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NFT: Show me a Hero, Parts 5 and 6

RobCarpenter : 8/31/2015 6:15 am
Surprised there isn't a thread about last night's episodes.

Fantastic show, Oscar Isaac is an incredible actor. The scene towards the end when he leaves his house was phenomenal.

After the first two episodes it was nice to see the housing units be successful. But I can't help but think not much has really changed in terms of prejudice, or else how do you explain Donald Trump?
Fantastic miniseries  
JimInKgnNY : 8/31/2015 9:46 am : link
I'm so glad I decided to watch it. I'll admit that the David Simon connection was what pulled me in in the first place, but it was worth it. It's my first exposure to Oscar Isaac and he was amazing. I had read the advance reviews and which contained a lot of background information on the story, so I knew what would happen in the cemetery at the end. Still so very shocking and sad but not surprising given his meltdown at home.
I also liked the "where are they now" type of ending as well as the side-by-side photos of the main characters. Nice way to tie it all up.
What does Trumps stand on immigration policy  
weeg in the bronx : 8/31/2015 9:46 am : link
Have to do with construction of low income housing projects in middle class communities?
RE: What does Trumps stand on immigration policy  
RobCarpenter : 8/31/2015 10:10 am : link
In comment 12444300 weeg in the bronx said:
Quote:
Have to do with construction of low income housing projects in middle class communities?


Because Trump is appealing to the same type of fear/prejudice as some of the politicians in Yonkers did.
excellent mini-series glad I watched too  
Stu11 : 8/31/2015 10:13 am : link
shame that Wasicsko couldn't get past being a politician at such a young age. He could have done so much more. Winona Ryder's performance was really underrated, she was great. Interesting how when you see the bio's at the end you realize that this was just a snapshot in history for most involved, not any kind of stepping stone. Most of them went on to non-discript lives afterwards.
RE: excellent mini-series glad I watched too  
RobCarpenter : 8/31/2015 10:22 am : link
In comment 12444370 Stu11 said:
Quote:
shame that Wasicsko couldn't get past being a politician at such a young age. He could have done so much more. Winona Ryder's performance was really underrated, she was great. Interesting how when you see the bio's at the end you realize that this was just a snapshot in history for most involved, not any kind of stepping stone. Most of them went on to non-discript lives afterwards.


Good point on Winona Ryder, first time I can remover watching her where I wasn't acutely aware I was watching her b/c she made the character come to life.
RE: RE: excellent mini-series glad I watched too  
Stu11 : 8/31/2015 10:42 am : link
In comment 12444400 RobCarpenter said:
Quote:

Good point on Winona Ryder, first time I can remover watching her where I wasn't acutely aware I was watching her b/c she made the character come to life.

Me too. Part 1 I said to my wife "Is that Winona Ryder? Then I said naaa no way." Sure enough it was. She nailed that Yonkers accent lol.
fun to see  
natefit : 8/31/2015 11:32 am : link
ex-Wire actors in featured roles. I wasnt a huge fan of Isaac before but this has changed my mind. Simon is a master.
I loved this mini-series  
schnitzie : 8/31/2015 11:52 am : link
It illustrates how institutionalized racism operates and shows that it's not just about changing individual minds but about changing institutions.

On a side note, I took Constitutional Litigation with Judge Sand at NYU while all this crap was going on, in 1988. I was SO PROUD to know him. What an amazing and tough judge he was.

I felt so bad for Wascisko, like he just couldn't give time some time and got himself a terrible case of tunnel vision.

I had to look up the title of the series, as the quotation in the show is VERY understated, and you can miss it:

"Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy."
-- F. Scott Fitzgerald

It's that kind of literary brilliance you can expect from David Simon. This series is so perfectly timed, coming just as the Black Lives Matter movement is shifting the discourse and understanding of racism from the individual level to the institutional and structural level.

If only Wascisko could have waited, he would have had many more lives in his political life. He really suffered from tunnel vision. He should have run for Congress or State Assembly. He would be regarded as a visionary and pragmatic hero now, in the light of history.
Spot on Schnitzie  
Stu11 : 8/31/2015 2:18 pm : link
so true about the institutionalized racism and marginalization of the minority community. Whenever the topic of racial relations comes up so many people miss the point. In so many ways the deck is stacked. Really is a tragedy with Wacisko. He really did suffer from tunnel vision and could not see how he was being so clearly manipulated at the end.
There had to have been some mental illness there  
schnitzie : 8/31/2015 3:03 pm : link
He was clearly in a lot of pain, but why couldn't he see that his body was telling him to get away from all that, to do something different...that he would have had as many lives in his career as many other politicians. I mean, just LOOK at Al D'Amato....

I don't understand it.
you nailed it in that he could never see past the next election  
Stu11 : 8/31/2015 4:23 pm : link
don't know if it was so much mental illness in that the whole concept of politics can be an intoxication that leads to addiction for those involved. They really brought this out in that scene early on between him and Ryder's character Vinni when she meets him in the bar after her first defeat and she's literally on the verge of a breakdown not being involved in the rat race any more. Unfortunately he suffered from the same problem.
RE: There had to have been some mental illness there  
GentleGiant : 8/31/2015 4:57 pm : link
In comment 12445104 schnitzie said:
Quote:
He was clearly in a lot of pain, but why couldn't he see that his body was telling him to get away from all that, to do something different...that he would have had as many lives in his career as many other politicians. I mean, just LOOK at Al D'Amato....

I don't understand it.


As someone who has spent a brief time in low level politics I would say that mental illness is mostly a prerequisite.
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