Show Me a Hero on HBO
Show Me a Hero on HBO
lovepuppy
Broadway Star Joined: 12/7/05
#1Show Me a Hero on HBO
Posted: 8/25/15 at 12:03am
Anyone watching this? Anyone live through this out in NY 30 years ago while it was happening? Oscar Isaac is terrific. He's come a long way from playing Joseph in "The Nativity Story" years ago (though my fave was seeing him in "Inside Llewyn Davis"
.
But back to "Show Me a Hero." I can't for the life of me figure out what kind of court in this country would order a consent decree on a racist act like "the City of Yonkers MUST create 200 low-income housing units" in such more-evolved-than-before-yet-still-racially-charged-up times as the 80's, much less hold the city in contempt for trying not to have to abide by such an inhumane thing, causing that whole mess in the first place. I can't figure out who was to gain by the court ordering such a divisive, seemingly cruel, ultimately socially and financially destructive thing. As messed up as our justice system is, it seems counter-intuitive to the good that's intended, by having such a system.
Such a shame when I read up on what happened to young Mayor Wasiscko in the end.
"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had the practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Alice in Wonderland
#2Show Me a Hero on HBO
Posted: 8/25/15 at 11:08am
I'm enjoying it too, though I'm not sure you understand the legal thing (or maybe I don't?) - what's inhumane?
Mayor Wasiscko was siding with the racists, that's how he won, but then he decided to abide by the law after all, which meant he lost all his popularity in doing the right thing.
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
Updated On: 8/25/15 at 11:08 AM
lovepuppy
Broadway Star Joined: 12/7/05
#3Show Me a Hero on HBO
Posted: 8/25/15 at 1:38pm
I mean, I don't understand the "legal" part much, either. They keep having to mention it to remind the viewer what it is they're fighting for. In the first two parts, you have to pay close attention to how Bob Balaban delivers the lines in the courtroom, as Judge Sand. He states that there was a "consent decree" sometime in the past, that the city of Yonkers apparently agreed to, to build [what I feel is racist] low-income housing in the middle of white areas, knowing a) they apparently needed housing and b) that it would tick off the existing white neighbors. (I'm white and have no color boundaries, fyi, but that racism did, and does, exist in this country, as we we know.) WHO demanded the city of Yonkers do this, and abide by this in the first place, under such stiff financial penalties to Yonkers and its legislators to get their racist/housing agenda carried out, that's what I want to know. The backstory to THAT backstory is what's confusing to me.
There are flaws in the movie, but the story clearly seems to be that this guy tried to do the right thing and not make finding the locations for the needed housing a racial issue, despite what the Court was making him and his city abide by. The People opposed the mayor, when they should have been opposing whoever made the decree in the first place. If it was "the Government," why didn't the People appeal to their state government at the time, instead of the local one? Who, exactly, is the original Big Bad in this story? It's an interesting story, and the acting is great, and Isaac is electric in everything he does (inasmuch as he plays such low-key characters), but it seems to me there's so much missing information, plus all the events that transpired seemed so counter-intuitive to what they were trying to do...that it makes me question exactly what they were trying to do. Make sense?
And again, reading about Wasciscko's tragic end, later, is sad. He seemed like a good person (if young & ambitious, nothing wrong with that), a "regular guy" at heart.
"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had the practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Alice in Wonderland
Updated On: 8/25/15 at 01:38 PM
#4Show Me a Hero on HBO
Posted: 8/25/15 at 1:46pm
David Simon and Oscar Isaac were on Charlie Rose talking about the whole thing recently, if you want more backstory.
http://www.charlierose.com/watch/60603570
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
Huss417
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#5Show Me a Hero on HBO
Posted: 8/25/15 at 2:04pm
I've watched Parts 1 & 2 so far. They were slow moving and I'm hoping the pace is going to pick up. Tonight hoping to catch up with Parts 3 & 4.
"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter."
Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.
#6Show Me a Hero on HBO
Posted: 2/11/16 at 2:04am
The sad thing was that the fellow seemed to fall into politics without any sense of purpose and then instead of finding himself and his humanity he blew his brains out. I thought it was a good series because the protagonist was so flawed and he did not become the Hero that you expected him to.
