The 7-episode limited seriesHollywood,Ryan Murphys second project atNetflix, premieres May 1.
KRISTEN:Hollywoodbegins where else?
The studio system is king!
Credit: SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX
Kid, youre a dime a dozen, sniffs a casting agent.
(Did we mention this is a Ryan Murphy show?)
), and the actor is equally hilarious in both.
But then we wouldnt have the pleasure of watching Patti LuPone as the grandly disdainful Avis Amberg.
Were there any performances that stood out for you, Darren?
And how did you feel aboutHollywoods attempt to revise history?
DARREN:Historical revision was the great project of Ryan Murphys last decade.
Electric currents of nostalgic camp fused with unabashed progressivism in period extravaganzas likePoseandFeud.
Hollywoodis an outright alternate history, transforming Ace Studios into a what-if paragon of triumphant diversity and power-structure representation.
Unfortunately, the series suffers from a critical lack of personality.
Too many performances stand out for sheer blandness.
Theyre both playing ambitious young performers seeking stardom, butHollywoodflattens their ambition into noble niceness.
Everyoneis noble,everyoneis nice.
AllHollywoodhearts are as gold as Oscar trophies, and the sweetness turns sour fast.
Murphy and Brennan arent just crafting a hopeful vision of history.
Theyre unspooling a morality textbook, every whiff of potential drama vaporized into hugs.
A jilted wife immediately forgives the woman whos been secretly sleeping with her husband for a decade.
Rivals become friends, because of goodness.
Divorce is amicable; adultery is justified.
A studio executive gives great notes and nowthisis alternate history everyonelovesthe screenwriter.
Im not immune to all the charms, Kristen.
Im pre-converted to the messages its preaching.
Embedded racism and sexismareoriginal La La Land sins, still active maladies a century later.
But Ill tell you the exact momentHollywoodlost me.
I used to believe good government could change the world, she explains.
I dont know that I believe that anymore.
However, what you do?
The three of it’s possible for you to change the world.
You mentioned some of the storylines clumsy turns, Kristen.
Am I dwelling too much on the clumsiness?
Do you see more virtue inHollywoods frantic optimism?
But I appreciate the sentiment of whatHollywoodis trying to do.
Is thatreallyso bad, though?
Especially at this very moment in our collective history?
DARREN:To be as outrageously blunt as Henry Willson: Itisreally so bad!
Maybe he thinks it’s bolder to tell a happy story about happy people working together happily.
Everyone who loves film history grapples with this.
My family just rewatched the ever-splendidSingin' in the Rainhere in our quarantine bunker.
ButHollywoodjust never worked for me on its own terms.
The movie-within-a-movie looks, well, awful.
Kristen’s Grade: B
Darren’s Grade: C
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