Hi there Mem Bookers - an an early happy new year t'y'all...
Anyways, I was wondering if anyone else has got into The Wire yet?
It was only shown on an obscure Sky channel - FX - but it has become such a word of mouth classic that I decided to invest in series one after reading about the fifth major national newspaper article saying it was the 'best TV programme ever'. Everyone has been lauding it (including Irvine Welsh, the Trainspotter author) so I thought I'd better check it out myself as I love losing myself in long running box sets...And, folks, all the hype is worth it. It is brilliant. Utterly brilliant. As an example on Amazon the fourth series (which I am ploughing through) had about 35 reviews the last time I checked and ALL 35 have given it five stars. That never happens.
But once you watch it you know why - because once you watch it you are hooked.
It is basically all about drug dealing in Baltimore and is completley authentic in terms of the language etc. It takes a while to get to grips with that street lingo (most unlike Bath I can tell you), the fact that in some shows not much happens (it is all about character and subtle plot developments) and the bewildering amount of different people involved. It is also refreshingly 'neutral' - not all the police and politicians are good and not all the drug dealers are bad.
Race is often an issue which is ironic because there is simply nothing 'black and white' about the characters - The Wire doesn't do easy stereotypes and isn't very PC.
It is brilliant, classic, unforgettable, original TV. And nothing comes close - no, not even Terry and June.
Go buy!
You (didn't) read it here first!
Yeah, the Wire is certainly worth all the hype. I got the season 1 box set for my Birthday in 2007, and it took me about six months to watch the first five episodes for one reason or another. Then Helen and I became obsessed and went through the remaining four series in about six weeks. It came to the point where we were having to ration ourselves to one episode a night, as we would quite happily sit watching for hours on end... What I love about the Wire is the almost total lack of exposition in the dialogue (none of those "What's that? There's been a murder? At the docks?" 'phone calls you get in other crime shows). Also the cops never shoot anyone and the car chases are all conducted at 10mph. And that "fuck" scene in season 1. There's too much to love! It has to be said that Season 5 lets things slip a bit, but it's still way better than almost anything else in this genre.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Bam - always good to find a fellow believer.
ReplyDeleteI am midway through Series 4 now (my Christmas present, chosen by myself!) and loving Prez in the school room, Omar in jail, Bubbs with his trolley shop and the corrupt/not-so-corrupt new Mayor .
I am a bit disappointed that McNulty has dried up - literally - though and I still really miss Stringer Bell, Barksdale et al. Top. top characters all.
My son, 15, is a big movie/good TV man too and he loves it as much as me (if I ever can't find a disc it is because ti is in his DVD player) but thankfully he hasn't yet discovered the 'corners' around here.
I love it all - and I gather Series 5 has a press/newspaper angle to so I am looking forward to that too.
PS Did you see 'McNulty' playing Oliver Cromwell recently? I thought that was odd casting until someone told me that this 'foul mouthed Irish American street talker' is not only English but also an ex-Etonian.
Bizarre when you see his character - and proof what a convincing actor he is.
Someone should tell Bunk who his mate is though .....
Not only is Dominic West English, so is Idris Elba who plays Stringer Bell - he's done loads of UK TV. As has Clarke Peters (Lester Freamon), who lives in London (he's been in Jonathan Creek!). My favourite characters include Prop Joe and the terrifying Chris and Snoop double act...
ReplyDeleteStringer as well! Amazing.
ReplyDeleteSomeone posted this to me today which I wasn't aware of...
'Fresh from completing the fifth and final season of their critically acclaimed TV masterpiece The Wire, David Simon and his long-time collaborator Ed Burns are set to release their latest offering on the British viewing public. Generation Kill, adapted from the book of the same name by journalist Evan Wright, tells the true story of the first 40 days of the Iraq war through the eyes of a company of American Marines. The series, described as bold and uncompromising by the New York Times, starts on satellite channel FX on January 25'.
Should be worth viewing although I can't see how downtown Baghdad can be as dangerous as the Batimore Towers!
The most impoprtant thing to recognise here is that I was into The Wire first. I think if everyone recognises this then we can all get along.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago my friend recommended David Simon's book Homicide. I still think it's the best non-fiction work I've ever read.
The Wire is wonderful - series 4 is terrific. I love those kids.
Respect Mas - your 'I got there first' is duly recognised and honoured!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI watched Waterloo Road the other night which the kids quite like and they had their own mini gangsters in it. And I just kept thinking 'maaaaan (I talk like that a lot sicne watching The Wire) you n*****s ain't nuffin'
I am aware however that I do fall for hype all too easily (and usually quite late!) and there has been sooooo much critical hype about The Wire which I am now adding to.
In today's New Statesman there is an article about Generation Kill that talks about the Wire hype and quotes a mock story from the Daily Mash which reads...
'A new prostrate cancer drug which could save thousands of lives is still not as good as The Wire critics said last night'.
True!
The Article is at
http://www.newstatesman.com/television/2009/01/generation-kill-iraq-war