4/5
Rabbit, Run
8 Epsiodes. Starring: Jude Law, Jason Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Sope Dirisu, Odessa Young, Abbey Lee, Robin de Jesús, Forrest Weber, Chris Coy, Don Harvey, Hettienne Park, Amaka Okafor & Troy Kotsur. Created By: Zach Baylin & Kate Susman. On: Netflix.
There's a line in David Mackenzie's 2016 neo-western classic 'Hell Or High Water', scripted by the great Taylor Sheridan ('Wind River'), where Chris Pine's character, Toby Howard, tells his brother Tanner, played by Ben Foster, "you know, you talk like we ain't gonna get away with this!" Talking about being on the run from Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham's lawmen, following a string of bank jobs. To which Foster replies, "I never met nobody get away with anything...ever, you?" Pine's Toby has to ask, "then why on the hell did you agree to do it?" "Because you asked, little brother", Tanner says in kind, riffing on an old, Waylon Jennings country song. And that's kind of the size of it when it comes to superstar actors Jude Law and Jason Bateman's brothers in arms, who are also each other's keepers. 'Black Rabbit', a wonder of an eight-part limited series crime thriller/family drama, concerns a onetime band of brothers, who are now in dire straits after their new restaurant gig comes with more courses than were on the menu.
The titular name of the once next big thing in music, is now the name of the New York City restaurant they run, maybe into the ground, as one of these rabbits is in the hole. Check, the above picture and guess which one. This show from Zach Baylin (the screenwriter of 'King Richard', 'Bob Marley: One Love' and 'Creed III') and Kate Susman is rumoured to be based on the real life controversies of The Spotted Pig eatery in NYC. But one thing's for sure, this slick and slimy thriller is as New York as they come. With moral rot eating at the core of this Big Apple, big bluster of one of the best miniseries in recent memory. Another thing that's a given is how 'Black' is like a mirror to 'Ozark'. Or that classic series mixed with some helpings of 'The Bear' and all that foul language served up on the plate. Not only is this a Netflix affair starring Jason Bateman, although carrying some of that 'Carry On' hair, he looks more like a Waylon Jennings country song than the 'Arrested Development' of his trademark sarcasm. There's also familiar music that haunts in a trademark title sequence and the cards of some caricature clues. Even Laura Linney directs a couple of classic episodes. Think like when Bryce Dallas Howard got her hands on 'The Mandalorian', they're that best in show.
Bateman is brilliant, frustratingly so. This is his legacy making lane...and we're glad he's staying in it. Meanwhile, his combustible chemistry with his brother is as compelling as it is charming. With family devotion like Leonardo DiCaprio in 'One Battle After Another', or that Paul Thomas Anderson movie co-star Benicio del Toro in Wes Anderson's 'The Phoenician Scheme', Jude Law will do anything for his down-and-out anchor of a brother, even if that includes breaking his last name. The iconic actor of 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' and 'Road To Perdition' scene-stealing still feels somewhat underrated. Even if he is Dr. Watson to Robert Downey Jr and Guy Ritchie's 'Sherlock Holmes' and a young Dumbledore in the 'Harry Potter' spin-off 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise. Check 'Contagion', 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' and 'Side Effects' for more evidence of this. Yet it seems to be the smaller screen where this Hollywood megastar from London shines, like 'The Young' and 'New Pope'. This is his calendar too, following the 'Captain Marvel' star's turn in the 'Star Wars' 'Skeleton Crew'. Here, as another anti-hero, he plays coming apart at the seams of his slick suit and still cool, receding hairline (jealous), perfectly. Accented, like the American one this great Brit has down, even if it is as shaky as his character's morals.
Searching for higher ground on the rooftop of this restaurant. Feeling like a springboard to the Brooklyn Bridge above. One that could take them across the water and out of this city and its river of problems. It's all so symbolic. Like the black rabbit hanging above the eatery's entrance like a fresh kill. Law and Bateman are in deep, like their Manhattan hotspots reservation client list. In hot water with the wrong sort of people and the right kind of actor, as 'CODA' Oscar winner Troy Kotsur commands every scene he's in, letting his Junior (Forrest Weber, making his newcomer mark) off a very tight leash, with right-hand man Chris Coy in play. If that wasn't Bermuda enough for you, there's a love triangle, featuring 'Dopesick' and 'Clipped' star Cleopatra Coleman and British, 'Gangs Of London' actor Sope Dirisu. And more heat in the kitchen with head chef Amaka Okafor (Netflix's 'Bodies' star about to body 'The Bear' with her rabbit) and 'Tick, Tick...BOOM!'s Robin de Jesús. Add Odessa Young's blood is thicker than ink, a haunting Abbey Lee, and your best friend at the end of the bar, Don Harvey, and you have a great wine list of a cast. Yet it's 'Blindspot' and 'Don't Look Up' actress Hettienne Park who will be on the case for more casts after copping this detective character here. Fading to black, with Law and Bateman at it like rabbits (pause on that) with law and disorder, this is one restaurant you want to make a booking for. Get it whilst it's hot! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Ozark', 'The Bear', 'The Madness'.
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