Greetings all, we are about to head into another month with still no movies to choose from. The theaters have been inundated with schlock. All of this done, presumably, pull focus onto Oscar pics before the big ceremony. The strikes in Hollywood have started to show their consequences. Luckily, streaming has been picking up the slack with prestige miniseries, harkening back to the days when network television would break up the monotony of their scripted dramas and sitcoms. So, letâs liven this very strange season shall we?
Apple TV+ has been killing it in this department, showcasing some upcoming long-form dramas like The New Look and Manhunt in the next few weeks. But for now, the war/history buffs can take solace in Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg producing the next in what may become their World War II trilogy. Masters of the Air, much like Band of Brothers and The Pacific, is based on a book about one group in the fight. Here the 100th Bomb Squadron scream over Germany in some of the most dangerous missions in order to weaken Nazi defenses and development. In some of the better use of visual effects I have seen on television, intensely crafted dogfights are splayed over the course of several episodes. Through superb editing and cinematography, we have put in the fuselages of these giant âFlying Fortressesâ as the carnage of war whiz by us.
Not all is about action though, as we are given more characterization from the start when we meet two friends Buck and Bucky. This may seem confusing at first and there is very little explanation for the similar nicknames. Austin Butler and Callum Turner are the glue, adhering the plot together with its many disparate soldiers. This isnât a bug though, as it gives a clear picture of how you never knew who you would meet or who would not survive at any time. Creator and writer John Orloff allows enough personality to shine through each captain and private that, when they donât make it, we feel the loss. There are a bit by-the-numbers going on here, but the pace is fast that I didnât mind that as much. As of writing, there are only four episodes now. Regardless, I will continue to see how these men make it through and who exactly is narrating. For added context, I would suggest checking the documentary The Cold Blue with director William Wylerâs direct footage inside the bombers.
From the skies over the Rhineland to the Upper West Side of New York City circa 1960s, Ryan Murphy and FX/Hulu present to us Feud: Capote versus The Swans. A very different part of history and pop culture, Murphy takes his diva worship up to 11 with several well-known actress like Naomi Watts and Diane Lane portraying high society ladies who lunch with the renowned author of the day as their friend. Ever the confidant, Truman makes his âswansâ comfortable in confiding to him their every nefarious secret. Washed up however and Random House breathing down his neck for the follow-up to In Cold Blood, he hatches an awful idea. Why not use these housewives fodder as inspiration? You could call him the original Andy Cohen; expect that he isnât hosting chaos, heâs curating it. When his poison pen story hits Esquire Magazine, his time in New York is over.
Tom Hollender does an exceptional job at bringing Truman to life; all the ladies are game to play. They are as much a showcase here if not more so. Murphy was wise to pick one director in Gus Van Sant, with only one episode helmed by another as well as a small handful of screenwriters. The cohesion of a singular team goes a long way to shepherd more complex motivations and storied histories of multiple figures. But with three episodes in, one might wonder where this is all going. It is, at the very least, a good diversion until Shogun premieres here. As entertaining as it is, I gather to think what does Murphy have to say about the artistâs ego and our propensity for self-destruction. No comment from this writer on the subject, but it makes for very engrossing viewing.
