BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) OLD SCHOOL PIMPNESS
With a show set in the 1960s, you should know what to expect. It’s a cross between bad ass business man and the Rat-Pack kind of style. The men wear suits, the women wear dresses. The men drink all day and chain smoke, the women drink all day and chain smoke even while pregnant. Music was good, the youth revolt was just beginning, and everything had smoothness to it that no matter how bad it got it was still handled better than most things today. The 1960’s still have their faults in racism, as seen in an episode involving “black face”, and there’s the lack of respect for women, who are often cheated on, hit on, and treated like meat. I know for a fact that stuff still sadly happens today, but in the 60’s people didn’t even worry about saving it to annoy people in private. The show presents these things in a smart way that exposes its ignorance and stupidity, so it doesn’t really sour the smoothness. The lighting, costumes, the bright colors, and every aspect that goes into the show compliment the pimpness.
(THREE) WRITING/DRAMA
Matthew Weiner is just about always on his A-Game as the shows head writer. He surrounds himself with other great TV writers and they end up putting magic on the screen each episode. He keeps things close to the belt and is reportedly anal about the details of the show. You have to respect that kind of precision. What he does is pretty awesome. While Jon Hamm’s “Don Draper” is top billing, there are other characters that are given more story and depth than most other shows top dogs. The stories sometimes intertwine and some things are completely in their own that it’s like a few episodes in one. There is always the silence in this show, which says so much. The tone and developing the characters with the appropriate times is amazing. As pretty as the show looks, it’s the writing and stacked upon drama that make this show as special as it is.
(TWO) THE WOMEN
What is there to say about the lovely Christina Hendricks that shouldn’t be carved into the side of every American monument? She’s the definition of what a woman should look like. She’s not a tooth pick and has real good old fashion American curves. She’s like if Jessica Rabbit were real and not a ditz. She plays Joan, the office manager perfectly. She knows what’s going on before anyone else and maintains a wise and all knowing front for everyone, but the character has a lot of depth and pain behind it. Hendrix rocks it. Then there’s January Jones, Miss Betty Draper, completely owning her role. She’s gorgeous and like a living Disney princess, but carries herself with a bit of edge so where you don’t know when she’s going to explode. I’ve said it before, but those scenes of her sitting in a dark kitchen drinking and smoking are great. It’s just her, silence, and that anticipation of her going off as soon as Don got home. It doesn’t end there. It’s neither Hendrix nor Jones who are the queen of the show, but rather Elizabeth Moss. Moss plays Peggy Olson, a young ambitious female working in the office. Her story is good stuff. She’s basically struggling to pay her dues, gain respect, and to really figure herself out. You have to remember that in this era there aren’t many role models for a young working girl to look up to. We’re watching her pave the way on almost completely uncharted territory. Moss does the character with confidence, humbleness, and shares the experience with the viewer perfectly. And that’s just one side of her. She’s also got her own personal life that’s just as interesting. I’d feel guilty if I didn’t mention some of the supporting female cast members. Alison Brie, currently on NBC’s “Community”, is awesome as Campbell’s wife. And “Sally Draper”, played by the sharp 10 year old Kiernan Shipka, really came into her own during the third season. I’d challenge anyone to find many actresses her age that does as well as she does.
(ONE) JON HAMM
He bounced around in small roles in movies and guest spots in television for about seven years before Mad Men debuted. When people watched the show and saw him they most likely didn’t know him from anywhere. As “Don Draper”, the dude has set himself up with potentially a great forthcoming career. Some roles are coming to him now that certainly would not have gotten with Mad Men. There is a good reason why. Jon Hamm absolutely owns the world as “Don Draper”. He’s like if Clark Kent and Superman met in the middle ground. He’s a man’s man, he drinks, he smokes, he womanizes, and he does things that are horrible but takes no stutter in his step. He does what he does and if he has to, he owns up to it in his own way. “Don Draper” is someone you wish you could be best friends with just so you could get the occasional story out of the guy. As a creative director for an advertising agency he has to sell himself all the time. With that he always exactly what to say. If he’s selling a cowboy client on an advertising campaign for hotels or sharing some out of left field story with a random stranger he’s always on his A-Game. Jon Hamm delivers more than FedEx. When “Don Draper” speaks you listen. You’ll be awed, informed, and inspired.
|
