TD S01E01: Genesis
[author note: I do not work for the show, for HBO, or benefit in any monetary way from writing and posting this, or any, blog. Like Newsroom two years ago, this show sent a shock through me and I like posting quotes from the show. Sharing is caring. Namaste, DJD]
True Detective is a new HBO cop show. I think the first season just wrapped. Maybe nine episodes. It is set in Louisiana and stars Woody Harrelson (as Det. Marty Hart) and Matthew McConaughey (as Rust Cohle). If you hate cop shows, you will probably hate this one, too (Just don't write it off 'cause CSI sucks...).
The opening credits are great, in part from the music of T-bone Burnett, though they are a little derivative of The Bridge. Since you brought up plagiarism, I will also mention Hannibal. If you are a fan of that show you may see some crossover here. But all three of these shows rock hard, and I think the interaction between them is more respectful and good than trashy, stealy, and bad. Got it?
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If flashback storytelling sends you into seizures, you will want to numb out and skip this one. The time sequences are measured in decades, and the jumping between them is rapid and abrupt. But, if you can hang, you will get an epic tale of morality, family, southern religion (including Santeria), and sex with writing as crisp as anything on any screen.
The first two episodes set up the characters and the scene nicely. Good friction between the partners, and some of their conversations will make it on to this page. A fragment from one that got me up off the couch went something like this:
Rust: This place is like somebody's memory of a town and the memory is fading. It's like there was never anything here but jungle.
Hart: Stop saying shit like that. It's unprofessional.
Rust: Oh, is that what I'm going for here?
Hart: I just want you to stop saying odd shit. Like you 'smell a psycho's fear,' or You're 'in someone's faded memory of a town.' Just stop.
Rust: Well given how long it has taken me to reconcile my nature, I can't see how I'd forego it on your account, Marty.
Hart: (long, wincing sigh)
Rust: You believe in ghosts?
Hart: What did we say about silent reflection?
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And this one. Detective Cohle, looking haggard and ragged, in the present, an ex-cop being interrogated on camera by two spit and polish young detectives, on video:
Rust : (standing and forming a "T" with his hands) Now, listen boys, ah'm gonna have tuh call a little time out here, make a beer run.
Detective #1 : Now why don't you hold up on that for a while?
Rust : Well, because it is Thursday after noon. You bring me down here, pick my brain, work a room. You gonna buy me a cheeseburger and a coke, right? Right? Well, it's Thursday. And that is one of my days off. On my days off, I start drinking at noon. You don't get to interrupt that. I'll take a sixer of Old Milwaukee, Lone Star, whatever. Nothing snooty. (He blows a ten dollar bill on a cloud of cigarette smoke to Detective #2, who sighs, takes the money and leaves.) I'd appreciate a little hustle up on that, y'hear?
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I dunno. Maybe I am just in the right mood. I am still reeling and rolling with McConaughey's newfound status.
The work here is slick, dark and professional from top to bottom. Let's see if they can keep it up.
DJD out
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Rumor that Brad Pitt might join TD S02:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/true-detective-season-2-brad-pitt-rumoured-to-replace-matthew-mcconaughey-9196502.html
TD S01E01: Genesis
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