4/5
The Low Down Theory
8 Episodes. Starring: Ethan Hawke, Kaniehtiio Horn, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Scott Shepherd, Michael Hitchcock, Tracy Letts, Michael "Killer Mike" Render, Graham Greene, Peter Dinklage, Kyle MacLachlan, Tim Blake Nelson & Keith David. Created By: Sterlin Harjo. On: FX & Disney +.
On the low, 'The Lowdown', on FX and Disney Plus, may just be one of the best shows of this...excuse me, last year. The American hit is now spanning the globe, after becoming available on streaming services in the UK last week. It's been back in Japan for a couple of months, too. But Stateside, it's already become one of the best of amazing actor Ethan Hawke's formidable filmography. All whilst his daughter, Maya, does a round Robin with the end of 'Stranger Things', this New Year's Day gone. Garnering award nominations for veteran legend Keith David (check his lovely family filmed reaction on social media), who still won't tell us what really happened at the end of 'The Thing'. This epic ensemble of all-stars, also features the legendary likes of Peter Dinklage (absolutely hilarious), Jeanne Tripplehorn and Kyle MachLachlan. Not to mention, one of the last roles of the late, great Graham Greene ('Dances With Wolves', 'The Green Mile', 'Wind River'). A wonderful actor, powerful and poignant in his final frames.
Striking gold for native's rights that matter, Sterlin Harjo's ('Reservation Dogs', 'Rez Ball') show starts with a man, the great 'Buster Scruggs' and Marvel megamind Tim Blake Nelson, with a bullet in his head, and more than four sheets to the winds with the prose in the books he leaves in his will. The brilliant Blake Nelson serves as a spectre of a narrator, but from then on out, it's up to Ethan Hawke to get his neo-noir investigation on in this neo-western set in Tulsa, Oklahoma and an America speaking very much to what is going on right now, in and out of office. 'Training Day'. The 'Before' trilogy. The 'Boyhood' experiment. Most recently, Paul Schrader's 'First Reformed', 'Blaze' and 'The Good Lord Bird', and Marvel's 'Moon Knight' as Oscar Isaac's foil. This Hawkeye has done it all over the generations. But this just may be his absolute year. This, a balding, platform heeling Best Actor favourite for 'Blue Moon', and a 'Black Phone 2' sequel thrown in for good measure, this Halloween. Watch Ethan's Ted Talk. You just might learn something. But all of this has nothing on his bruised and battered, self-dubbed "truthstorian", loosely based on historian Lee Roy Chapman for your nomination consideration, in a hat, vest and short-sleeved Wrangler to match.
Canadian Kaniehtiio Horn plays his ex-wife with a yearn to burn as one of the next best out there. Whilst Ethan's on-screen relationship with his daughter (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) will remind you of Brad Pitt's one in 'Moneyball'. Scott Shepherd has shades of another white-collar gun for hire we saw in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' with Leonardo DiCaprio. Vets like Tracy Letts show up, almost unrecognizable. And the cantankerous chemistry between Michael Hitchcock and Hawke is absolutely undeniable. Speaking of mikes, Killer Mike, himself (Michael Render), also runs some jewels. But it's Keith David who really shines and steals the show with his low growl of gravitas. One of the best voices in Hollywood (whether narrating Ken Burns 'Muhammed Ali' documentary, or starring as the villain in Disney's 'The Princess and the Frog'), has made quite the acting career ('They Live', 'Armageddon', 'Crash'), but it's lately where he's made his mark with Jordan Peele's 'Nope', 'American Fiction' and now, this. Claustrophobic trunk shots. One that will remind you of rednecks gone wild in 'True Detective' with Matthew McConaughey. Not to mention the novel nuanced, rich character development throughout. Razor sharp in the wit and wise flaws and soars. Get down to this. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'True Detective', 'Fargo', 'Twin Peaks'.
No comments:
Post a Comment