LOOKING- Page 11

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/4/14 at 2:37am

I have a feeling that's what's gonna happen...

Scott is starring in the new NCIS I believe if it's picked up next year -- I wonder if that would interfere with a potential second season (if his character even sticks around--yes these are a lot of ifs.)

[swanjewel]

Posted: 2/4/14 at 1:33pm

The third episode was the best so far, at least for me. It felt like there was forward momentum with the plot. Dom and Patrick are definitely my favorites as I feel their characters are more fleshed out. Agustine not so much.

And there is definitely more Scott Bakula. He is basically Dom's love interest if I'm not mistaken.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/4/14 at 1:45pm

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 2/4/14 at 1:59pm

I love Mr. Bakula, but he's kind of been an epic, Hart Bochner-level tease for most of his career.

I hope he actually ends up showing some real skin.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 5:40pm

Have to admit the third episode, though far from great, was a major improvement.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 7:37pm

For those who haven't yet seen it HBO is running the first 3 episodes back-to-back tonight starting at 8 pm.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 8:08pm

As someone who hated Queer as Folk, would this be worth my getting HBO for the month? I usually only get it when The Newsroom starts up, and drop it right after.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 8:44pm

HBO put the pilot on youtube (it plays here in Canada, so I assume is not region encoded) so why not give it a shot and see? It's completely different in style and tone from QAF (particularly the US remake--not sure which version you meant.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2QnA9bfFLA

I will say that when the show feels a bit too scripted for me is during the scenes when all three, Patty, Dom and Augustin have group scenes together. The scenes with any pair of them don't have that issue for me, but...

One thing I have really appreciated is the camerawork/directing of the episodes (maybe no surprise since Haigh from Weekend directed the first three, though it looks like he's only directing two of the remaining ones--which is still a large amount of episodes for one series.) Often with these somewhat "mumblecore"/indie style shows I find the directing just sloppy (Girls suffers from this--and I say that as a fan.) But, while it looks fairly spontaneous, you can tell with Looking its meticulously planned.

The AV Club reviewer has perhaps emphasized this strength too much in his reviews, but I think he makes some good points about subtle techniques that really work (some may be due to scripting and editing too, like in the pilot when you're introduced to each of the three leads at sequential times in their morning -- ie one is just waking up in bed, next shot another is getting ready to leave the house, next shot the third is heading to work.)

Here's a bit from the episode three review about the different techniques:

"What’s really impressive is how each episode, all of which have been directed by Haigh, has a defining shot type. The first episode is about the two-shot, that hard-fought representation of two guys actually coming together. The second is about the long shot, those immersive sequences where the audience soaks up the moment. “Looking At Your Browser History” is about the rack focus. Even when two guys do share a shot, only one is clearly visible at a time. With the focus veering between Patrick and Kevin in one scene and Agustín and the escort the next (Dom and Lynn get good old-fashioned one-shots, but the effect is similar), you can’t help but feel the ping pong, the flirty back and forth of two strangers getting to know one each other. Patrick speaks, Kevin reacts, Kevin speaks, Patrick reacts. Everything else fades into the background."

http://www.avclub.com/review/looking-at-your-browser-history-107070

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 9:31pm

I hated the battleship scene and turned it off to watch the rest later. I just don't like the boss character. I think I may have a personal issue where I don't like characters who are introduced after the second episode, unless it's Scott Bakula.

Anyway, I finally watched the rest of the episode just now and I liked it. They're hitting all the SF signifiers, sex work, restaurants, the whole nine. Also, John Grant over the closing credits. He is soooo great and his album is soooooo great.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 9:42pm

And Scott Bakula. Did you mention Scott Bakula?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 10:18pm

I was introduced to John Grant through the Weekend soundtrack, so I assume he's a friend of Andrew Haigh, but great choice, regardless.

I've always liked Russell Tovey (the boss) and his big ears from his UK work even before he came out in Being Human and Little Dorritt, but I thought he looked particularly Fetching on the show (I know at least one poster on here said he grosses him out, though...)

In one of those more or less useless behind the scenes youtube clips, one of the producers said that the SF Film Commission (or whoever) actively discourage people from filming the Sutro Tower and that this is the first time it has made it into shots of San Francisco in a long time... Funny, since it's kinda hard to avoid seeing when you're there.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 10:22pm

Oh for god's sake. If you don't see that tower sticking up out of the fog, how do you even know if you're in San Francisco now that public nudity is prohibited?

Scott Bakula. Why not more musical theater?

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 10:53pm

Oh oh oh oh! So glad you guys mentioned John Grant. Was wondering who the singer was. Anyone know the name of the song used?

iluvtheatertrash - Queer as Folk was dreadful, agreed. I'd say, give HBO a go for this one. As others have said, it really starts gelling nicely by the their ep. But don't get it just for LOOKING. You'll get to catch up on GIRLS, see the excellent new drama TRUE DETECTIVE with Matthew McConaughey giving an astonishing performance opposite an excellent Woody Harrelson, see GETTING ON with Laurie Metcalf. Of course, you could just share an HBO Go password.

Oh, and Russel Tovey is a total dish. End of ****ing discussion.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 11:07pm

It's on his excellent latest album, "Pale Green Ghost". It was my favorite album from last year.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 11:21pm

Song title?


Also, forgot to say, thanks for posting that analysis of the direction of LOOKING. I can't say I consciously noticed all of those directorial choices while watching, but perhaps that's a sign of a good director!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/5/14 at 11:29pm

The song is "Blackbelt" and the lyrics are DEVASTATING. John Grant turns his pain into beautiful things.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/6/14 at 1:49am

" I can't say I consciously noticed all of those directorial choices while watching, but perhaps that's a sign of a good director!"

As much as I have a sick love for much of DePalma's oeuvre, I think in this case it is a good sign. It's supposed to come off looking spontaneous, but I have little doubt that all of it adds up even if you don't notice it immediately.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/6/14 at 5:30am

I tip my hat off to Mr. Scott Bakula for looking so damned hot in a towel at his age!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 11:52pm

I thought episode 4 was just lovely. Even though I could not possibly care less about video game dude, who to me serves no purpose but to have things like Folsom explained to him. Which is fine, I guess.

MINOR SPOILER FROM EP 5 PREVIEW






A scapular? UGH.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 12:06am

It shocked the hell out of me but episode 4 was quite good.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 4:26am

Really enjoyed this episode.

Namo - the boss character is clearly there as a possible foil for Patrick. Rather than pursuing something with any real potential, he's been flirting with his boss who is, apparently, in a committed long-distance relationship. I LOVED the scene in which he quietly rejects his boss, suddenly shifting the power dynamic. If he'd been weak and stayed with him and had fried chicken (and, from the looks of where things were going some Grade A British D, he wouldn't have been able to make it to the bar and reconnect with his "cut" Latino friend. Also, the boss character is there because he's F*CKING RUSSELL TOVEY and one day I will be Mrs. Tovey, so... there.

I loved the way the final few seconds in the club were shot as Patrick and his potential new BF danced so intimately. Just beautifully done.

Updated On: 2/10/14 at 04:26 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 4:44am

I really liked this episode too. Never mind the fact that Jonathan Groff looked cute in that vest. I liked the scenes with Patrick and Kevin. I did pick up on a little bit of that potential possibility of Patrick getting some "Grade A British D" as it was just perfectly stated, but I didn't get the sense that Kevin would have gone through with it. I think Patrick was smart to follow Agustín's advice and Jonathan acted the hell out of the unspoken dialogue that was happening in that scene. It was probably my favorite work from him on this series so far.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 4:56am

I changed my mind. F*CK plot and character development. I want a Russell Tovey/Jonathan Groff sex scene. Then, Patrick can go make babies with his hombre circuncidado.

Also, yes, I had zero objections to Jonathan Groff spending half the episode in a skimpy leather vest.

Updated On: 2/10/14 at 04:56 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 6:21am

I was begining to feel a bit iffy with episode 3, but ep 4 pulled me right back in.

[fflagg]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 10:37am

Pretty people with pretty problems.
Yawn.
And being cute does not make you a good actor.