A Deadwood evening and more

[ellen_datlow]

Last night I watched four episodes of Deadwood, beginning the second season. And they were very fine. I was talking to my mother about the series today while visiting her and my dad. We talked about its Shakespearean aspects and she thought there were elements of Antigone --I'm not sure which one--I assume the original. She felt Al commenting on the action from his balcony was kind of Greek Chorus like--I don't agree with that but the dialog is becoming more and Shakespearean in both its cadences and the language itself (except for the "fucks"). The characters get richer as the series goes on. I told my mother she should try to rent it for my dad to watch--I think he's like it. Or maybe there would be too much talking for him and not enough action.

Tonight I watched American Gangster. I'm not sure what I expected, but I did hope for more. I have the feeling that Ridley Scott was going for an African American Godfather and it just didn't work as such. I skimmed the original article by Mark Jacobson in NY Magazine a few years ago upon which the script is based and was unimpressed by the character of Frank Lucas then. He was a thug in real life. He's a thug in the movie, no matter how good-looking Denzel Washington is (and he IS). In the opening scene he murders someone horribly, passionlessly, and we don't get inside him at ALL.

I've been comparing his character (and others in the movie) to other gangsters in some relatively recent American movies that worked better (I'm not saying they're necessarily better movies, although some obviously are) in order to figure out why HE as a character didn't move me.

The Corleones in The Godfather--each son had a distinct personality. In American Gangster Lucas's brothers did not --we spend very little time with each brother. The mother (played by Ruby Dee) is good in a very small role.

In Scarface Pacino goes way over the top but at least he's dramatically interesting. Goodfellas of course has the terrifying performance by Joe Pesci. Ray Liotta's a mook but it doesn't matter because the gang around him is colorful.

Denzel Washington is smart, greedy (I guess), ruthless (although it seems to come out of nothing), passionless. Basically, he's a very dull character. I don't know if it's the script or the performance. Russell Crowe as the one honest cop in town is much better. And for me, the most interesting part of the movie is the end when they meet for the first time and the last 15 minutes. I'll have to see if I come to any other conclusions after the movie sinks in... but I'd very much like to hear what others felt about the movie if you've seen it. And if you disagree, please tell me what you think I've missed.

Comments

felt much the same...

[themadblonde]

I think it was both the writing & the acting. Mr. W is simply not the deepest actor on earth (have you seen his performance in "Philadelphia?").

I had a strong objection to the ending, not because of the work or even the writing. I object to the facts. The man was, as you say, a rather brutal murderer. & because he helped this cop catch a lot of crooked cops, he only served, what, 15, 20 years in jail? & we're supposed to be good with that? I'm really not, thanks.

ADORED Ruby D, though, & Mr. Crowe was, as usual, excellent.

Re: felt much the same...

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

As more than one person pointed out to me, most everyone involved in creating The Godfather movies, Goodfellas, Mean Streets, and The Sopranos were steeped in the Italian culture and history. The creators of American Gangster, from the author of the original article to the final movie had no emotional stake (or first hand knowledge) of Harlem, or African American culture of the period during which the rise of Frank Lucas takes place. This to me explains totally why the movie is a failure.