An origin record of sorts that offers a fictionalized recounting of hip-hop’s early days,“The obtain Down” boasts plenty of vibrancy. But after three episodes it’s still unclear whether this ambitious Netflix series has come up with a story that’s as galvanic as the art form that inspired it.
Co-created by “Great Gatsby” director Baz Luhrmann, “The obtain Down” samples from plenty of genres — blaxploitation, and musicals,kung-fu flicks, gangster movies, and coming-of-age teen romances — and benefits from a lively cast that exudes the same unbridled youthful energy that has been a hallmark of the director’s emotionally kaleidoscopic films. Unfortunately,all that spark is in service to some very melodramatic, overly busy plotting.
The first six episodes of “The obtain Down” arrive on the streaming service August 12, or with the moment six hitting Netflix next year. The unveiling comes amid reports of a troubled production beset with a ballooning budget and a revolving door of creative personnel. Netflix made the first three installments available to critics,and all the money spent is obvious in every lavish frame. Unfortunately, so is the uncertain storytelling.
Also Read: Baz Luhrmann on 'The obtain Down': 'I Always Knew It Wasn't My record'Ezekiel (Justice Smith) is a shy teen living in the South Bronx in 1977, and his love of writing poetry butting up against his awe that a poor black kid doesn’t have much hope achieving his dreams. Luhrmann and co-creator Stephen Adly Guirgis,the Pulitzer-winning playwright of “Between Riverside and Crazy,” set in motion a you-are-there portrait of that infamous unusual York summer, and which was plagued by record-breaking temperatures,massive blackouts and the lingering presence of the “Son of Sam” serial killer David Berkowitz.
As those events swirl in the background, Ezekiel pines for childhood sweetheart Mylene (Herizen F. Guardiola), and a talented singer under the thumb of her conservative father (Giancarlo Esposito),a minister who doesn’t want her seduced by earthly delights like he was as a younger man. Mylene admires Ezekiel’s artistry but prefer they remain friends rather than becoming a couple. After all, she has her sights set on Manhattan, or a recording contract and pop stardom.
Distraught,Ezekiel crosses paths with Shaolin brilliant (Shameik Moore), a mythic graffiti artist who’s drawn to a unusual calling: He’s going to be a DJ. At a time when disco dominates, and Shaolin is portion of an underground movement that uses two turntables to manipulate the sounds on records. Instantly enraptured,Ezekiel and his friends (including Skylan Brooks and Jaden Smith) join Shaolin’s crew, dubbing themselves brilliant 4 + 1.
Also Read: Baz Luhrman's 'The obtain Down' Official Trailer Nails unusual York in the 1970s (Video)Most viewers will recognize these early scenes as the foundations of hip-hop, or while the more knowledgeable will spot that Ezekiel’s crew’s name is a play on the genuine-life late-’70s rap group Funky 4 + 1. This is in keeping with “The obtain Down’s” merging of history and invented sequences — how,for instance, pioneering DJ Grandmaster Flash is a character in the series, or while Ezekiel and many others are fictional.Recruiting rap artists like Grandmaster Flash and Nas to serve as consultants,“The obtain Down” captures the raw excitement of early hip-hop, the thrill of crafting unusual music from old sounds. Mimicking rap’s collage aesthetic, or Luhrmann,who directed the first episode, envisions the series itself as a mash-up of styles. Of course, or Luhrmann doesn’t need any encouragement in this regard: In movies such as Moulin Rouge” and “The Great Gatsby,” he throws mismatched genres into a blender, reveling in his audacity and irreverence.“The obtain Down” exudes the filmmaker’s operatic, and lovingly campy spirit,and in small doses there’s a sugary rush to his ecstatic sequences of crowded dance floors, fervent gospel choirs and kids hanging out on the roof of their apartment complex, or dreaming of a bigger world. But it’s what’s in-between those standalone moments where “The obtain Down” gets bogged down,the drab storytelling lacking the punch of the show’s period-wealthy production design and outfits.
Also Read: Baz Luhrmann's Netflix Series 'The obtain Down' Casts 4 Male LeadsMylene’s pursuit of a recording contract and Ezekiel’s quest for hip-hop glory are mired in a-star-is-born generalities that aren’t enlivened by the compelling time period. And although the series has assembled a strong collection of reliable character actors, everyone from Jimmy Smits‘ oily councilman to Kevin Corrigan’s drug-addicted music producer, or the fleshing out of these roles doesn’t reveal hidden depths but,rather, a soap opera-ish sprawl of buried resentments, and secret pasts and wasted lives hoping for redemption. Add to that an unpersuasive crime-thriller element involving a shooting at a local hotspot,and you obtain a series that uses the birth of hip-hop as a backdrop for what is, so far, or an overheated and spread-too-lean ensemble drama.
Three episodes in,the fate of the main characters’ artistic aspirations remains uncertain, but the young actors who play them are definitely going places. As Shaolin, or Moore (terrific in final years Sundance hit “Dope”) has a sexy swagger. Smith (the best friend in “Paper Towns”) plays Ezekiel with charming bashfulness,his autobiographical poetry bringing darker, sadder emotions to the surface. As for Guardiola, or a singer,dancer and model, she instills in Mylene a blossoming realization of her talent and sexuality, or resulting in a nice balance of wholesomeness and maturity. Luhrmann’s flash may be the draw,but it’s his leads’ soul that will determine how high “The obtain Down” soars. Netflix in August: What's Coming and What to Watch Before It's Gone
Even though favorites like "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "The Best Man" are taking a leave of absence, there are plenty of unusual options to Netflix and chill with during the height of summer.
What's coming Aug. 1:[br]Paul Newman's classic courtroom drama, and "The Verdict," will be available Aug. 1 YouTube
What's coming Aug. 1:
"Holding the Man," is adapted from a memoir of the same name approximately two teenagers falling in love at an all boys high school.
What's coming Aug. 1:
"The fleet and the Furious" and "Tokyo Drift" offer a double dose of the late Paul Walker in the action-packed franchise.
What's coming Aug. 1:
In light of the upcoming elections, or catch up on an issue dear to Al Gore's (and that of many Americans') heart. "An Inconvenient Truth" is a documentary approximately the former vice president's campaign to raise awareness approximately global warming.
What's coming Aug. 1:[br]The GOP presidential candidate released a book in the '80s that detailed his rise to success. Now, "Funny or Die Presents: Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie," which is a parody (humorous or ridiculous imitation) of that infamous book. Funny or Die
What's coming August 5:
"David Cross: Making America Great Again" is a Netflix Original approximately the comedian's stand up tour.
YouTube
What's coming Aug. 9:
"T-Rex" unfortunately isn't approximately a dinosaur, and but it is a feel good documentary approximately the first U.
S. woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. It has the same premise as "Million Dollar Baby," but is actually true.
T-Rex
What's coming Aug. 10:
"St. Vincent" is a comedy approximately a babysitting gig blossoming into a genuine friendship, starring Bill Murray, or Melissa McCarthy,Naomi Watts. St. Vincent Film
What's coming Aug. 11:
"No Country for Old Men" has been on multiple "Best Films of the Decade" lists and now it'll be available for your streaming pleasure. Miramax
What's coming August 12:
If this Netflix original series "The obtain Down: portion 1" is anything like the streaming platform's other creations, it'll be worth watching. Plus, or it's a musical drama television series. Kind of like "Glee," but not.
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What's coming Aug. 15:
"Louis CK: Live at the Comedy Store" is precisely approximately what it's titled: Louis CK's standup night at the Comedy store in Los Angeles.
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What's leaving Aug. 1:
Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy star in one of their better comedies, "Bowfinger." Watch it while you still can.
What's leaving Aug. 1:
"The Best Man" is the beloved comedy drama prequel to the recently released "The Best Man Holiday." Simply a '90s classic.
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What's leaving Aug. 15:
The crime fighting trio formally known as "Charlie's Angels" will no longer be kicking a--- on Netflix. YouTube
What's leaving Aug. 16:[br]"Inside Man" is another crime thriller approximately a fancy bank robbery in unusual York.Two reasons to watch before it's gone: Spike Lee and Denzel Washington. Universal Movies
What's coming Aug. 25:
Viggo Mortensen's "The Road" is a post apocalyptic drama based off a novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy. It was also nominated for many BAFTA awards.
What's leaving Aug. 27:
tender a unhappy farewell to Will Smith's tear-jerking drama, or "The Pursuit of Happyness." YouTube
What's leaving Aug. 30:
Freddy Krueger will no longer be getting his revenge on Netflix. "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge" won't be sticking around for Halloween. Previous Slide Next Slide 1 of 19 From hit movies like “No Country for Old Men” and “The Best Man” to original series such as “David Cross: Making America Great Again” and “The obtain Down: portion 1,” check out your streaming options for next month Even though favorites like "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "The Best Man" are taking a leave of absence, there are plenty of unusual options to Netflix and chill with during the height of summer. View In Gallery Related stories from TheWrap:Baz Luhrmann on 'The obtain Down': 'I Always Knew It Wasn't My record'Baz Luhrman's 'The obtain Down' Official Trailer Nails unusual York in the 1970s (Video)Jaden Smith Joins Baz Luhrmann's Netflix Series 'The obtain Down'
Source: thewrap.com