Discussion:
Two American Crime series to watch!
(too old to reply)
William Brownstein
2016-02-23 14:22:39 UTC
Permalink
American Crime on ABC taking on gay themes involving two gay boys in regards to consent, rape, outing, cover ups, beatings, scandal and even murder.

Season 2 with returning cast members taking on this new storyline and playing different characters. Felicity Huffman is exceptional as the principal of the school who is more concerned anout protecting the school's reputation over the safety and welfare of the students. This show is not to be missed!

Then there's the limited series on FX about O.J.
that recreates everything. John Travolta stars and produces this series with an all-star cast. Last week the famous Bronco car chase was recreated. Better than I thought and even though I know the outcome, it's powerful and gripping.
I'm hooked!

Tuesday nights on FX
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
kevin
2016-02-23 18:16:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by William Brownstein
American Crime on ABC taking on gay themes involving two gay boys in regards to consent, rape, outing, cover ups, beatings, scandal and even murder.
Season 2 with returning cast members taking on this new storyline and playing different characters. Felicity Huffman is exceptional as the principal of the school who is more concerned anout protecting the school's reputation over the safety and welfare of the students. This show is not to be missed!
Then there's the limited series on FX about O.J.
that recreates everything. John Travolta stars and produces this series with an all-star cast. Last week the famous Bronco car chase was recreated. Better than I thought and even though I know the outcome, it's powerful and gripping.
I'm hooked!
Tuesday nights on FX
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
I'll pass on the OJ story - I watched it the first time. There is really nothing new here (to me).

However the American Crime Series is quite excellent. The tory line is compelling, sad and quite real. The acting is as good as you will see anywhere - Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton are doing work that is far above what you usually see on tv.

When the show debuted last season I was wondering how they would continue it or if it would be a one off. Quite amazing what they have done. Highly recommended!
William Brownstein
2016-03-12 22:16:30 UTC
Permalink
American Crime was brilliant in its short 10 episode season. Just found a good article about season's two ending.

https://twitter.com/vulture/status/708759235690110976
kevin
2016-03-13 06:10:27 UTC
Permalink
Post by William Brownstein
American Crime was brilliant in its short 10 episode season. Just found a good article about season's two ending.
https://twitter.com/vulture/status/708759235690110976
I enjoyed the second season of American Crime. I wasn't really thrilled with the endings - but it was consistent with the producers way of looking at a situation from perspectives that are not usually considered. I felt the story left the original premise to ambiguous to the audience - the party and what actually happened, and who knew about it at the time it happened and were others more involved than we have seen. Clearly the alleged rapist does not seem to feel he did anything wrong - giving the victim what he appeared to ask for, and the victim says he lied about a lot - but not being raped.

As to the last scene - I am assuming the victim - now a shooter goes ahead and pleads to the charge he was offered. Given the outcry on gun violence and school shooting, I find it hard to believe a judge would consider a ten year sentence, out in five acceptable for a 17 year old. That did not ring true to me. As to the other boy wavering about getting in the car with a stranger - no doubt in my mind he would get in the car. Why? He was alone, isolated and in dire need to be intimate with someone - anyone to find some validation, however risky. For him the risk was NOT to get in the car.

Overall I thought the acting in every role was brilliant. Timothy Hutton, 35 years removed from his Oscar win for Ordinary People was superb - he can still bring nuance to a character in fascinating ways. Felicity Hoffman always is worth watching. This season was such a great contrast for her in terms of character leap I was really blown away. Lilli Taylor and Regina King were really amazing too. Their characters were both fighters and victims although in different ways. Connor Jessup and Joey Pollari were really good with difficult roles. Pollari, especially was both victim and bully and back again.

All in all, an outstanding series - I look forward to Season 3.
William Brownstein
2016-03-13 14:50:24 UTC
Permalink
I love your comments on the show Kevin. I can't add much to what you said. The acting, storylines are so emotional in how we see things play out everyday in the news.

It's interesting that each viewer was able to take away their interpretation differently and hopefully will lead to much needed discussion. This second series would be a great teaching tool at schools. The episodes could be done in a short period of time with possibly 2 episodes each session and then have teachers guide students on their opinions and have questions answered as well. I'm thinking more of an entire school showing or special event after school hours.

Television done this lovingly and paying attention to important issues makes it so worthwhile.

My favorite show is The Good Wife and everything about that show too is first rate, from the writing to the amazing cast of actors. I'll be sad to see this series end, but it had a good run. Hopefully American Crime has more to offer and will return. Probably the best show I've seen since The Good Wife.

Just thought about this while concluding my thoughts. What we are seeing play out with Donald Trump is horrible. I said recently that he reminds me of Hitler and his frightening tactics are being compared to him more and more each passing day. The racism and especially the violence is out of hand. Trump even encourages this at his rallies. No matter what he says or does, it doesn't seem to weaken him but make him stronger.

For a number of years people have talked about a revolution in this country. What we have seen especially over the last week is ugly with the danger signs right in front of us.

A season of political corruption with it focused on events like politicians intervening with the police and victims might be interesting for a show like American Crime to take on next. If not this show, a similar drama will probably find its ways to audiences in the not too distant future. But for now the real life show Donald Trump is presenting is The Apprentice multiplied a million times and then some. What started out as what many thought as a joke can affect every single person in this country.

Anyone who doesn't see the similarities in what Trump is doing that Hitler did in Germany is brainwashed. History always REPEATS itself and this is getting very dangerous. At this point, it may be too late. I wonder if the Jews will be blamed for the economy as they always are. People are blind and we are witnessing the beginnings of a revolution in this country.
kevin
2016-03-13 18:58:41 UTC
Permalink
Post by William Brownstein
I love your comments on the show Kevin. I can't add much to what you said. The acting, storylines are so emotional in how we see things play out everyday in the news.
It's interesting that each viewer was able to take away their interpretation differently and hopefully will lead to much needed discussion. This second series would be a great teaching tool at schools. The episodes could be done in a short period of time with possibly 2 episodes each session and then have teachers guide students on their opinions and have questions answered as well. I'm thinking more of an entire school showing or special event after school hours.
Television done this lovingly and paying attention to important issues makes it so worthwhile.
My favorite show is The Good Wife and everything about that show too is first rate, from the writing to the amazing cast of actors. I'll be sad to see this series end, but it had a good run. Hopefully American Crime has more to offer and will return. Probably the best show I've seen since The Good Wife.
Just thought about this while concluding my thoughts. What we are seeing play out with Donald Trump is horrible. I said recently that he reminds me of Hitler and his frightening tactics are being compared to him more and more each passing day. The racism and especially the violence is out of hand. Trump even encourages this at his rallies. No matter what he says or does, it doesn't seem to weaken him but make him stronger.
For a number of years people have talked about a revolution in this country. What we have seen especially over the last week is ugly with the danger signs right in front of us.
A season of political corruption with it focused on events like politicians intervening with the police and victims might be interesting for a show like American Crime to take on next. If not this show, a similar drama will probably find its ways to audiences in the not too distant future. But for now the real life show Donald Trump is presenting is The Apprentice multiplied a million times and then some. What started out as what many thought as a joke can affect every single person in this country.
Anyone who doesn't see the similarities in what Trump is doing that Hitler did in Germany is brainwashed. History always REPEATS itself and this is getting very dangerous. At this point, it may be too late. I wonder if the Jews will be blamed for the economy as they always are. People are blind and we are witnessing the beginnings of a revolution in this country.
I like the Good Wife too, sorry that it is winding down.

As to Trump - wow, I'm seeing things I never thought were possible in politics. As to tying a political aspect into American Crime - I think you saw that to a slight degree in Season one and the same thing was present in how the School Board went after the principal in Season Two. Adding a Trump like figure, or a Chris Christie type figure to the equation would certainly make for a compelling story line on the effects of politics on justice. It could be very workable and watchable tv as well.


I'm not so sure Trump is a harbinger of the revolution as he is the culmination of years of politicians lying to people about change then doing nothing when elected. Reagan comes to mind. When he ran in 1976 and 1980 he promised to put prayer back into schools - first thing! After he took office a bill was introduced to start a constitutional amendment to do that and it died. Reagan offered NO support whatsoever while the debate was going on which surprised a lot of people, but the reality was he didn't care about it at all. It was just a means to get votes. That has been replayed a thousand times since then on both sides of the aisle and voters buy the latest version every time. Trump is speaking to the frustration of politicians not doing what they claimed they would do. Of course the man is a con man and a fraud - his so called net worth seems to be bogus too, given he got tax breaks in NYC designed for middle income residents. Yet people fall for the big con (note The Sting reference!).

The violence we are seeing does make me think that this is what it was like in Germany during the rise of Hitler. Do you remember a tv series called Holocaust on NBC? It ran in the 70s or early 80's - Meryl Streep was actually in it in a supporting role so it goes back a ways. In that show a middle class German family - Jewish - that refused to leave Germany because the "Country of Mozart, Goethe, . . . etc." would not allow someone like Hitler to come to power. Opps. Now in America, here we are. This is a direct result of right wing media, Fox, Rush, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Imus and the whole hateful lot. They have built a fire and they are loosing control of it.

It seems Muslims have replaced Jews as the new scapegoats of history, but don't kid yourself - this is a whites only revolution - it is getting ugly. More than I ever imagined it could.
William Brownstein
2016-03-13 22:48:45 UTC
Permalink
I remember a few holocaust series on television.
The Winds of War stands out the most, which was a sequel to an earlier mini series that continued .... War and Remembrance with Robert Mitchum if I recall. I think the one you are referring to was simply titled Holocaust.

So many of the same early patterns playing out with Trump. A number of years ago someone told me me that the Holocaust could happen again in this country. I said no way. Now I'm not so sure anymore but I'm pretty certain a revolution is coming if Trump prevails. Obama would be nothing to what Trump might do here at home and the relations we have with our allies and other countries. Not looking good.

None of it is looking good from a liar, to a socialist and to a dictator. Americans will all lose in this one unless someone comes out of nowhere like Bloomberg was thinking of doing. Then again, I'm not very fond of him either.
kevin
2016-03-13 23:35:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by William Brownstein
I remember a few holocaust series on television.
The Winds of War stands out the most, which was a sequel to an earlier mini series that continued .... War and Remembrance with Robert Mitchum if I recall. I think the one you are referring to was simply titled Holocaust.
So many of the same early patterns playing out with Trump. A number of years ago someone told me me that the Holocaust could happen again in this country. I said no way. Now I'm not so sure anymore but I'm pretty certain a revolution is coming if Trump prevails. Obama would be nothing to what Trump might do here at home and the relations we have with our allies and other countries. Not looking good.
None of it is looking good from a liar, to a socialist and to a dictator. Americans will all lose in this one unless someone comes out of nowhere like Bloomberg was thinking of doing. Then again, I'm not very fond of him either.
Bloomberg has already done the math and declines to run - why he thought the country was waiting for him, I do not know. If Trump gets denied the nomination in a brokered convention I could see him running third party. That's fine - Barring an indictment I don't see Hillary loosing this time around.

I remember The winds of War - great Tv, and yes, the other show I referred to was simply called Holocaust.
Loading...