Posts : 7656 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : You're the man now, dog!
Subject: Re: House of Cards Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:26 am
Fincher must really dig the Mara sisters.
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Wed Feb 06, 2013 11:51 am
I saw your Facebook post, Tux, and I think agree with what you're getting at. I was thinking to myself, "man, this show is kind of brutal," but I'm not sure "brutal" is the right word. It's a fun brutal.
I also really dig the credits tune. Every time that motif pops up when Underwood is at his best is damn cool.
On another note, this might be totally illogical, but my expectations for the new season of Arrested Development are almost unreasonably high at this point because of House of Cards.
The White Tuxedo 00 Agent
Posts : 6062 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : ELdorado 5-9970
Subject: Re: House of Cards Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:09 pm
My only concern about AD S4 is that it seems the episodes will be about single characters, when the show really works as an ensemble piece.
I wrapped up HOUSE OF CARDS just ten minutes ago. I don't know far you are, Wade, but in Chapter 11... I saw it coming.
Gerald McRaney makes a welcome addition to the cast in the last two episodes.
I'm pretty intrigued to see where things will go in S2.
Yeah, I mentioned that Doug Stamper is an interesting character.
The actress Rachel Brosnahan, who plays the escort Rachel, has an interesting quality to her. Terrific young actor. I mean, Kate Mara is a good enough actor and everything, but I think Brosnahan is a better actor and a lot more interesting. Thus, she'll probably be regelated to character roles for her entire career.
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:47 pm
Yeah, I saw that coming too.
I can't wait to see if everything comes crashing down for Frank. Sadly it's going to be another year before season two, which is a real bummer.
The White Tuxedo 00 Agent
Posts : 6062 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : ELdorado 5-9970
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:40 am
Jack Wade wrote:
I can't wait to see if everything comes crashing down for Frank. Sadly it's going to be another year before season two, which is a real bummer.
I was thinking of that, and it doesn't bother me as much because I watched S1 in three sittings over a couple of days. If it had taken 13 weeks to unfold, it would probably be harder to wait.
Spoiler:
And the final moments aren't really nailbiting to me.
I may not wait another year to rewatch S1. Now that I really see the moves Frank was making, it might be interesting to watch it with that mind.
Now if season 6 of MAD MEN was put up online all at once!
GeneralGogol Q Branch
Posts : 878 Member Since : 2011-03-17 Location : Kremlin
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:57 pm
Saw first three episodes on Russian television. Good stuff - good to see Spacey chewing so much scenery again. The supporting cast is also ace - especially Robin Wright and Kate Mara.
Harmsway Potential 00 Agent
Posts : 2801 Member Since : 2011-08-22
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sat Apr 13, 2013 8:00 pm
Season two starts shooting in two weeks.
The White Tuxedo 00 Agent
Posts : 6062 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : ELdorado 5-9970
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:43 am
Harmsway wrote:
Season two starts shooting in two weeks.
Great! I was watching it again last week. Actually have to finish a few more episodes. It holds up pretty well to a rewatch.
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sun Apr 14, 2013 6:24 am
Can't wait for season two. Apart from episode 11 of the first season, I think this might be the best show out there.
The White Tuxedo 00 Agent
Posts : 6062 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : ELdorado 5-9970
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:45 am
What was wrong with 11? Granted, they've all blurred to me. Is that in the garage?
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:57 pm
Yup. I don't have as much vitriol for that episode as some others do but that whole deal was still a bit out of sorts.
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:23 am
I've started my rewatch. This show just hits so many marks for me. When Kevin Spacey does something cool and that kickass title motif kicks in ... ahh. Good stuff.
The White Tuxedo 00 Agent
Posts : 6062 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : ELdorado 5-9970
Subject: Re: House of Cards Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:10 am
I did a rewatch a couple months ago, but only of the first 8 episodes. Got caught up in something else and never went back. But it held up very well.
Sure hope Rachel Brosnahan gets more roles. I suppose she's less "perfect" than someone like Kate Mara, but a gazillion times more interesting. Wish she had Mara's role. Mara leaves me a little cold by comparison.
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Thu Jul 18, 2013 2:32 pm
I think Mara's character is supposed to be a little cold, though.
The White Tuxedo 00 Agent
Posts : 6062 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : ELdorado 5-9970
Subject: Re: House of Cards Thu Jul 18, 2013 7:04 pm
I meant the actress herself. And in more in terms of her depth. She's a perfectly capable actress.
Vesper Head of Station
Posts : 1097 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : Flavour country
Subject: Re: House of Cards Wed Oct 09, 2013 12:26 am
Finally started watching it. Really enjoying it. It's smart yet accessible, which is pretty rare in film these days, let alone tv.
Though, the quality of the direction from Fincher's two episodes to the third is a bit of a step down.
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Wed Oct 09, 2013 9:11 pm
Joel Schumacher directs a few of the episodes, which was a bit of a (pleasant) surprise.
I also just read that Jodie Foster is directing an episode in season two. Didn't know what to think at first but then I read she also directed an episode of Orange is the New Black, which was great.
Vesper Head of Station
Posts : 1097 Member Since : 2011-03-14 Location : Flavour country
Subject: Re: House of Cards Mon Oct 21, 2013 1:44 am
I've always thought Schumacher is somewhat underrated. He gets a bad wrap because of the Batman films, even those deliberately went for camp. He managed to get some good performances out of some questionably talented actors in the two John Grisham films he directed. I'm not saying he's amazing, but he's certainly a capable if uninteresting director.
Finished the first season. Really enjoyed it. It reminds me a lot of Damages, though more accessible.
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Mon Jan 06, 2014 6:26 pm
Trailer for season two, which is on Netflix in its entirety Feb. 14:
Looks juicy.
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:46 pm
I've finished season two.
In all, good stuff. But I have some complaints.
Spoiler:
I wanted everything to fall apart for Frank. Everything. I guess that wouldn't really make for a good season three, but he's now killed two people--a senator and a famous reporter--without so much as a slap on the wrist.
Maybe that's supposed to say something about how mighty Frank Underwood is, but I don't buy it. Abandoning Lucas midseason was a gaffe.
I'm glad they did more with Clare, though. Robin Wright is fucking fantastic.
A bit disappointed the season ends with Frank as president. I mean, sure, it was bound to happen, I suppose. But it was a bit predictable.
Chief of SIS 'R'
Posts : 201 Member Since : 2011-08-15
Subject: Re: House of Cards Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:18 am
Wade, I agree with most of your assessments about the second season. It has decided to go full on melodrama. Not necessarily a terrible thing. The show just clearly had to make that decision by the second season. I enjoyed it immensely, if not for the sole reason of Spacey's accent.
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:12 pm
HoC is very overrated. First season was okay, but the writers have no idea where the second series is going. The introduction of a nerd Bond villain-lite complete with pet was the end of it for me.
All that said, the BBC original is overrated as well. First series is genuinely creepy and worth seeing, but the next two seasons are plain bad, to put it politely.
Largo's Shark 00 Agent
Posts : 10588 Member Since : 2011-03-14
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:29 pm
Agreed re: BBC HoC, it died with Mattie. Killing off Tim Stamper was a big mistake - Colin Jeavons was wonderfully creepy yet comical.
Didn't like the Netflix HoC from the get go. Obama era snark.
Harmsway Potential 00 Agent
Posts : 2801 Member Since : 2011-08-22
Subject: Re: House of Cards Fri Dec 12, 2014 10:29 pm
I enjoyed the second season, in large part because it decided to stop attempting to be respectable and just went for full-on trashy melodrama. I enjoy it the same way I enjoyed Showtime's The Borgias.
The third season premieres February 27, 2015.
Jack Wade Head of Station
Posts : 2014 Member Since : 2011-03-15 Location : Uranus
Subject: Re: House of Cards Sat Feb 28, 2015 11:01 pm
Just finished season three. I did not like it very much.
Spoiler:
The show's outrageousness is turning into complete predictability. Frank takes a few blows every now and then but never a knockout; he gets right back up and wins the fight.
It's getting to the point where the unbelievable parts of House of Cards can't really be forgiven anymore. Take Stamper, who's alive, recovers from a terrible brain injury and depression by the end of the season, lands a spot as chief of staff and then murders Rachel. Alrighty.
The primaries? Shocker: Frank, despite all of his tremendous fuck-ups, wins Iowa.
Only thing I liked this season was Petrov. He always had the upper-hand on Frank. Hated the writer. The actor was horrifically boring.
But Claire supposedly leaving him might be what this show needs to finally bring Frank to his knees. Will Frank lose the primary now? Hopefully that happens in what I assume will be a season four — and what I also hope is the show's last season — but I doubt it.
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