I learned a few months ago that this bio about George Jones and Tammy Wynette was to be a 6-part Showtime series, but since I didn't have Showtime, I wasn't going to subscribe or anything, though I was, of course, curious... Just found out this weekend that my basic Spectrum cable was now offering the series "on demand" for free... Watched 4 episodes late last night, and 2 early this morning when I woke up...
All I can say now, without too much introspection at this point, is that I cried constantly throughout half of the 5th episode and through most of the last episode. I already knew much about these two via their music, and via reading many biographies. And I was expecting these actors to be cheesy and false... But Jessica Chastain, especially, seemed very much to channel the wounded Tammy Wynette. Michael Shannon looked nothing like George Jones---and he did not at all reflect George's fun-loving, manic side. He did convey Jones's innate simplicity and sincerity and darkness---but Shannon's eyes were dead the whole time. If you watch any video of George Jones, he's got a spark in his eyes that this actor did not have.
A flawed production, and I was cold to the first couple of episodes, but I was ultimately very much moved by the honestly dark portrayal of these two deeply flawed, but loving/obsessed, people.
My heart was heavy after watching this, and after crying on behalf of George & Tammy, and of myself, and of any two humans who ever tried to love but were unsuccessful.
No comments:
Post a Comment