Role of disease in story telling
Disease is a powerful and well worn narrative device in movies. Cancer in Love Story, AIDS in Philadelphia and Lou Gehrig's in The Theory of Everything are but three examples of this technique. It also might signify that the concern of a disease is reaching the mainstream, when movies are made about them. If this a reasonable theory of the case, it seems like Alzheimer's Disease is reaching that point of mainstream concern. Julianne Moore won an Oscar in 2014 for playing an Alzeimer's patient in the movie Still Alice.
Both at work and in my non-profit related activities, I have been focusing on Alzheimer's disease over the past 5 or so years. In addition to working on issues related to caregiving, a topic that we worry about at work is Elder Financial Fraud, particularly with those suffering from Dementia. Thus I arrive at this topic with some professional and personal background and interest.
True Detective
I am fan of the HBO TV Series True Detective. Season 1 of the series premiered in 2014 and rocketed to adulation with its intensely well crafted story telling, writing and the terrific screen presence of Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and Michelle Monaghan.
Season 1 became a sensation in the podcast world too with reviewers playing along the role of detectives picking the story apart and chasing down every literary allusion.
The series took a mighty tumble in season 2 not only because expectations were so high, but due to some well covered writing, directing and producing challenges. I personally enjoyed Season 2 nevertheless, since it was "true" to its promise of being an anthology, with each season being one story. Nic Pizzalato the writer, is very talented and it showed in season 2 as well, although it had its warts.
Season 3
This brings us to Season 3 of True Detective, where the chastened team has gone back to its roots in Season 1 and has tried to recapture the magic, stick true to the formula and find some variations. As of this writing, 3 episodes of the 8 episodes have been screened.
Season 3 stars Mahershala Ali who plays his role as detective and Vietnam veteran Wayne Hays in 3 timelines, one set in 1980, the second in 1990 and finally as a 70 year old man in 2015. Ali's acting is exceptional and it won't surprise me if he turns out to be a once in a generation talent. He has already won a bag of awards including the Oscar, BAFT and Golden Globe. He brings all those acting chops and screen presence to this role.
The supporting cast has come to play ball. So far it has been a great start.
Crime & Alzheimer's
Ali's character in the 2015 timeline has the onset of Alzheimer's disease and the doctors do not want to diagnose it as such. The crime case that took place in 1980 in rural Arkansas, thirty five years ago is plaguing Detective Hays, and he is desperately fighting through his deteriorating mental condition to piece together what happened in 1980 and 1990.
It is stellar writing and stellar acting. I cannot praise this series as a whole enough.
There are 5 more episodes to go - so I will post another review in late February or Early March. In the meantime, if you are watching the series already or plan to jump on it, please let me know and we can chat.
Both at work and in my non-profit related activities, I have been focusing on Alzheimer's disease over the past 5 or so years. In addition to working on issues related to caregiving, a topic that we worry about at work is Elder Financial Fraud, particularly with those suffering from Dementia. Thus I arrive at this topic with some professional and personal background and interest.
True Detective
I am fan of the HBO TV Series True Detective. Season 1 of the series premiered in 2014 and rocketed to adulation with its intensely well crafted story telling, writing and the terrific screen presence of Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and Michelle Monaghan.
The series took a mighty tumble in season 2 not only because expectations were so high, but due to some well covered writing, directing and producing challenges. I personally enjoyed Season 2 nevertheless, since it was "true" to its promise of being an anthology, with each season being one story. Nic Pizzalato the writer, is very talented and it showed in season 2 as well, although it had its warts.
Season 3
This brings us to Season 3 of True Detective, where the chastened team has gone back to its roots in Season 1 and has tried to recapture the magic, stick true to the formula and find some variations. As of this writing, 3 episodes of the 8 episodes have been screened.
The supporting cast has come to play ball. So far it has been a great start.
Crime & Alzheimer's
Ali's character in the 2015 timeline has the onset of Alzheimer's disease and the doctors do not want to diagnose it as such. The crime case that took place in 1980 in rural Arkansas, thirty five years ago is plaguing Detective Hays, and he is desperately fighting through his deteriorating mental condition to piece together what happened in 1980 and 1990.
It is stellar writing and stellar acting. I cannot praise this series as a whole enough.
There are 5 more episodes to go - so I will post another review in late February or Early March. In the meantime, if you are watching the series already or plan to jump on it, please let me know and we can chat.
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