Down With the Grunts
Generation Kill, an HBO seven-part mini-series about the invasion of Iraq that begins on Sunday, "is bold, uncompromising and oddly diffident," writes the N.Y. Times' Alessandra Stanley. "It maintains impeccable dignity even as it tracks a group of shamelessly and engagingly profane, coarse and irreverent marines, members of an elite reconnaissance battalion that spearheaded the invasion.
"[Though] a true story of combat and male bonding, Generation Kill is told disjointedly and atonally, perhaps because it pursues clashing goals. It tries to honor the ordeal -- and the humanity -- of its heroes while exposing the futility of their quest.
"It was written by David Simon and Ed Burns, the team behind The Wire, and was adapted from the prizewinning book by Evan Wright, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone who was embedded with Bravo Company for the duration of the assault.
"The script is faithful to Mr. Wright’s account, respectful of the soldiers he befriended and as opaque and ascetic as The Wire, an opus that forced viewers to parse multiple plots and a huge cast of characters without directions or subtitles.
"The odyssey of these men from training tents in Kuwait to occupied Baghdad is laid out with brutal candor and without the aid of maudlin cinematography or emotive music. The closest thing to a thematic score is the starched, staticky clatter of radio traffic: 'Roger that' and 'This is Hit Man II, over.'
"Restraint can be as important to a serious television drama as it is to art collecting or the dinner table. Particularly when the subject is as raw as war, sentimentality or florid emotionalism can offend and even repel viewers. Its exercise can be a sign of respect and sensitivity, but it can also seem smug, a veiled form of one-upmanship.
“With its superb cast and script, Generation Kill provides a searingly intense, clear-eyed look at the first stage of the war, and it is often gripping. But like a beautiful woman who swathes herself in concealing clothes and distracting hats, the series fights its own intrinsic allure."
What's wrong with atonal, disjointed, distracting, smug, etc.? I could go for that.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 11, 2008 at 12:29 PM
comment #1
alynch
says ...
Restraint can be as important to a serious television drama as it is to art collecting or the dinner table ...... Its exercise can be a sign of respect and sensitivity, but it can also seem smug, a veiled form of one-upmanship.
I find this quote rather curious. How exactly seem dramatic restraint "smug"? I just don't get this.
Posted by alynch
at July 11, 2008 1:14 PM
comment #2
Rothchild
says ...
Yeah, David Simon and Ed Burns can do no wrong. The Wire is the greatest series in the history of television.
Posted by Rothchild
at July 11, 2008 1:49 PM
comment #3
Alan Cerny
says ...
Everyone says that about THE WIRE. I'm not doubting that you believe that, but the fervor is almost as high as the Browncoats. It's almost a mantra. "Have you heard of THE WIRE?" "Greatestserieseverinthehistoryoftelevision!"
I guess I'm going to have to check it out eventually.
Posted by Alan Cerny
at July 11, 2008 1:54 PM
comment #4
roman
says ...
Rothchild has it right. I mean, come on, how bad could this possibly be?
Posted by roman
at July 11, 2008 1:57 PM
comment #5
actionman
says ...
I will certainly be checking this out. Sounds incredible.
Posted by actionman
at July 11, 2008 2:02 PM
comment #6
Doug Pratt
says ...
Dear Jeff:
If you have not watched The Wire yet, from the first season to the last, you owe it to yourself to do so. There have been very little in the last five years, on the big screen or on TV, that is anywhere near as satisfying.
Posted by Doug Pratt
at July 11, 2008 2:18 PM
comment #7
SpinDozer
says ...
Bianculli's take:
"Less successful in Generation Kill is a clear delineation of characters, much less character. We follow a small caravan of vehicles, each with its own quirky occupants, across Iraq -- yet after after watching all seven hours, you'd be hard-pressed to pick more than a handful out of a police lineup."
"But in the end -- an end that nicely uses a haunting Johnny Cash recording -- Generation Kill is not as visceral or successful as Band of Brothers, though it's an impressive and ambitious enough effort to both watch and applaud."
http://www.tvworthwatching.com/blog/
Posted by SpinDozer
at July 11, 2008 2:19 PM
comment #8
Fien Print
says ...
While The Wire is, indeed, the best TV program of the past decade, David Simon has moments where he deseparately has to make points and his characters over-articulate the main themes and messages. When that happens, it's *never* poorly written, but it's on-the-nose. Much of the two "Generation Kill" episodes I've seen are a bit like that. Simon has points to make about the current Iraq war and he shoehorns them in at times, but the writing is excellent, the acting is superb and it's incredibly smart. It isn't political, but it has opinions. It covers a lot of ground.
That means nobody will watch.
Posted by Fien Print
at July 11, 2008 2:26 PM
comment #9
MAGGA
says ...
So far I've seen four episodes of the wire, and I find it much more television-like than most HBO series. Very uncinematic photography and direction, and so far not much in the way of characters. It seems very commited to it's plot and theme, though, which is promising.
Posted by MAGGA
at July 11, 2008 2:40 PM
comment #10
LexG
says ...
"That means nobody will watch."
Was just going to say the same thing. NOBODY will watch this.
I have to assume it will meet the same fate as virtually every film on this subject so far; I can only guess that any writers, producers and show runners with war-themed films still in development are doing it out of social conscience or a political agenda, as it's been proven at least a dozen times over that the public at large is neither looking for this stories of this war as either entertainment or as protest.
Posted by LexG
at July 11, 2008 2:49 PM
comment #11
JapAdapters
says ...
MAGGA, it never gets cinematic but as for the characters, keep watching, and I mean every season.
I love THE WIRE and have since it started but I can't understand people who think it's better than THE SOPRANOS. Without the later, we'd never have had the former.
Posted by JapAdapters
at July 11, 2008 2:57 PM
comment #12
George Prager
says ...
I want to watch a TV series where there are no firearms involved. Is that too much to ask?
Posted by George Prager
at July 11, 2008 3:17 PM
comment #13
MilkMan
says ...
The Wire is the greatest television show in history.
No. Wait.
The Sopranos is the greatest television show in history.
No. Wait.
Mad Men is the greatest television show in history.
No. Wait.
Hill Street Blues.
No.
The Prisoner.
Wait.
No.
Seinfeld.
That's the funniest. That doesn't count in this discussion.
No.
The Simpsons.
No.
That's just the greatest piece of pop culture in American history, period.
Wait.
No.
Wait.
The latest Death Cab for Cutie Album has that title.
What?
Wait.
No.
Twin Peaks is the greatest television show in history.
You don't like Death Cab fir Cutie?
No.
What?
Wait.
What?
No.
NYPD Blue is the greatest television show in history.
Six Feet Under.
No. Wait.
No.
What?
Posted by MilkMan
at July 11, 2008 3:17 PM
comment #14
George Prager
says ...
Calling something the greatest television show in history is like calling something the greatest breakfast cereal in history.
Posted by George Prager
at July 11, 2008 3:25 PM
comment #15
Marcello
says ...
MAGGA: I remember feeling that way after the first four episodes as well. But then it really kicks in, and you realize you're watching something different. This actually happens to some extent at the beginning of each of the first three seasons (the fourth is unreal from the start, and the fifth never really amounts to anything).
Posted by Marcello
at July 11, 2008 3:33 PM
comment #16
dixiedugan
says ...
Fruit Loops are the Greatest Breakfast Cereal in history,
I can't wait for The Pacific. If' it's as great as Band of Brothers we'll be in for a treat.
This series? I'll give it a watch but I'm kinda HBO'd out right now.
Posted by dixiedugan
at July 11, 2008 3:51 PM
comment #17
LexG
says ...
All these HBO shows are total sausage fests... They need to show more HOT SQUACK.
Hopefully ENTOURAGE will be back soon because EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI OWNS YOUR ASS and this show would be better if it had more CHICKS IN MIDRIFF TOPS AND HEELS,
KNOW THAT.
Posted by LexG
at July 11, 2008 4:01 PM
comment #18
Rothchild
says ...
Nordling:
You'll dig it. You have good taste.
Prager:
If you truly believe that, why are you wasting your time commenting on sites like this?
Posted by Rothchild
at July 11, 2008 4:15 PM
comment #19
MPNeeb
says ...
""Yeah, David Simon and Ed Burns can do no wrong. The Wire is the greatest series in the history of television.""
That's a funny way to spell "Sandbaggers."
Posted by MPNeeb
at July 11, 2008 4:34 PM
comment #20
The InSneider
says ...
The Wire IS the greatest television series ever created and I've seen 5 hours of Generation Kill. It's good, not great, smart and funny but tough to get attached to and care about the characters. I still only know 2-3 soldiers' names but that's part of the point. We view today's soldiers as statistics, not people. Simon makes some great points but it's true, this is no Band of Brothers. Worthy of being watched but not must-see TV like the Hanks series.
Posted by The InSneider
at July 11, 2008 4:35 PM
comment #21
Rothchild
says ...
Aren't you the same guy that read the Hancock script and didn't understand any of it?
Posted by Rothchild
at July 11, 2008 4:58 PM
comment #22
MilkMan
says ...
This show reminds me of the 12 part miniseries that was made for Russian television back in 1982, Pomogite Pozar Stoj, about a group of young soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, that was commissioned by the Kremlin to drum up public support. Black Sea Humor, lots of Afghani people getting killed for no reason, male camraderie, an aversion to authority, but only to a limit. The Kremlin was never mentioned directly for any complicity in the quagmire, nor was Brezhnev, and I doubt this show will be any different.
Posted by MilkMan
at July 11, 2008 4:59 PM
comment #23
Richardson
says ...
'The Wire' is so far ahead of every other television show ever that it could win best breakfast cereal with all of its spare quality.
Posted by Richardson
at July 11, 2008 9:00 PM
comment #24
lipranzer
says ...
"I love THE WIRE and have since it started but I can't understand people who think it's better than THE SOPRANOS. Without the later, we'd never have had the former."
THE SOPRANOS was great television (when it was good - I felt the last season fell off somewhat), but THE WIRE raised the bar higher.
Posted by lipranzer
at July 11, 2008 9:24 PM
comment #25
daniel
says ...
love this blog, but honestly the one thing that Wells is missing is his lack of reference to "The Wire." It's ridiculous to discuss contemporary visual storytelling without at least having seen what is arguably the best contribution to it. People told me for years to watch the "The Wire," I resisted, but when I finally did, I was awed by the thing. A masterpiece, from beginning to end. Please, Wells, watch the thing.
Posted by daniel
at July 11, 2008 11:58 PM
comment #26
shepherd12345
says ...
indeed jeff, lipranzer is right. think about it like this. THE WIRE is the introduction of novelistic length to the film form...and a significant enhancement of the power of the medium itself.
Why spend so much time lamenting how bad Hollywood 2hr films are, and none on how the medium itself is evolving to a new, more expressive and powerful form?
Even the best 2hr films of the past 10 years pale in significance to THE WIRE.
THAT's what's going on right now, Jeff. C'mon, don't be the guy grousing over how Lawrence Welk is losing his touch while the Beatles are debuting on Sullivan.
Posted by shepherd12345
at July 12, 2008 7:27 AM
comment #27
Marcello
says ...
I love Wire Vs. Sopranos!
The easy answer is that they were very different shows with different strengths. The Wire never matched the psychological complexity of the characters on The Sopranos -- no show can. But The Wire was -- for the most part -- more riveting storytelling, partly because the individual episodes were less self-contained. The Wire had grander ambitions, but at times overreached, whereas The Sopranos sometimes lost track of it's central themes. The Final episode of The Sopranos was MUCH, MUCH better than the cheesy finale of The Wire.
Overall, I think... aaaah! I can't say either! Probably there's never been a better season of television than Season 4 of The Wire. Except, of course, possibly Season 1 of the Sopranos.
Nevermind.
Posted by Marcello
at July 12, 2008 10:04 AM
comment #28
JCEFalconi
says ...
Wire Finale Cheesy? Crazyness, who could keep a dry eye after learning the conclusion to Dookie's, Michael's and Bub's stories. Crazy I says.
I read that article, and I liked what I heard, reminded me of the Wire many times, things like not knowing the character's names is not a fault, but a cause of the setting being a place where individuality is not encouraged, just as the ghetto in Baltimore.
Posted by JCEFalconi
at July 12, 2008 1:53 PM
comment #29
saranie
says ...
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Posted by saranie
at July 14, 2008 8:13 PM
comment #30
janee
says ...
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at May 17, 2011 6:01 AM