[worthyoflove]

With Waco premiering in Australia, we're getting new reviews. This one with some nice mentions of Taylor.

.Waco gives a human face to a slaughter that didn’t need to happen Twenty-five years on, and the small Texas town of Waco is still best known for the 51-day stand-off between Branch Davidian cultists and agents from the FBI and the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. While self-styled prophet David Koresh and his followers were holed up in their rural compound, the government forces surrounded them, played loud music at them constantly, threatened them, and eventually attacked the farmhouse holding the remaining members. A fire soon broke out, killing every person inside. It’s still uncertain whether the government agents started it, or whether it was lit by those inside. Waco begins with the ATF’s first bungled raid on the Davidians (which started the siege), then flashes back to detail the string of bad decisions and mistakes that would lead to the deaths of 76 people, including Koresh himself. Right from the start, there are two big questions hanging over the series: how did the government get it all so wrong, and why would anyone follow Koresh - a somewhat nerdy, part-time cover-band singer. This is the man seen in the series telling new recruit David Thibodeau (played by Rory Culkin) that “I have taken on the burden of sex for everyone”; meaning that while the Branch Davidian men have to remain celibate, Koresh is the only one allowed to have sex with the women – even, the government claimed, the underage ones. But Koresh is played here by the extremely handsome Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Light's Tim Riggins), who does a note perfect job of selling Koresh as the kind of likable, affable man who could easily seduce people into following him. He’s a charming preacher with a down-to-earth manner - loyal to his friends and a strong upholder of family values. He’s also a gun collector with delusions of grandeur and more than a touch of the sexual predator about him. It’s a riveting performance; without Kitsch, this series simply wouldn’t work. As for how the FBI and ATF let things get out of hand, Waco makes it clear that, in a very real way, letting things get out of plan really was their plan. A year earlier at Ruby Ridge, an eleven-day siege had resulted in the deaths of three people and the FBI desperately wanted a “win” to restore their image. They were also increasingly shifting towards a more militarised approach to getting things done; many there thought that the problem wasn’t that things had gone out of control, it was that they didn’t use getting out of control as an excuse to come down hard. Standing in the way of this approach was FBI negotiator Gary Noesner, and as soon as you see he’s played by Michael Shannon, you know which side of the argument Waco is on. Shannon has increasingly become Hollywood’s go-to guy for old-fashioned moral authority (which makes him extra creepy when he plays a bad guy), and he’s excellent here as the lone voice of reason in an agency moving firmly towards shooting first and asking questions when and if they get around to it. Noesner isn’t alone in constantly pushing for a more reasoned approach; John Leguizamo plays an undercover agent who moves in next door to the Davidian compound to keep an eye on them, only to find himself falling for their generally decent and friendly natures. And on the Davidan side Thibodeau (whose real life memoir is one of the books this series is based on; Noesner’s book is the other) symbolises the numerous members of the cult who didn’t share Koresh’s increasingly extreme views. Even Koresh’s partner Rachel (Melissa Beniost) has her doubts, even as she’s working as his chief cheerleader. Waco isn't so much the story behind the story as it is expanding on what many viewers already know; the government overplayed their hand, and while Koresh was a bad guy, he wasn’t so bad that he deserved to be burnt to death during what was basically a military raid. Waco takes the time to flesh its characters out, focusing on the moral questions and human drama of what took place. These are characters under extreme pressure, and every cast member steps up to make their drama real. Looming over it all are the performances of Kitsch and Shannon, playing two very different men who aren’t as far apart as they might seem. Koresh is barely in control of things to start with and it only gets worse; Kitsch makes the cult leader’s fragile grip both unsettling and sad. Noesner too finds things spiraling out of control, and Shannon – who’s a master at speaking volumes while saying little – becomes increasingly haunted as events take their course. They’re both characters in situations they can’t control; both actors give performances that don’t slip for a second.

https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article...nt-need-happen

[SouthernSweetieTX]

Nice to see him being appreciated.

[worthyoflove]

It is always nice to hear from down under.

[ThirtyThree]

. . . Without Kitsch, this series simply wouldn't work.

A great review of his performance.

[worthyoflove]

It really is. I'm glad to see it's still being appreciated.

I sound like a broken record, but Paramount really needs to do right by this series and put it on Netflix or Hulu. It'll gain a second wind, fast.

[worthyoflove]

Waco starts airing on The Paramount Network Spain tomorrow.

[SouthernSweetieTX]

Yay! It continues to be shown to new audiences. I wonder how much other countries care about Koresh?

I would like to rewatch it!

[worthyoflove]

I still have only watched it through that one time and scenes here and there. I do need to rewatch it.

[worthyoflove]

Golden Globe nominations are Thursday, Vanity Fair not ruling out a crazy Waco nomination. But I'd hope if there's going to be a surprise anywhere relating to Waco it's a Taylor nomination.

BEST LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Escape at Dannemora Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Maniac Patrick Melrose Sharp Objects The Golden Globes are where prestigious limited series and made-for-TV movies shine—and in the Peak-TV era, there are dozens of lush productions to choose from. Showtime’s Patrick Melrose, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, is a good bet—as is HBO’s star-studded Sharp Objects, led by star Amy Adams. Emmy-sweeping The Assassination of Gianni Versace should also be nominated, and might be the shoo-in to win. But this is a tight category. Up against these three: Jesus Christ Superstar, which delivered the live-action musical numbers the Hollywood Foreign Press likes to fall for; Netflix’s beautifully made Maniac, with its A-list stars; and Showtime’s Escape at Dannemora, which has the added advantage of a well-known star behind the camera, too. We wouldn’t put a rogue nomination out of the question in this category, either, given just how crowded the field is: Trust, on FX, with Brendan Fraser and Donald Sutherland, or Waco, on Paramount, starring Taylor Kitsch. And though it’s unlikely, the H.F.P.A. ought to nominate HBO’s stunning film The Tale, which has criminally fallen off the radar in the last few months.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood...on-predictions

[ThirtyThree]

I've only watched it once too and that was a fairly poor copy on the Android box. Given that it STILL hasn't aired here, I don't know when I'll get round to watching again!

[worthyoflove]

If there's any chance Waco could land a nomination on Thursday...maybe it would push Paramount along to distribute it elsewhere. BUT, the Golden Globes over any other awards show are campaigning and schmoozing voters, I mean to downright buying votes. And I don't think Paramount is doing that.

I'm still super bummed that it seems like the DVD isn't happening at all. If Yellowstone is already on DVD I have little hope for Waco.

[SouthernSweetieTX]

I would love to ask someone at paramount what their thought process on this was...

[ThirtyThree]

Originally Posted by SouthernSweetieTX (View Post) I would love to ask someone at paramount what their thought process on this was...

Right? I mean, with the cast involved, I imagine it cost quite a bit to make, yet they've hardly gone out of their way to promote it!!

[Ropetuned]

Originally Posted by SouthernSweetieTX (View Post) I would love to ask someone at paramount what their thought process on this was...

If anything I'm going to assume that they're thinking how good would the sales for it work? Will many actually buy a DVD copy?

[worthyoflove]

You would think it would be easy money. But I still wonder if they might not release a DVD if they get it onto a streaming network. Maybe sales through amazon streaming weren't high enough to think they could sell a decent number of DVD's. But, again, that kind of falls on them.