How did the series "The Old Man" turn out - a classic spy thriller about memory, the mistakes of the past and old age
Miscellaneous / / July 05, 2022
It is very interesting to watch how Jeff Bridges remembers his youth under automatic bursts and barking dogs.
FX TV channel showed the first episodes of the series "The Old Man". The showrunner of the project was Jonathan Steinberg, known as the author of "Jericho". Starring Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, Crazy Heart) and John Lithgow (Dexter, Interstellar).
The Old Man tells the story of retired CIA agent Dan Chase. Many years ago, he deceived the state and escaped with a lot of money. Since then, he lived in the provinces under a fictitious name and quietly aged. Pensioner's life was interrupted by an assassination attempt: the CIA figured out Chase and tried to eliminate him.
To save himself and his family, the protagonist is forced to remember his younger years. He will also have to overcome ailments: an aged agent sometimes forgets where he is.
Why you should watch the series "The Old Man"
FX renewed the series for a second season after the first two episodes aired. The success of the "Old Man" is not accidental, the show has many virtues.
canonicity
The Old Man is a classic special agent series. He does not focus on fashion and does not try to deconstruct the genre. On the contrary, he uses clichés, but he does it qualitatively.
The story begins with the American province and personal problems, and continues on the African continent with the solution of global problems. The love for exotic places is characteristic of both Bondiana and The Bourne Identity - spies like to get into unusual environments. Naturally, the main character is well versed in all types of weapons and easily switches from one language to another.
In general, almost all the characters appearing on the screen are ruthless killers and powerful professionals. Their lives are constantly in danger, any action can lead to a dangerous chase.
Characters shuffle the words "calculated", "discovered", "our sources", "level of access", and almost any folder of documents is marked "secret".
3D characters
Their stories correspond to the laws of the genre - dirty deeds in the past, participation in dubious operations, and so on. At the same time, these are not cardboard figures parodying agents, but real people. Each of them has personal dramas and family problems, and the main characters are also hampered by age.
Retired spy Chace survives by experience and wit, not by big muscles. Being a classic agent, he calmly detects disguised enemies. Spy "things" are also in place - not inventions, like James Bond, but two dogs.
Mental problems make Chase more unpredictable. They progress and disappear. So it’s definitely not worth making a diagnosis before the end of the season.
The operation to eliminate Chase is led by Harold Harper. Once they cooperated, but, being on different sides, they are not going to spare each other. At the same time, the characters experience mutual respect. They are the same old men who are constantly lamenting because of the technology and spinelessness of the new generation of agents.
Great acting game
First of all, attention is drawn, of course, to Jeff Bridges, who played Dan Chase. During the filming of the series, the 72-year-old actor suffered from covid and faced lymphoma. But that didn't stop him from doing a great job.
Bridges is convincing both in the image of an absent-minded old man and in the image of a ruthless killer. Cute conversations with dogs are replaced by the habits of a psychopath who spares no bullets.
Harold Harper, played by John Lithgow, is distinguished by cynicism and composure. I remember his hero from "Dexter" named Trinity - however, Harper leaves behind less blood. Lithgow is also forced to play both a cry-loving old man and a classic secret agent boss.
The young Chase is played by Bill Heck, who rarely gets big roles. Despite the fact that outwardly Hyuk really looks like Bridges, they play the same hero in different ways. Bridges' Den Chase is complex and interesting, Heck's Den Chase is monotonous and boring. It's probably not the script but the acting, but it's hard to blame a person for not being Bridges.
Good camera work
"The Old Man" is excellent. The emotional state of the characters is often conveyed visually rather than verbally. The static footage of the first scenes perfectly demonstrates the loneliness and emptiness familiar to the protagonist. Medium shots show Chase's limited and small world.
As the story progresses, there are more distant plans. So the authors emphasize the changes in the life of the character.
But the operators faced a much more difficult task - to make sure that the fights involving the old man did not look comical. This is what Martin Scorsese and his team stumbled upon while filming The Irishman - just look at how De Niro struggles to raise his legs to kick the villain.
To avoid the problem, "The Old Man" uses abrupt cuts and angle changes during fights. The protagonist does not pretend to be a young boxer, but the nerve and dynamics remain intact.
Ragged pace
You won’t be able to fall asleep under the series: the constant alternation of locations and times keeps you in suspense. What it lacks in unexpected plot twists, it makes up for in changes in the pacing of the story. Spectators are waiting for either long dialogues, or 10-minute chases and fights, or silence.
At the same time, the change of events and pace is almost not tied to timing. So don't wait for the climax at the end of the episode, it can happen in the middle as well.
What are the disadvantages of the series "The Old Man"
Some of the show's weaknesses stem from its strengths, while others simply add to the running time.
Annoying flashbacks
One of the main shortcomings of the show is the flashbacks. The protagonist's past is told slowly and not particularly informative. Probably, the producers were too happy when they found an actor who looked like a young Bridges, so they decided to use him to the fullest.
As a result, many flashbacks seem superfluous, because they repeat the same thing several times. If you reduce their number by half, it is unlikely that the series will become worse.
At the same time, apparently eventless scenes about the “present time” do not raise questions at all - they always have nerve, paranoia and emotions.
Predictability
The very first episode makes it clear what will happen until the end of the season. We can assume 2-3 endings, and it is unlikely that a fan of spy thrillers will be mistaken.
This is a problem if you treat the series as a mystery - it is solved simply and quickly. "The Old Man" is not going to shock the viewer.
Who should watch the show
The Old Man will appeal to fans of spy thrillers. Bridges fans should also give the series a chance - the actor shines. But the show is unlikely to impress those who love unexpected plot twists or non-standard ideas: The Old Man is straightforward and understandable. But the first series will be enough to decide whether to watch further.
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