A Thread to discuss Too Old to Die Young, an Amazon series from Nicolas Winding Refn

There should’ve never been a Season 2, really no reason to continue. Statement made.

Despite Bezos money, still kinda amazed he got the “no notes” reign he did. Closest you’ll get to Tarkovsky in the TV format.

There's way to tell how similar or different it would have been. I think it was going in the direction of Jena Malone vs Cristina Rodlo but increasing supernatural elements but who know?

I meant there's no way to tell

jeez yea this was amazingly realized and kindof capital-A Art imo

teller being good at standing still is otm, i could just imagine refn's direction to every actor, camera operator, etc of slooower

felt like a response or antidote to fast-cutting modern superhero or action stuff idk it just works (or did for me) once you feel it out and let it wash over you

looks like he has a new show for netflix coming out in few months

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKM5FV_aGt0

I watched this show while struggling with sleep issues during international travel and it was kind of magical. I'm afraid I won't like it as much if watch it again.

Agree with the pace being an antidote to typical fast-cutting VFX-laden wank. It felt downright confrontational sometimes. Also this show is a showcase for the music of Cliff Martinez. Hard to imagine said pacing working as well with a more conventional score.

I’m still a little annoyed by the mainstream critical response to this. I think there are filmmakers (or musicians) whose striving for art is regarded with deference and awe even when unsuccessful, and those whose most accomplished works (such as this one by Refn) are regarded with relative derision.

Teller’s blank slate deadpan look is used really well here and his faintly bemused silent responses to a lot of the insanity are very, very funny. The show is both unremittingly bleak and hilarious.

Honestly I’d been starting to find myself really exhausted by the fast paced montage heavy Vince Gilligan-type shows and this really cleansed the palate. It also actually made me realize that with feel-bad television shows, it’s not so much the content that bums me out as much as it is it is the constant push to stress of you with out with a whiplash editing combined with swift narrative pacing, like you’re riding some really terrible drug trip. I like being forced to slow down.

looks like he has a new show for netflix coming out in few months

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKM5FV_aGt0

― johnny crunch, Thursday, 6 October 2022 6:36 PM (three months ago) bookmarkflaglink

out now

almost finished TOTDY, but already planning a rewatch.

wish these things were not tied to streaming giants, some premier exclusives like Suspiria were released separately to own.

I'll also binge CC as I am not planning to keep Netflix for more than a month or two post GO, but would buy the BR in a heartbeat just to savour in my own time.

Oh wow, didn't know that was coming.

Love TOTDY, sign me UP.

From that trailer, sounds like he’s got Cliff Martinez scoring again.

This is so good 4 episodes in. Digging it much more than TOTDY. I think the Euro vibe and the return of a lot of familiar players from the Pusher days help it along. Still slow, still ott but almost a more...refined Refn this time around?

I’m loving it too, the lighting and colors

Subtitles super distracting in Copenhagen Cowboy. They keep saying “(English)” for bits that are clearly not in English.

I watched with Spanish subs. Was great though

(SPOILER)

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I wish they'd wrapped things up.

I binged this yesterday instead of doing anything else I needed to do. It’s very visually compelling (I read he’s color blind and can’t see mid colors so that’s why he likes high contrast?) although the flashing lights effect got kind of old.

I watched the the BTS thing afterwards and was really surprised by how many of the actors were “street cast”, based on their look, and not actually actors at all. They were all amazing, especially Mr Chiang and Nicklas. Also NWR saying “I’m very superstitious. I know some extraterrestrials and I talked to them before I started working on this project” WTF?!?!

I also watched this with English voice dubbing and thought it was one of the best dubs I’ve heard (the accents were a weird choice - lots of British).

The ending suuuuuucked. My understanding is there’s no second season, so it was very frustrating to have no resolution, let alone explanation for who/what tf Miu was.

Ugh I meant to say I binged COPENHAGEN COWBOY not TOTDY

My understanding is there’s no second season, so it was very frustrating to have no resolution

That's disappointing. I am not the kind of person who demands a neat ending, but it would be nice to have and ending, even if oblique.

Definitely glad I watched CC, loved that he made the slow pacing work, loved the visuals. However the setup for the second season wasn't super inspiring, I'm not sure he knew where he wanted to go with it. I'm fine with one season.