"And everybody listening, your story is important. Don't go thinking otherwise, don't let your story go untold. You are important. Your life has value. You go out and live your life with your head held high, and you tell your story, cause I'm proof that there are folks out there that want to hear it." - Archie.
Creators/Writers: Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan
Release Date: May 1st, 2020
Where Available: Netflix
Summary:
A group of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Hollywood try to make it big-no matter what the cost.
Review:
I was super excited for this show to come out because its creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan also produced another amazing show I watched a while back called The Politician. One warning right up front: there is a severe level of sex & nudity, alcohol, profanity, and violence. But I promise that it is all part of what makes this show truly amazing. The creators, directors, writers, costume designers, makeup and hair crew, and actors made a beautiful peace of art that was a joy to watch over quarantine. (I binged it in one day, so be prepared to have your eyes never leave the screen!)
After fighting in the war, Jack Castello now aspires to be an actor on the big screen in Hollywood. Not getting any jobs at first, he takes a temporary job at a gas station to help make some money for a while. Little does he know that this is no ordinary gas station and that it will practically be his key to the big screen. Along his path to stardom he meets Archie Coleman (an aspiring writer), Raymond Ainsley (an up and coming director for Ace Studios), Camille Washington (a black female actress), Claire Wood (actress and daughter of Ace Studios owner), and Rock Hudson (an aspiring actor like Jack). As they all try to find their way in Hollywood, they learn the price of what it takes to make it on the big screen. Through a series of auditions, screen tests, and table reads, Jack Castello and his new friends at Ace Studios defy social norms to re-write Hollywood in a way never seen before.
Character Review:
Jack Castello, played by David Cornswet: My first look at David Cornswet was actually in The Politician, another show from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. He is truly an amazing actor and I can't wait to see what other projects are in store or him in the future. Jack is essentially the main character of our show and we follow him from the beginning of his career to his first Oscar nomination. He takes a job at a local gas station assuming he will be pumping gas into the cars of famous people that drive by. But little does he know that he will be doing nothing of the sort. Ernie West runs a prostitution ring at this gas station, and all you have to say to take a boy home when you pull up is "I want to go to Dreamland." I am convinced that through the entire length of the show, now one car is pumped full of gas. After meeting a few people in the business through "Dreamland", Jack makes his way to land a role in a new production called "Peg." Jack may not be the best actor at Ace Studios, but he sure does have the look and the heart. Constantly looking out for his friends along the way, Jack does have to make some tough decisions in his new life as an actor. Watching him develop from the beginning of the show to a better man by the end is worth the ride.
Raymond Ainsley, played by Darren Criss: I know Darren Criss from shows like Glee and American Crime Story: Versace, but for those who have not seen him act before, he does not disappoint. Raymond Ainsley is the next big director for Ace Studios, and chooses "Peg" as his next project. It tells the story of a woman named Peg Entwistle who jumped off the Hollywood sign after being treated horribly as an actor. Raymond is so passionate and dedicated towards his career but is also a loving boyfriend to his partner Camille Washington. He is willing to take risks to make sure that the talented people he works with get the credit they deserve. He fights the social norm that black people shouldn't have a place in Hollywood right alongside Camille and Archie. We can all learn from Raymond, because he continues to push for something that he knows is bigger than him, no matter what is in his way.
Camille Washington, played by Laura Harrier: Defying the post WWII social norm where black women and men are not seen in title roles, Camille becomes the breakout star of "Meg", the newly edited version of Archie Coleman's original script. Originally written for a white female lead to play "Peg", the new version now tells the story of a black female actress trying to make her way in Hollywood. Camille's character is so inspirational to so many people not only in the imagined "What If?" world of Hollywood, but also to those watching the show who may not think there is a place for them in the world. Laura Harrier is such a talented actress, and I cannot wait to see where she goes next!
Rock Hudson, played by Jake Picking: Originally, I had no idea that Rock Hudson was an actor in real life. After a few episodes and some research, I learned that he was one of the most popular movie stars of his time. Rock first enters the scene when he meets Archie Coleman, the new writer for Ace Studios who now works for the gas station with Jack. This new couple are so supportive of each other despite the hate they continuously get for being a gay couple in Hollywood. Rock goes through a lot this show but by episode 8 he is truly the happiest version of himself. This is the first project from Jake Picking I have seen, but I am looking forward to seeing him in Top Gun: Maverick soon!
Archie Coleman, played by Jeremy Pope: The most beautiful eyes award goes to Jeremy Pope. Even though Archie is the next big writer for Ace Studios, he does not know how long this job will last since he is a gay black writer in post-WWII Hollywood. Like Camille, Archie changes the face of Hollywood by showing us that black people should be represented in movies just like the rest of us. The "What If?" story line is really powered by Archie, and I hope you all will enjoy following his story in this series.
Claire Wood, played by Samara Weaving: I wish I could have seen more of Samara Weaving in this first season, but what we get from her is still absolutely amazing acting. At first glance, Claire might not be your favorite character. It seems like she only cares about her path to getting a title role and will stop at nothing to make it there. But by the end, you will love her, I promise. She ends up giving so much to see her friends excel. She, like many others, learns about the unjust treatment of actors in Hollywood. Blooming is the word I would use to describe Claire's journey from episode 1 to episode 8, and I am excited for those of you reading this to watch it:)
Ernie West, played by Dylan McDermott: Ernie is the owner of the Dreamland Gas Station, yet it is so far from any gas station I have ever seen. He makes the lives of our characters more complicated but also better at the same time. Once a star on the big screen, Ernie created this gas station in hopes of helping others make their dreams come true. To give those a better chance at being a star than he did.
Henry Wilson, played by Jim Parsons: If I had one word to describe Henry it would be insane. My emotions went up and down with this character because he is terrible to his clients but ends up getting them to the places they need to be. Overall I would say Henry is definitely part of the issue that most of these characters have with Hollywood. I will let you decide your opinions on Henry, but he does gain back some brownie points in the last episode. You will just have to watch to see.
Those are the majority of the characters in Hollywood, but I urge you to watch this show to learn more about them and a few other characters like Dick Samuels (Joe Mantello), Ellen Kincaid (Holland Taylor), and Avis Amberg (Patti LuPone, a STUNNING actress). A part of the reason why I loved this show is that there were so many characters and individual plot lines that all intertwined that made it different from a lot of other shows that only put a focus on 4-5 main characters. There is never a down moment with any of them, and if there is going to be a season 2, I cant wait to see where it takes all of them!
In most of the entertainment we see that is focused around Hollywood and its actors, it is usually glorified to make it seem like the most beautiful profession. This show, however, dives deep into the parts of Hollywood that people outside the profession never really see.
I understand the reviewers who might not love this show when they say that this story isn't about outsiders in the acting business, but about genetically beautiful humans who happen to make historic success. They could also make the point that Rock Hudson's story line in this series made him to awkward by making him stumble his lines when in reality he was one of the best actors of his time. Those points are completely valid, but are trying to pin this show as being to unrealistic when that is actually the point. Ryan Murphy is trying to show us another world where this could have happened, and I think the way that it was carried out was truly entertaining.
I absolutely love the atmosphere of the show. The color palette, the costuming, the set design, the hair, the makeup. Everything was beautifully matched, so thank you to the crew behind the scenes who made it all so stunning to watch.
This series is very similar in theme to another movie I watched recently, "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood." Ryan Murphy took the "What If?" story line and applied it to the world of Rock Hudson in Hollywood the same way Quentin Tarantino did to the Golden Age of film and Manson Murders.
The ending of this series leaves it up to the audience to interpret the success of the characters. Hollywood is the perfect quarantine show to binge, so please comment your opinions on the show after you watch it! It really does make you think about what you would do if you could rewrite the story of Hollywood. I hope to see more shows that let the imagination run wild, almost allowing us to write our own stories like this in the future!
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