4/5
The Place Beyond The Pines.
7 Episodes. Starring: Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner, Charlie Tahan, Lisa Emery, Jessica Frances Dukes, Joseph Sikora, Damian Young, Adam Rothenberg, Alfonso Herrera & Felix Solis. Created By: Bill Dubuque & Mark Williams.
Lady Macbeth themes run rampant in Hollywood like the black and white toil and trouble of Frances McDormand in Denzel Washington and the Academy's ear for Joel Cohen's 'The Tragedy Of Macbeth' on Apple TV. Like a movie star is born, Lady Gaga in Ridley Scott's all star crime caper draped in fashion for 'House Of Gucci'. Jessica Chastain's 'Scenes From A Marriage' with Oscar Isaac for 'A Most Violent Year'. And Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender in...erm, 'Macbeth'. But nothing quite has the hold like Laura Linney on Jason Bateman in Netflix's 'Ozark'. Whose fourth season debuted its first part last week on the streaming service moving more account money than laundry. Just watch as she brings it to your door in a bathrobe. The 'Primal Fear' monger sitting on the front lawn, hair still wet because she just took a shower. Driving home her sinister streak with a piercing look that with cruel condescension in its intention tells you to breathe like Denzel's Alonzo in 'Training Day'. What's going on here? As if we'd tell. But if you think that's the worst of Wendy's wicked ways, then wake up. Because by the end of these seven seals and deals you'll really be shaken to the core by what this couple still linking arms hands out. Stirring and compelling, but not spoiling like 'Spider-Man' we will tread carefully around these strands of plot like Netflix not revealing when the second part of this final season of Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams' redneck woods masterpiece will drop like more characters than 'Game Of Thrones'. Although Jason Bateman told Kimmel it's "kinda soon". Promising a satisfying conclusion for those still bewildered by 'Mad Men' and 'Soprano's'. In writing this in this age of social media ruin we won't even reveal a single thing from any of the seasons, just in case you haven't started this series yet. We're not milk. We don't spoil. We will leave you to the four clues that always begin this mighty 'O' picture perfectly. But if you haven't begun as of yet, start streaming today. Trust me (sis). This writer knew to last summer. Even though one episode a day in this binge age culture is what the doctor ordered to keep the darkness away. Now what we will tell you is this. From the moment the Byrd family flew the Chicago coop and looked out from up on the hill to this beautiful forest encompassing lake view vista. One that hid ugly truths like this was their kingdom to be with one hell of a price. All as Radiohead played perfectly. We haven't looked back.
Neither should you. In a show that has more surprises than birthdays as it blews everybody's candles out. In an empire state of mind that has you pulled back in just when you thought you were out like Pacino. Hooah! This show has featured powerful performances from everyone from a former right hand of Netflix's 'Iron Fist', to the guy that couldn't pee out of the Subway doors when John Travolta held him hostage in 'The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3'. And all this madness is still mesmerising in a mid-season break before the finale in this place that plays like the most epic cliffhanger beyond the pines. You'll be shocked to the core as screams blow houses down like the blunderbuss of a wolf's spitting roar. All directed in this falling house of cards by Netflix's own Robin Wright. Who even gives us a masterpiece in the making with those stirring strings of haunting violins scoring the final frame character shot of the penultimate episode to this first part. One that you know is about to calm before the storm catalyst set off a powder keg...which doesn't disappoint. First Bryce Dallas Howard giving 'Star Wars' gold like C-3PO with everything she touches in a galaxy far, far away. From 'The Mandalorian', to the best chapter in 'The Book Of Boba Fett'. And now this. Don't call the 'Blade Runner 2049' and 'Wonder Woman' standout Jenny from 'Forrest Gump' or a 'Princess Bride'. Peas and carrots, this is justice for Wright like all her hands on the final deck of the Spacey-less season in 'House'. Linney's look like her already amazing legacy she redmade here is legendary. The perfect partner and sometimes foil next to the 'Arrested Development' of Jason Bateman, who is now known for this and doing everything he can to keep his family alive...and thriving. As tense as the couple of times he tried to kill his 'Horrible Bosses' with Charlie Day and 'Ted Lasso' was rib-tickling. But don't be fooled by his sarcastically calm demeanour, dialled up to 11 here, tapping our chilled spines. His snake-oil charm is just tap dancing around a cobra ready to strike with all the venom in its bite. Let there be cabin in the woods carnage.
Passion, power and pain in all its punctuation are brought to you by the series standout and scene stealer Julia Garner, just outside the family. Worthy of all the praise the Emmy winner is garnering, 'The Assistant' Julia is set to hit big again with Netflix right about now with the compelling 'Inventing Anna'. And under her own invention the actress whose character will inspire many a friend to get the blonde frizz like a middle American Rachel, has been known to hustle and work two games at the same time. Just like she does in this show. Yet, it's the coming of age of Skylar Gaertner that is the real major left turn that keeps this series alive this season. With his sisters keeper Sofia Hublitz holding it down with more in store like those Killer Mike rumours. Hold the soundtrack and run those jewels. Still, the hick heart of Charlie Tahan (let's see more from a full grown Three in the completed Season 4) and the iconic villainy of Lisa Emery, who has shotgun swept more people off their feet than a Cupid arrow and their own morals and code that will shock and awe you this time out. Add Jessica Francis Dukes by the beaten and foxing, yellow paged book's agent copping more heat. Damian Young lawyering up to a whole new bar passing level. And Joseph Sikora's piercing eyes doing more with a pivotal scene than most have done in seasons, and everyone is getting fleshed out this season. No matter who ends up in the body bags, morgue, or neighbourhood crematorium. Burning with rage like Felix Solis' sensationally sinister head of the cartel. But will some roll this season? As there is new blood in the form of Alfonso Herrea's erratic wildcard and Adam Rothenberg's coke sidelined cop and P.I. for hire, sniffing around like a magnum moustache. He just wants a signature as this show delivers. And to think we're only halfway through this beginning of the end. The 'Succession' of this show, that will make you 'Dopesick' with how much corruption pushes drugs like prescription, is too good to be called a poor man's 'Breaking Bad'. This is the new danger. Most definitely. The one knock, knock, knocking at your white picket fenced door. It's a tapped leaflet for tourists to make their way to the Ozarks for vacation once the pandemic lifts. Now as we wait for the last stand in 'Ozark' and wonder if we'll ever see those baby bobcats Ruth set free in season one claw their way back in, full grown, one things for sure. Even in this modern share game of cryptocurrency, you should never launder money. Even if you leave a few dollars in your jeans during a wash. This house always wins. Nothing like this ever gets out clean. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Breaking Bad', 'Succession', 'Dopesick'.
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