as Frank Castle is suppose to be.
2. His Career So Far
   
   
   We have seen Jon Bernthal play several different roles, but he always has recurring qualities throughout all of his characters. In The Walking Dead he was a man of extreme will and violence. He was ruthless, but had an internal fight against his humanity. That in and of itself is the essence of Frank Castle. Also, in Fury, he plays an extremely loyal mad dog who is known for being a little out of control. Again, very Frank Castle-esque. Even in The Wolf of Wall Street, he plays the hardcore drug dealer. He has his morals and doesn’t like to cross those much like Frank Castle has his code that he doesn’t break. He continues to do movies and shows that have garnered critical acclaim.
   
3. What Can He Bring to the Role?
   
   
   Bernthal has shown that he is a rising talent and demands the respect on screen that most A-list actors demands. We’ve seen him give physical performances and emotional ones. Much like Thomas Jane, Bernthal has had a few different performances, but has shown great promise in his ability to to have humanity intertwined with great brutality. Also, while still being a rather “unknown” actor, we can count on him giving this role his everything. He will work as hard as he does in every role so that he may gain a viable franchise.

I couldn’t be more excited for this news and I trust that Marvel will finally handle this character with the dignity and respect he deserves. Also, introducing him in Daredevil is an extremely wise move, considering that Marvel’s TV universe is much more violent and gritty than their movie universe. I really trust Jon Bernthal as an actor especially for a role as intense as this. I have been begging for years to see him in a starring role deserving of a wider audience, so that he could really show off his obvious talents. Hopefully, this will be that role for him.

What do you guys think? What did you think of this news? Was he your fancast? Do you think his inclusion in Daredevil is the proper introduction or would you rather see him somewhere else? Please let me know what you think in the comments below and be sure to follow me on Twitter @HaneyCasey.