American Crime Story : Impeachment. Thoughts?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/9/21 at 12:49pm

Just wondering what folks are thinking after the premiere. Overall, I enjoyed it. I appreciate that it is focusing on the women's narratives. I am uncertain if there is any way to make Tripp sympathetic or if there is any intention to do that. I'm not sure if there is going to be a through line of all the women being pawns in a man's game. Has Lewinsky ever spoken about forgiving Tripp in later years? 

I have to say I feel the standout is Ashford. She is eliciting heartbreak from me. Her Jones is like a sparrow in a hurricane. I wish they dialed down the nose. I know it's accurate, but I find it distracting from the performance. She's really good. 

Paulson delivers as usual. No surprise, but boy are they making Linda a bull in a china shop. In every situation. And pathetic. The woman clearly had strengths and finesse that we aren't seeing. She's just really unsavory and made me uncomfortable in almost every scene. Paulson is great though. I've seen a few reviews not liking her choices. 

I think Beanie is delivering on an acting level. The naivete and the desire to be liked as well as romanticizing things. I like her interpretation of Monica.

My one quibble and this is nothing against Beanie, but Monica truly had a glorious face. Striking. When you see it you can understand why someone would notice her and be smitten with her. Linda references it when she meets her. It might have helped to cast someone who more closely resembled her facially. Beanie is made up more darkly and I always thought of Monica more in a Liz Taylor vein. 

As far as Margo Martindale. The woman can do no wrong. She understood the assignment and delivers. I could watch her do anything. 

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 9/9/21 at 1:11pm

For me it’s middling already.

The first season grabbed me with that first episode and didn’t let go.

The second season reminds me a bit of this season where it didn’t immediately grab me, but that one scene where Cunanan was watching the news was one of the best pieces of acting I’ve seen on TV.


I’m not disappointed enough to walk away, but it seems to pale to the first episodes of the last two seasons for me.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/9/21 at 1:29pm

I read five reviews of this season. Four of them mentioned the Lifetime channel and that is enough for me to not watch. They also mocked Sarah's inability to move her face due to all the prosthetics they had to use to make her as ugly as possible. Yikes.

Monica was also beautiful, above average height and thin. It's odd they had to put Sarah in a fat suit to be more like the character but they didn't pick a person that resembles Monica in the slightest. Bizarre. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 9/9/21 at 6:45pm

I think the acting is solid. The pace could have a bit more urgency to it. I need to see a few more episodes but I think it will all come down to the script. The angle is clear. I am not sure though if having Tripp be such a central focus was the right idea especially when you have such strong actors playing Bill and Hillary but I understand the approach. I think the make up is better than I expected. The critics are all making fun of it. If Paulson was an unknown I wonder if they would be making so many references to it. Clive looks kind of handsome.

Updated On: 9/11/21 at 06:45 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 9/9/21 at 7:33pm

Maybe the casting is explained by the sexist audience, or the sexist producers. They want sympathy for Monica, which is fine, she deserves it - but they think an Elizabeth Taylor would not get sympathy, would be blamed, it'd be Bill who'd get the sympathy... so they went for a Beanie Feldstein, who is just as wonderful, but less frightening to the sexist cretins.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 9/10/21 at 10:35pm

One episode in is way too little content on which to pass judgement...

HOWEVAH...

Episode One was basically a one-woman show starring Sarah Paulson, and not sure what the creators' intention was, but boy did I need a shower when the episode was done. It just has a smutty exploitive tone coloring every interaction. Sure it's entertaining but I'm not sure it'll give Monica Lewinsky or Paula Jones the sympathetic airing they deserve. 

As for Beanie Feldstein, I think she's fine but did Lewinsky back then really have the baby-girl voice that Beanie employs? I'm praying she grows up a bit over the course of the series. We'll see.

 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 10:51am

I found the second episode less compelling even though it was trying to building tension. For me, the prosthetics are hurting the show. To me, Paulson is lost in the costume at this point. She looks more like Lisa Lampanelli than Tripp. Tripp is another one. Yes, she was overweight, but she had sharp features and wore makeup. She also had more style than the show attributes to her. It might have been JC Penney style, but she wore colors, layers and accessories. Paulson recently expressed regret for wearing the fat suit. She's playing the woman as a  basic sloth which I don't think is quite fair. I think Linda is facially more like Divine in drag than dowdy. 

I think the Clinton look is a miss. To me it looks like Patrick Wilson playing a young Richard Dreyfuss. Acting wise it is there, but the appearance to me is jarring. It's not a handsome appearance to me. Bill was "cute". Whatever that is, I'm not sure. When you put Clive and Beanie together, I don't get Bill and Monica. I get Santa Clause 3 and Lady Gaga. 

I know Monica signed off on this in a very hands on way so I can't sit here and say she's not pleased. I do wonder how she really feels about Beanie's portrayal. It's very chirpy and lacks depth imho. I'm not getting any layers that Monica discussed in her book. It's all very surface teen girl pouty to me. For me, it lacks the undercurrents of depression, anxiety, obsession. I don't sense any gravitas. This is Lifetime level pathos.

And again, not to harp on Beanie, but as Sutton said, with all the supposed attention to detail, I don't know why someone so unlike Monica was cast. Beanie looks like a child Lady Gaga. They aren't even really doing her make-up like Monica. In her book and interviews, Monica discussed being very looks and fashion conscious. I'm not getting that from Beanie. Also, I'm no drag queen but I feel like in long shots Beanie walks like a line backer in heels. I don't think it's her natural footwear. Again, very un-Monica. It's not believable for me. And let me be clear, this isn't about weight. It's about performance. 

Also, Annaleigh lost me a little this week. Paula Jones herself commented that she feels the portrayal is cartoonish. I have to agree. Again, I feel Ashford is nailing it. However, sometimes nailing it calls for some dramatic license to temper the performance. She does sound a great deal like Jones. However, the high pitch twang with the bulbous nose and the curled hair and scrunchie elevate this into caricature at times. At times there is too literal. I think the the twang or speaking voice was softer it might have helped. Also, Ashford is known for comedy and camp, so I think it informs how people may feel about her interpretation. There is such a thing as being too good, but needing to dial down so as not to lose the humanity of the person. With all the elements combines it can feel very SNL without trying. 

I'll keep watching but I don't find it pulling me in the ways that the OJ or Versace series did. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 12:42pm

And again, not to harp on Beanie, but as Sutton said, with all the supposed attention to detail, I don't know why someone so unlike Monica was cast. Beanie looks like a child Lady Gaga. They aren't even really doing her make-up like Monica. In her book and interviews, Monica discussed being very looks and fashion conscious. I'm not getting that from Beanie. Also, I'm no drag queen but I feel like in long shots Beanie walks like a line backer in heels. I don't think it's her natural footwear. Again, very un-Monica. It's not believable for me. And let me be clear, this isn't about weight. It's about performance. 

BettyBoy spittin' fax on this fine Friday! 

[Tag]

Posted: 9/17/21 at 5:59pm

Thought the last 2 or so minutes of Ep.2 was quite engaging (with the reporter guy).

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 4:21am

Is that the real picture of Tag? If so he is fine!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 8:05am

SmoothLover said: "Is that the real picture of Tag? If so he is fine!"

I believe it’s actor Barrett Foa. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/18/21 at 2:38pm

SmoothLover said: "Is that the real picture of Tag? If so he is fine!"

Nope! 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 1:14pm

I think Paulson is fantastic, but it is a truly unforgiving portrayal.

She is written and played as a miserable wretch.

Updated On: 10/4/21 at 01:14 PM

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 6:03pm

They keep teasing us with the character of Hillary. A friend of mine said that there was no way that Trip was as sad and awful as she is portrayed but if memory serves the writers are spot on.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 6:53pm

Watch her interview with Nancy Collins. It’s heartbreaking. She was cold and self-loathing, and very against showing any vulnerability.

[Tag]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 7:48pm

SmoothLover said: "They keep teasing us with the character of Hillary."

I think I read that Hilary doesn't really factor in until later episodes.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 1:06am

I am disappointed that they are saving Hillary until later but with Falco it should pack quite a punch. I forgot that Monica was only 22 when she was mixed up with Clinton. She was on CNN tonight and she looked great. The profile shot they did of Falco in the bathroom of a early episode looked just like Hillary. When they do profile shots of Owen from his backside he looks just like Bill. Owen’s performance lacks charisma. Paulson is quite good and keeps the show moving.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 10:49am

SmoothLover said: "I am disappointed that they are saving Hillary until later but with Falco it should pack quite a punch. I forgot that Monica was only 22 when she was mixed up with Clinton. She was on CNN tonight and she looked great. The profile shot they did of Falco in the bathroom of a early episode looked just like Hillary. When they do profile shots of Owen from his backside he looks just like Bill. Owen’s performance lacks charisma. Paulson is quite good and keeps the show moving."

Owen is sleepwalking. Bill is very genial and charming. Owen is relaying none of that. Also, his make up and prosthetics are awful. Not sure what they were thinking. It's like Bill is on xanax or something. 

Paulson's frenetic energy, anger, and desire for acknowledgment are the pulse of the show. 

Beanie has lost my interest. I don't find her performance compelling in the slightest. 

 

[Tag]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 11:48am

Falco lost me a few years ago when she portrayed Leslie Abramson on the Menendez brothers Law & Order series.  She was absolutely terrible, and chewed up all the scenery.  I hope she doesn't come in and do that here.

I imagine for Owen, it's hard to do a series like this where you are so detached from the rest of the show and cast.  His scenes are basically in one room, with maybe 2 to 3 of the cast members total.  How do you gauge your performance against anything else?  Not to mention he ain't getting much from Beanie to play off of.

Updated On: 10/7/21 at 11:48 AM

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 11:22pm

You would think though that Owen would have had charisma in the front of his mind while working on the character. It is how Bill seduced Monica in the first place. Now if just plays like Monica was overtaken by the power of someone who was the president. I also think even though Monica was young she was smarter than how they are portraying her.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/13/21 at 10:11pm

SmoothLover said: "You would think though that Owen would have had charisma in the front of his mind while working on the character. It is how Bill seduced Monica in the first place. Now if just plays like Monica was overtaken by the power of someone who was the president. I also think even though Monica was young she was smarter than how they are portraying her."

The last two episodes were brilliant imo. “Manhandled” was thrilling. I was so anxious throughout the episode. Beanie crushed it. Monica’s intelligence comes into play front and center as well as her intuition. 
 

Tripp is played even more as a pariah than before if that’s possible. There’s a moment in manhandled that pretty much communicates she is soulless. It’s damning and a very powerful moment. 
 

Mira Sorvino does some great work as Monica’s mother. She’s firing on all cylinders. I hope we see more of her both in this and in other projects. I will say one thing for Murphy-he does love actresses and it seems he tries to help revive great ones who have slipped off the radar. Mira’s final moments had me crying. I was right there with her at the end of that episode. 
 

Loved seeing Jeanetta Arnette as Jones mother. Another great actress I don’t see enough of. 
 

Im looking forward to next week. 

[Tag]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 12:04am

Clive Owen's make-up was on point in tonight's episode.  It almost felt like they had a different H&MU team for this episode.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 3:22pm

I thought Falco handled her conflict scenes with Owen well. She is a visceral actress which makes her stand above the rest.

Updated On: 10/28/21 at 03:22 PM

[PinniGig]

Posted: 12/23/21 at 5:42am

I watched several episodes before it dawned on me the actress playing Linda Tripp is Sarah Paulson whom I recognised from playing OJ Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark. What an outstanding actress and I think plays a brilliant Linda Tripp in that you can't like her but at the same time, you can't hate her either because she cuts a pathetic, lonely figure.

Someone already mentioned the superb performance by Ashford in her portrayal of Paula Jones. I went back and watched original interview footage of Paula which to see now shows how much that poor woman really went in blind and was hijacked by the media and journalists and thrown under the bus by all and sundry including her close friends and family.  She really struck me as a genuine, well meaning and big hearted soul that didn't give the slightest indication she was out to get Clinton and the only time she faltered and appeared caught out was the mention of money. That was clearly something that came later after being primed, prepared and encouraged by others but I absolutely believe her initial reason for going public was for nothing other than to clear her name and get an apology. She was sharp and smart as a bucket of rocks God love her and the actress playing her did a superb job of capturing that total naivety and innocence that made her ripe for throwing to the wolves.

I have got through ten episodes and can't take to Feldsstein as Monica though. Not sure what it is that just doesn't sit right or why but I don't feel any affinity, fondness of sympathy towards her and yet my heart goes out to what Monica Lewinsky went through and the way she was ripped to **** and left to pick up and forge the rest of her life unsupported.

Owen does a good job playing Clinton. I can't dislike Clinton even if he was a dodgy, loophole finding lying git that would stick his dick in a letterbox if push comes to shove.   He is played well in that respect.

Hilary Clinton gets a sympathetic portrayal as well. I'm sure she is a lot harder and probably much more of a vicious pretty ruthless woman in reality but they did a decent job of not making her the poor betrayed wife and yet not making her look so hardfaced she gets little sympathy.

I wish I could put a finger on why Feldstein doesn't sit well with me though. There's nothing wrong with the actress, the script or anything specific she does that I don't like. I just can't buy her at all.

 

Updated On: 12/23/21 at 05:42 AM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/23/21 at 10:19am

She's not a good actress and gets roles due to who she knows, not her ability. Maybe that's it.