Mob City [TNT - US] *Spoilers*

Richard Dower

Ahh....tv version of LA Confidential, alas not full premium cable but basic, - that's gonna cut down the juicy content quite a bit, Darabont is a win though :cool:

TNT Orders Pilot for New Drama Series L.A. Noir, From Executive Producers Frank Darabont, Michael De Luca and Elliot Webb

TNT has ordered a pilot for L.A. Noir, a new drama series from executive producers Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption), Michael De Luca (The Social Network, Moneyball) and Elliot Webb (Tall Time Tales). The project from TNT Original Productions is based on John Buntin’s critically acclaimed book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City, which chronicles the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen. Alissa Phillips (Moneyball) of Michael De Luca Productions serves as co-executive producer. Darabont is set to write and direct the pilot.

“The story of L.A. Noir is inspired by an incredibly dramatic period in the history of Los Angeles," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "This project is a sweeping tale of the battle for the soul of the city that was waged between the forces of the LAPD and the West Coast mob. We’re thrilled to be working with Frank Darabont and Michael De Luca, two award-winning storytellers behind some of the most entertaining films of the past two decades, as they to bring this intense and exciting crime-drama to TNT.”

“Noir is a passion of mine, so I feel blessed to delve into a project that speaks in the hardboiled vernacular,” said Darabont. “John Buntin’s superb book, though non-fiction, is our touchstone and inspiration for the stories we’ll be telling, weaving fiction throughout the facts and facts throughout the fiction. The book provides elements that are irresistible, a big canvas with endless possibilities. The goal is to deliver on the tone that the title L.A. Noir promises: a smart, gritty, authentic, period noir drama. Also a blessing is the warm welcome we’ve gotten from Michael Wright and TNT, a great bunch of folks with huge enthusiasm for the source material. The best bonus of all is getting to work with my friend Mike De Luca. He’s terrific, a tremendously smart and talented producer, a gem. Partnering with him on this marvelous project after knowing him for so many years is an absolute treat for me.”

“It has been a personal dream of mine to work with Frank Darabont since he was kind of enough to become my friend when we met in the late 1980s," said De Luca. "He’s been an inspiration to me ever since. There is no one working at his level today who puts more integrity and humanity into their efforts to create lasting and original entertainment. This rich source material is a perfect fit for his talents, and we’re grateful to Michael Wright and TNT for this amazing opportunity.”

L.A. Noir is the true story of a decades-long conflict between the Los Angeles Police Department, under the determined leadership of Police Chief William Parker, and ruthless criminal elements led by Mickey Cohen, a one-time boxer who rose to the top of L.A.’s criminal world. The series is a fast-paced crime drama set in Los Angeles during the 1940s and '50s. It's a world of glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads, returning war heroes, a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base.

Darabont’s extraordinary career includes three Oscar nominations – one for writing the sleeper hit The Shawshank Redemption and two for writing and producing The Green Mile. Darabont also has the distinction of being one of only six directors in the history of the Oscars to have his first two movies each receive Best Picture nominations. He recently earned his third Directors Guild of America Award nomination for directing the pilot of the series The Walking Dead, for which he also served as executive producer.

De Luca’s extensive big-screen credits as executive producer include such high-profile films as Boogie Nights, Wag the Dog, Dark City, Pleasantville, American History X, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Magnolia and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. As a producer, he earned an Oscar nomination for The Social Network and produced the acclaimed 2011 film Moneyball.

L.A. Noir is the latest project to join TNT's rapidly expanding development slate. The network recently ordered a pilot for Chelsea General (working title), a new medical drama series from award-winning producer David E. Kelley and practicing neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, M.D. The project is based on Gupta’s upcoming novel Monday Mornings. In September, TNT ordered a pilot for Scent of the Missing fromCBS Television Studios.Based on Susannah Charleson’s book about an adrenaline junkie who leads a canine search-and-rescue team, the pilot stars Tricia Helfer, Gerald McRaney, Eric Winter and Summer Glau. And in August, TNT ordered a pilot for Gateway from Warner Horizon Television. The Western saga involves three brothers who step in to save their town when their father, the town sheriff, is murdered. The brothers are pitted against a corrupt cattle baron who is determined to make the town his own. The cast includes Cam Gigandet, Keir O’Donnell, David Denman, Karen Allen, Ana De La Reguera, Keith Carradine, Donal Logue, Shanno Lucio, Eric Lang, Anthony Lapaglia and Bill Sadler.

pixelburp

*raises a hand*

So, hands up all those who initially thought this was going to be an adaptation of Rockstar's videogame, LA Noire?

Skerries

me! considering I just started playing it the other day

Technocentral

I love L.A Confidential, Could be great if done in an adult (Mad Men, Sopranos) type of way but as you say might be compromised by "basic cable" limitations. Still might be good with some of that talent on board though. Wonder when it will show up over hear probably 2013 or so if at all.

schemingbohemia

Sorry but this isn't linked to LA Confidential at all and is most certainly not a TV version of the book or film - it's based on a different book but does deal with the same time period and some of the same characters.

I'd still be interested in seeing it though.

JP Liz V1

The Walking Dead actor Jon Bernthal is reportedly having discussions to join TNT pilot L.A. Noir.
The drama series is the latest project from former Walking Dead showrunner Frank Darabont, and will chart the war between Los Angeles police chief William Parker and his mobster nemesis Mickey Cohen.
Sources have told Variety that Bernthal is in very early negotiations to reunite with Darabont for the pilot.
If he were to join the cast, Bernthal will play Los Angeles cop Joe Teague, one of the central characters of the series.

http://www.digitalspy.ie/ustv/news/a361476/the-walking-deads-jon-bernthal-wanted-for-tnt-la-noir-pilot.html

Richard Dower

Jaysus....him?

http://www.tvline.com/2012/02/milo-ventimiglia-la-noir/

Richard Dower

More casting news: http://www.digitalspy.ie/ustv/news/a370237/neal-mcdonough-joins-frank-darabont-tnt-pilot-la-noir.html

And here: http://www.digitalspy.ie/ustv/news/a369833/jeremy-strong-joins-frank-darabont-tnt-pilot-la-noir.html

JP Liz V1

Richard Dower wrote: »

More casting news: http://www.digitalspy.ie/ustv/news/a370237/neal-mcdonough-joins-frank-darabont-tnt-pilot-la-noir.html

Good casting

Richard Dower

Yet more cast added: http://www.digitalspy.ie/ustv/news/a370923/clash-of-the-titans-star-alexa-davalos-joins-la-noir-pilot.html

Richard Dower

Simon Pegg for LA Noir: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simon-pegg-frank-darabont-l-a-noir-tnt-300196?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Richard Dower

More cast added:http://www.spoilertv.com/2012/05/noir-casting-news-andrew-rothenberg-and.html

Richard Dower

YET more cast added, article has alot of info/spoilers: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/frank-darabont-tnt-la-noir-gangster-squad-319524?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Ftelevision+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Television%29

ricero

any idea when it will be debuting ?

JP Liz V1

Thomas Jane is in negotiations for Frank Darabont's LA Noir.
The Hung star would play mobster Bugsy Siegel on the TNT drama, provided that it is ordered to series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Richard Dower

A lock for series pickup now: http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/la-noir-nears-series-order-at-tnt/

dr gonzo

This is both exciting news and a weird coincidence because I downloaded the book only the day before yesterday by sheer chance.

As period dramas go, I cant think of a better setting then this.

JP Liz V1

Series greenlit for TNT

Richard Dower

Richard Dower

pixelburp wrote: »

*raises a hand*

So, hands up all those who initially thought this was going to be an adaptation of Rockstar's videogame, LA Noire?

Rockstar agress with you, and threatened to sue! :eek:

http://io9.com/5978361/frank-darabonts-brilliant-pitch-for-a-new-conan-the-barbarian-movie?

Now Darabont has had to change the title to Lost Angels.....:rolleyes:

oh!....Rockstar refute Darabonts claims: http://kotaku.com/5978852/report-rockstar-threatened-to-sue-the-st-out-of-a-tv-show-called-la-noir

Rockstar PR deferred to their publisher, Take-Two, whose spokesperson Alan Lewis said: ""It's unfortunate that Mr. Darabont finds it necessary to gain publicity by making inaccurate statements – Take-Two never contacted Mr. Darabont nor threatened to sue any party. The facts are that Take-Two reached out to Turner to express concern over confusion between the properties and they responded that they had decided to change the title of the show independent of Take-Two's concerns."

meoklmrk91

I'm really looking forward to this, I think it could be great.

Richard Dower

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

I'm really looking forward to this, I think it could be great.

According to Deadline it's a 6 episode order.....

http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/frank-darabonts-noir-drama-for-tnt-getting-a-new-title/

meoklmrk91

Richard Dower wrote: »

According to Deadline it's a 6 episode order.....

http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/frank-darabonts-noir-drama-for-tnt-getting-a-new-title/

Could have been all they could afford, TNT is not known for big, flashy shows with big budgets. I know that they culled a few characters from southland in the interest of saving money. I'll reserve judgement until I see the pilot.

expectationlost

Losts Angels is kinda a awkward name, does Rockstar own the name LA Noir now?

Richard Dower

Ernie Hudson gets recurring role....still no word on a airdate: http://www.deadline.com/2013/06/daniel-henney-brennan-brown-in-occult-ernie-hudson-to-recur-on-lost-angeles/

JP Liz V1

Source

Ed Burns has been tapped to play notorious mobster Bugsy Siegel in a recurring role on Frank Darabont’s upcoming TNT series Lost Angels. Additionally, Robert Knepper, originally cast as a recurring, has been upped to a regular on the 1940s-set crime drama.

JP Liz V1

Another name change now

Mob City has unveiled its first trailer.
The drama - previously titled LA
Noir and later Lost Angels - will debut on TNT on December 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv3mLRo8Xaw

The Black Oil

Certainly stylish.

Richard Dower

The Black Oil wrote: »

Certainly stylish.

Like the use of old photos....very Southland-ish, as expected it looks very much like LA Confidential or Gangster Squad or sundry other late 1940's LA based cop dramas.

But thats no bad thing....it looks flashy and quality and stylish, only thing....with TVMA at most can they show the grit and violence nesscary on TNT?

No swearing either, except sh*t or bullsh*t....and no nudity or sex allowed :rolleyes::rolleyes:

JP Liz V1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD7G9MeK92w

Starts tonight with 2 hour premiere

Agent Coulson

Not off to a great start. I won't say boring but nothing special so far.

But it does seem if you die in The Walking Dead you end up in Noir 1940's Los Angeles.

Robert Knepper & Neal McDonough give me hope that it might pick up.

evilivor

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Not off to a great start. I won't say boring but nothing special so far.

But it does seem if you die in The Walking Dead you end up in Noir 1940's Los Angeles.

Robert Knepper & Neal McDonough give me hope that it might pick up.

Terrific cast. It looked okay, sounded great. Show's a bit of promise. Might have been better as a two parter as it did drag rather but I'm on board.

expectationlost

yeah you have to watch the first two together, thats works very well together, although it drags a little, certainly stylish, the dialogue and the look is purposely unreal

expectationlost

Season one of Mob City is six episodes airing over three weeks in December

Considering that the show is being aired in 2 hour chunks over 3 weeks in a period where shows traditionally go to die it's hard to go into Mob City with high hopes. While the rest of America TV has taken a break TNT have decided to burn-off Mob City, their Frank Darabont created 1940s gangster drama that promised so, so much.

Mob City had all the trappings of something special. A cast full of some of the best character actors on TV, a script by one of the most celebrated writer/directors of all time and some of the most gorgeous production design we've ever seen. Sadly TNT don't have any real confidence in the show and it's 3 week run is most likely going to be all we see of the show. Sadly TNT are right on the button regarding Mob City, which while not inherently bad is all rather so-so that you can't really warm to it. Which is a damn shame given the great premise and the gorgeous aesthetics. Nearly all the ingredients of a great show are evident in the first two episodes bar any real sense of drama, that vital final ingredient that he show never manages to attain.

There are a number of reveals throughout the first 90 minutes that are intended to shock us and help create some tension but given that our characters are one dimensional there's no heft or mystery to it. Worse still, is just how idiotic the show is. Are we seriously supposed to believe that two of our main characters were once married yet it's never mentioned, even when the two are alone? The final scene reveal plays like a cheap cop out at crafting a little suspense but it's hard to take serious. Taking a leaf from Boardwalk Empire, Darabont has spent considerable time in placing a number of historical figures into the mix but it all fells superficial.

The nonfiction book, L.A. Noir upon which the show is based tells the simple story of organized crime in the city of Angels and focuses on the exploits of Mickey Cohen and William Parker. Rather than have them front and center the show relegates them to thankless supporting roles while focusing on some of the least intriguing characters imaginable.

Jon Bernthal as Joe Teague is front and center as a good cop who isn't afraid to work in the grey areas. His rather dull and generic voice over opens the show with a quick history of the mob and how it's not all white hats and black hats. It's all rather simplistic and trite though it does hint at a show which will examine the reality of organized crime against the stylized fantasy of noir cinema. Sadly, this early expectation of something a little more, quickly disappears as Darabont indulges all of Noir cinemas stereotypes and cliches. Every line of dialogue has that nice hard-boiled feel to it and the opening half hour is genuinely intriguing as the show hints at a far bigger story than is set up but as the minutes tick by it becomes clearer and clearer that it will never materialize and that all Darabont is interested in is aping the look and feel of Noir. The storyline feels tacked on, with not a single original moment or character to be found anywhere. Everything and everyone looks the part but therein lies the shows biggest problem. Characters may aswell just be called mobster, cop, femme fatale for they re all so one dimensional and familiar that they may as well have walked right out of Noir Cinema 101.

Darabont has crafted a show that looks gorgeous and perfectly captures the look and fell of 40's Noir cinema but beyond that Mob City is a vapid, empty shell that plays out like a best of the genre. There's a lot of potential in the show but with just 4 episodes to go I don't see it developing into anything beyond something pretty to look at

expectationlost

i'd much prefer if we discussed tv shows on here and people put thir THIS IS A REVIEW, Im writing this in REVIEW language, elsewhere

expectationlost

expectationlost wrote: »

i'd much prefer if we discussed tv shows on here and people wrote THIS IS A REVIEW, Im writing this in REVIEW language, elsewhere

I don't see what the problem is. Should we not put any depth into our observations and thoughts on episodes of television we watch and instead just knock out a few lines like "this was good, I enjoyed it".

expectationlost

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't see what the problem is. Should we not put any depth into our observations and thoughts on episodes of television we watch and instead just knock out a few lines like "this was good, I enjoyed it".

i just find the "this is a review" language bizarre, i don't know who it supposed to be addressing or impressing?

expectationlost

expectationlost wrote: »

i just find the "this is a review" language bizarre, i don't know who it supposed to be addressing or impressing?

It's not supposed to impress anyone. If all you want to contribute to a thread is a couple of lines then that's all well and good but some people like to put a bit more thought into TV and look at it from a critical standpoint. If that annoys you then add anyone who does so to your ignore list and you won't have to look at them

Agent Coulson

Just finished watching it and it really wasn't up to much. If you want to see a great mob show other than Boardwalk Empire hunt down the criminally underrated Michael Mann series Crime Story from the late 80's.

evilivor

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Just finished watching it and it really wasn't up to much. If you want to see a great mob show other than Boardwalk Empire hunt down the criminally underrated Michael Mann series Crime Story from the late 80's.

Agreed - very poor stuff. Waste of a good cast.

Agent Coulson

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Just finished watching it and it really wasn't up to much. If you want to see a great mob show other than Boardwalk Empire hunt down the criminally underrated Michael Mann series Crime Story from the late 80's.

Grabbed both series in town a week or so back and plan to rewatch it over Christmas. Think that last time I saw any of it was when it was repeated on ITV4 a few years back. Really is a fantastic show and it's a shame that it's so hard to come by.

JP Liz V1

Starts on January 17 at 10pm on FOX UK

jenjenten

No surprise really....cancelled: http://www.deadline.com/2014/02/tnt-mob-city-cancelled/

Alfred Borden

This worth the watch?