As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for gritty gangster tales, I must say that this week’s episode of Tulsa King left me feeling like a fish out of water in a Kansas swamp. The show seems to be caught between the charm of its leading man, Sylvester Stallone, and the need to deliver a compelling narrative.
In my latest review, there’s one standout moment in this week’s installment of Dwight Manfredi’s thrilling odyssey. This series isn’t shy about employing violence when the story calls for it, so it’s fitting that this scene revolves around a chilling act of murder.
hiring a killer to disguise the act as a new business proposal. Goodie’s role is to steer Dwight away from the main celebration of his acquittal (which we’ll discuss further) and into the back parking lot where he will be murdered.
Leaving the casino, there’s an unusual tension in the air, as though people can sense something amiss about his departure. Dwight, ever jovial, doesn’t seem to notice – he’s too busy anticipating the reasoning the Supreme Court will use to exonerate him from a bribery scandal. By arguing that the million dollars he gave to ATF Agent Stacy Beale wasn’t a bribe, but simply a friendly gesture, he manages to slip out of trouble effortlessly. He’s like Teflon, nothing sticks to him.
As Goodie moves into place behind Dwight, it seems that the General might be showing too much self-assurance. Eyes meet. A blade emerges. A firearm is taken out. A shadowy figure rises from the backdrop.
In an unexpected turn of events, the situation becomes clear. Instead of betraying Dwight, Goodie is stabbing the assassin, with Bigfoot, the massive henchman, holding him down. It seems that instead of becoming a traitor, Goodie must have informed his superior about the offer and the plan, which results in this triple-cross. By skillfully manipulating the tone, using Dwight’s typically cheerful demeanor as a diversion, and delivering an outstanding performance by Chris Caldovino as Goodie that only reveals his true intentions after the event has transpired, we are left with a delightful dose of suspense and surprise in this gangland thriller.
In a rather disappointing turn of events, Tulsa King seldom surprises us much this week, and when it does, it’s usually something quite awkward, such as Sylvester Stallone asking Andrea Savage some inappropriately leading questions about their characters’ intimate details under oath. Frankly, I didn’t foresee that scene playing out like that.
Despite Dwight being acquitted of bribery, the introduction of this storyline feels questionable given its brief resolution and return to the original status quo. Dwight adopts a rough and arrogant demeanor towards Bill, asserting his self-reliance as a way of functioning among tough characters like himself. Both outcomes are unfortunately expected. It’s intriguing to analyze these results together – Dwight attempts to win over civilians yet is always ready to give them the cold shoulder when dealing with other criminals. This leaves one wondering how he managed to survive 25 years in prison.
Occasionally, overly strict editing can make writing feel more routine. To illustrate, consider Mitch and Tina. As soon as the scene shifts from Mitch playing ZZ Top’s sentimental ballad “Tush,” showing Tina admiring him, it becomes apparent that a romantic connection is imminent. Further dialogues where Tina praises his performance only reinforce this notion. This show rarely deviates from its straightforward narrative; there are no complex storylines or intricate details that make the content more than just functional. The presented content is exactly what you’ll see.
Anyway, what Dwight gets is laid. Mere seconds after orchestrating a murder and overseeing the removal of the corpse, he’s dancing in the arms of Margaret, the glamorous, twinkle-eyed rancher who has well and truly jilted her evil suitor, Cal Thresher, for Dwight. (“You’ll go for a criminal greaseball in a pinky ring.” “Honestly, there’s more class in that pinky ring than in your entire body.” Was this a first draft?) The next morning he’s leaving her house. Man, that was a big day for Dwight Manfredi, huh?
Thresher proposes a different method for targeting Dwight. He suggests Armand, who is struggling with debt due to his divorce initiated by working for Dwight initially, receive a large sum of money from Thresher without any obligation to repay. This money could help him settle his debts with both his wife and Dwight. However, in return, Thresher may expect a favor from Armand at some point in the future. If I were Armand, I would go directly to Dwight with the money and explain its origin and purpose. But since this tactic was used once in this series, it seems unlikely that the show will repeat it.
In a way that sometimes makes it seem like the series is still learning to ride on its own, it’s surprising to think this show originates from Terence Winter, known for masterpieces like The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire. However, there are instances where his unique style shines through, such as an early dialogue between Goodie and Mitch at the casino. Intriguingly, Goodie inquires about what Mitch is writing in his notebook, and when Mitch mentions it’s tough if he’s feeling happy, “but when it rains…it pours,” the word “it” refers to both life circumstances and creative inspiration, beautifully intertwined by Garrett Hedlund’s delivery. The phrasing has a poetic quality that enhances its impact.
Despite everyone finding everything Dwight does or says amusing simply because he’s so endearingly charming, there are moments when his humor is genuinely witty, not just the kind that elicits a gentle chuckle like “oh, Dwight, you rascal.” However, after using an excessive number of jokes that border on the trivial, Dwight’s humor towards Bevilaqua crossed the line. “You have a sense of humor,” he remarks sarcastically, flashing a smile that held a hint of mockery.
“Sometimes,” Dwight says, smiling back.
“I don’t,” Bevilaqua snaps.
Dwight’s reaction was quite dry as he said, “I’m certain you have other admirable traits.” Still, it had me chuckling!
The TV series “Tulsa King” doesn’t appear to aim for much more than being a show where Sylvester Stallone gets to play a mobster, which some viewers may find entertaining. While I haven’t fully accepted it, I understand that this is the direction the show has taken. However, since we’re already invested, we might as well continue watching in hopes of finding something enjoyable. Occasionally, there are moments worth appreciating.
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2024-09-29 23:54