As I mentioned yesterday, Amazon has rolled out another 5 shows in a third crack at “Pilot Season” where viewers get to watch the shows for free (preceded by an ad from sponsor Geico) and then tell Amazon what they think with an eye toward the shows becoming actual series. The first batch earlier this year was mostly forgettable. The second batch gave us the potentially terrific Transparent starring Jeffrey Tambor, and this third batch looks promising as well. I gave the three 30-minute single-camera comedies from Whit Stillman (Metropolitan), David Gordon Green (All the Real Girls, Pineapple Express) and Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers) with mixed results.
Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, David Gordon Green’s likable ’80s-set comedy Red Oaks tells the story of David (Submarine‘s Craig Roberts), a well-off young man working as an assistant tennis pro at a snobby country club during the summer before college. Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing, duh) and Richard Kind (Mad About You, A Serious Man) play David’s parents while Paul Reiser (Mad About You) plays the rich asshole president of the club. Red Oaks strikes a pleasant Caddyshack vibe, but it’s a bit more thoughtful and polite. Green’s affection for the period and time of life shines through and his vision is well supported by a capable cast. Standouts include Ennis Esmer (The Listener) as Nash, the head tennis pro and smooth talking mentor (“I just hate to see a bright young fellow like yourself throwing your future for an education.”) and Oliver Cooper (Project X) as Wheeler, the best-friend-stoner-Jonah-Hill-type club valet. Being Amazon, there’s plenty of room for light swearing, drug use and boobs. Green takes full advantage, but it feels organic to the tone of the show and not just a gimmick to draw attention and eyeballs. It was good too to see Jennifer Grey back on screen, too. I’d watch more of Red Oaks if it gets picked up.
Next up is The Cosmopolitans which was written, directed and produced by Whit Stillman. It tells the story of a group of apparently well-off American late-20-early-30-somethings headed by Adam Brody (Thank You For Not Smoking) who are looking for love and meaning in Paris (“We live here. We’re Parisians”). Carrie MacLemore (from Stillman’s Damsels in Distress) shines as a southern girl who is being exiled by the French writer-boyfriend who convinced her to move to Paris and move in with him. If you’re a fan of Stillman’s movie work (lots of clueless preppies sitting around talking smart) then there’s plenty to be encouraged by in The Cosmopolitans, but non-fans needn’t bother. Personally, I like Stillman’s shtick and he’s got a likable cast who make potentially unlikable characters bearable. Plus, Stillman constantly gives the audience permission to make gentle fun of them so they’re less irritating. Chloe Sevigny (Zodiac) has a juicy guest spot as an American fashion writer who doles out advice to MacLemore’s Abbey: “Loser is kind of an ugly world, but aren’t they old enough to have started putting things together… such as their lives?” Also making a guest appearance is the international dance craze The Sambola which fans of Damsels in Distress will appreciate.
Finally we have Really from Broken Lizard’s Jay Chandrasekhar who co-stars alongside Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) as a couple of comfortably(?) married with children 30-somethings. Brace yourselves for boring conversations about snoring, going to the gym and recycling; awkward questions from children; and dinner parties with annoying friends complete with dull discussions about reality TV. Because it’s Amazon, there are also birthday blowjobs, masturbation, weed and talk of butthole eating. I’m not the target audience for this and didn’t find it remotely appealing, though when the party host has way too much wine and makes a scene, the show takes an intriguingly dark turn. Overall, Chalke is as an engaging a presence as she was on Scrubs, but Chandrasekhar’s thin charms wear out quickly. Those who find this world familiar and relatable might find a lot to like. If it gets picked up, I’ll consider sampling another episode, but if it doesn’t, I don’t think it will be any great loss to television
But don’t take my word for it. Check out the shows yourself along with a couple of hour-long dramas and take Amazon’s survey here.
“If you’re a fan of Stillman’s movie work (lots of clueless preppies sitting around talking smart) then there’s plenty to be encouraged by in The Cosmopolitans, but non-fans needn’t bother.”
I think this has always been the case with Stillman’s work. And you can’t convince those that are just not into his style otherwise I suspect. Shame.
I wonder too if Awardsdaily was running 25 years ago what we would have made of Metropolitan grabbing a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination…
I like Stillman’s shtick and I definitely hope to see more of it in Cosmopolitans. As I said above, these characters would be irritating if he didn’t give us permission to poke good natured fun at them.
I kind of can’t believe The Metropolitans lost to Ghost… and yet I can. It’s kind of one of those “I’m just happy to be nominated” type situations, isn’t it?
Yeah it was never going to win: a small movie with no or very little Oscar coverage – but it would be great if these movies did win Original Screenplay though. See also Lone Star, Margin Call, Heavenly Creatures, Dirty Pretty Things, The Squid and the Whale etc etc.
That’s what I mean about “an honor to be nominated.” What I like about that category is it has the balls to make interesting choices, even if ultimately the voters themselves cop out. At least the people who pick the nominees are trying to hold up the bar a little bit and good stuff always sneaks in. Sometimes it even wins (Fargo).
Fargo got the love though for the Coen brothers that year {finally Academy jeez!} and was “honored” in many categories. That kind of following helps. Though their balls had not grown big enough to give it Best Picture. But those smaller movies you might argue were not Best Picture material. And that’s an Academy perception, not mine. But yeah, you’re right it is good that they at least acknowledge them. Some of them.