"Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" review

 

The Force Awakens, but has trouble getting out of bed

After the cinematic lobotomy that was the Prequels, many Star Wars fans, myself included, were very excited about the prospect of the franchise continuing without George Lucas.  JJ Abrams seemed a good choice given his success with the reboot of “Star Trek.”  Yet the sequel “Into Darkness” proved to be an overlong, chaotic mess, and unfortunately “The Force Awakens” shares more than a few similarities.  Overall, it’s a good film, but it suffers from trying to balance the demands of fan service with the necessity of forging its own unique path.

When “The Force Awakens” is telling a new story with new characters, it works like gangbusters.  The film begins with the two principals, Rey and Finn, and their introductions are compelling because even though they take place in a very recognizable setting, it doesn’t feel like a slavish imitation. In particular, Rey’s story reveals many things new and old, but it all blends seamlessly because it is a logical expansion upon a very familiar world.  This first act is by far the best part of the film.

Instead of retreading old trails, Rey and Finn’s stories widen the scope of the Star Wars universe, adding a breath of fresh air to what had become a very lugubrious landscape.  The downside of this new, youthful vibrancy is that the appearance of original trilogy characters somehow feels awkward, much like going to a family reunion and meeting aunts and uncles whom you recall but don’t really know anymore.  I know I should be happy to see these faces, but it just felt weird.

The narrative of “The Force Awakens” is also befuddling because the main goal changes suddenly towards the end of the film.  At first, everyone’s looking for Luke, and then the focus radically shifts to something else.  One of the main reasons that the original Star Wars films worked so well is because they told a simple story on a grand scale.  The hero’s journey is often long and arduous, but the goal always remains the same.  Asking the audience to suddenly switch their allegiance in the third act is confusing because it negates all the buildup that occurred previously.

Of course, this is just the first of many movies.  Disney is going to make it rain Star Wars films for years to come, so it’s a good bet that a more tightly constructed and less nostalgic tale will eventually be told.  That is where I see the successful future of this franchise.  If Star Wars is going to maintain its relevance for all the succeeding generations, then it must continue to add fresh faces exploring different places while laying the foundations of a new mythos.  It needs to take us to another galaxy far, far away.

"Longmire" review - Seasons 1 through 4

Red, White & Gray

Since so many screenwriters have now realized that the long form of a television show offers a much larger and more fertile ground within which to work, just about every cable company has been able to establish at least one prestige series of original content that serves as the tent pole for the channel.  However, the brimming talent pool of scribes is not a guarantee of greater intelligence on the part of the owners of these networks, and dumb decisions can still roll destructively downhill like the boulder chasing Indiana Jones!

Initially, A&E aspired to an aura of sophistication with shows like "Biography" and "Horatio Hornblower."  In a later attempt to attract a different demographic, they struck gold with the massive popularity of "Duck Dynasty", but then unwanted controversy tarnished their image.  While the debut of "Longmire" earned raves from critics and audiences alike, A&E stunned loyal viewers by putting out to pasture this superlative cowboy detective drama despite the fact that it was the networks’ most popular program! 

Thankfully, A&E’s mind-boggling blunder is now Netflix’s soaring success, and “Longmire” has been able to continue its dusty trek towards an uncertain horizon.  The main character, Walt Longmire, sheriff of fictional Absoroka County in Wyoming, is a walking anachronism.  A man of few words and even fewer emotions, Walt plods through the modern world with the resigned weariness of someone who seems to have actually lived in the Old West and is bemused by the needless complexity of 20^th century existence.

What makes “Longmire” so entertaining is that it strikes the perfect balance between many so complex and varied elements.  It is a detailed detective show with each episode usually devoted to a crime that is always unique and interesting.  It is also a fascinating and revealing character study, not only of Walt, but also of his deputies and the denizens of Durant and their contentious relationship with the nearby Cheyenne reservation.  Finally, “Longmire” has a grand storyline which meticulously unfolds as the series progresses.

The interplay between all of the characters is beautifully written, compellingly acted and sometimes hilarious.  Each principal has their own personal story, which is carefully woven into the larger fabric of the show.  Another great strength is how "Longmire" uses its varied cast of characters to play against certain stereotypes.  Assumptions are an easy mistake to make, but "Longmire" delights in upending expectations.  The show teaches the viewer to think the way that Walt does.  Never take things at face value.  Never rush to judgement.

It is a rare pleasure to watch a series that regards its audience as having brains, and therefore doesn’t broadcast its plot or character developments with all the subtlety of a bullhorn.  The first four seasons of “Longmire” roll out tantalizing teases, but even when shocking answers to long lingering questions are revealed, life for Walt does not get simpler.  It just goes on as the stakes are pulled out and planted in new ground.  The story doesn’t end when the killer is found and the case is solved, and Walt’s unwavering pursuit of the truth continues to lead him deeper into dark and dangerous territory.