Catch Me If You Can.
6 Episodes. Starring: Christopher Abbott, Kyle Chandler, Hugh Laurie & George Clooney. Director: George Clooney.
What a catch this is! George Clooney's comedic adaptation of Joseph Heller's war torn, satirical novel 'Catch-22'-a classic of last century literature-plays for more than a matter of laughs however. This is 'Monuments Men' or 'Memphis Belle' light in parts like a "it's safe to smoke", Mad Men cigarette commercial trying to bring our boys back home as a danger of death warning goes unheeded. All until emotional ends blindside you like Bullock from your six. This miniseries concerning a soldier who wants to find fortune away from the battlefield has its leading man dodging stereotypical heroism at every turn like he wish he could of done the draft. Only to find himself shooting himself in the foot everytime out. Ouch! This Maverick top gun is sick of dropping bombs on people, whilst his own command are dropping a Tom Cruise impossible amount of missions on his already fulfilled count. He's caught in the painful bureaucracy of the perceptual nightmare that is Catch-22. Not so simply stated that a soldier's willingness to fly dangerous missions is to be deemed insane. Only for said soldiers request to be removed of these airborne duties on the grounds of insanity to be the result of a rational man, sound of mind. Therefore any request such as this will thus be denied by the U.S. Military. Got it? Yep...us neither. Perhaps we should explain this to you like Denzel Washington's two year old in 'Philadelphia' and just say it like Bart Simpson did, "you're damned if you do...and you're damned if you don't!" But you won't be if you catch this monumental miniseries, as one man amongst what seems like a million who couldn't be much older than 22 (if that) in this dark comedy show you just how absurd the nature of war is to the point were even those proudest of their country would want to defect, despite the finger pointing and posters of Uncle Sam. But is the real tragedy here whether our soldier protagonist dies or survives in this war? Living to fight another day after day. Now that's some catch.
Captain America this 'aint. 'Sweet Virginia' and 'First Man' star Christopher Abbott really is the star of Clooney's show. Despite the by George fact this acting legend gives the young buck a literal dressing down as his formation shouting lieutenant gets his 'Full Metal Jacket' on to all these so-called pansy privates. Flapping and waving his arms around like he had the spluttering spitfire wings of a big bird, to literally making his men faint with fear as he asks the stenographer to repeat, read back his last line in a back and forth as Python hilarious as something out of his 'Hail Caesar' with the Cohen Brothers. You'll die laughing. In a love shacked up sea of B 52 bomber planes and big names however it's Abbott who makes his singular with this stand out, leading performance. Fighting the forces of evil on an aviator highway to hell. Whilst the powers that be that should have his back act like it's just another milk run. Not even going as little far to acknowledge it might be at the very least the equivalent of running over hot coals again and again barefoot. Yet these hot coals could kill you and your crew at any given second not just singe your tootsies. Over and over and over and over again. Taking it all under slight comedic stride however, Abbot is great at accentuating how ludicrous this all is as he waddles around in his boxers and receives all kinds of bizarre briefs that would scare you down to your underoos. He's a throwback. But when it comes to him evoking every emotion that comes with the harrowing and heartbreaking horrors of war he nails it with nuance and narrative seismic shifting, signature amazing acting of dignity and duty. That's raw, whilst respectful. All whilst holding nothing back. Never overdone but always understanding in tribute to those who actually gave their lives to the battlefield, showing just how brutal, but beautiful an honour this can be to fight for your country and live forever in heroic memory.
And Abbott's Yossarian is exactly that even if he is trying to go home with all his faculties intact. And who amongst us could blame him? Who wouldn't want to return home to all you are actually fighting for? It's got nothing to do with being a coward. This isn't it. This revelation in this revolution yo-yo-ing like a Marvel, 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' character between General Clooney's classic character who has it out for him (it may have something to do with his wife...no, not Amal) and 'Argo', 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'Godzilla: King Of Monsters' star Kyle Chandler's colonel commanding that he stay put even though the last thing he wants to see is his face at his desk every morning, reading him his rights. Clooney and Chandler are at their charismatic under caustic character best. As is 'House', 'Night Manager' Hugh Laurie's major who shows up for some glorious cameo moments going fourth that will even take you back to his 'Blackadder' days darling. But there's just a beautiful bond of brotherhood in this band of young actors lead by Abbott that behind the youthful joy of exuberance show us the real cost and what we truly lost in history that now becomes hallmark, engraved memorials. All until shows like this show us the real heart and humanity behind the many names that now become monuments to these men. In Clooney's canvas of times gone by that cinematically look like retro, Yankee Doodle old glory posters with all the spangled stars and stripes. As authentic as the green in their berets. Capturing the beach life camaraderie of boys that will soon turn into the killing field shores of something out of that searing first scene in 'Saving Private Ryan'. Or the search for coupling and companionship in Italian brothels romanticised to these brothers in the all too familiarity that this may be their one and last chance to make something come as close to love as possible in these times. And just when it all looks like lazy cigarette smoke and the needle repeating at the end of the record of slow jazz songs (George gracefully revived his late aunt Rosemary Clooney's beautiful music for this too) all night long, the mood shifts to the madness of war in these young men's precious souls and lives. Where life hangs in the blink and you'll miss it balance. Horseplay turns to foul play and just when you think someone's going to make it you see the entry wound that tells you there's no exit from this place. As captains try and put planes down in a safe place like Steve Rogers or the water, only to break the ice to the cruel notion that the mistress of war doesn't discriminate. It doesn't matter how much good you've done or how pure of heart your soul is. To her if it's your turn, it's your time. But this firing line isn't just taking shots at the ridiculous and atrocious aspects of war. Amongst all the death and destruction, it's also celebrating the banded together heroism of every individual in this effort. Fighter pilot up in the air to nurse back in the barracks. It's a traditional, testimonial tribute to all those involved. Just like this cast and crew. Which in all its contradictory notions like anything in life reveals that its not all as simple as the fact that we are all good and bad, in our own little ways. Or the fact that those young men going to fight for their lives are heroes, whereas the old men pushing pens and sending them to their folded flag are far from that. There's something to give to war and there's something to take from it. And as we pin a medal on this show and salute, that's the 'Catch-22'. Now catch that if you can. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'The Monuments Men', 'Memphis Belle', 'Catch-22 (1970)'.
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