Black Bird - AppleTV+ -(***Spoilers***) Ray Liotta & Taron Egerton

Agent Coulson

When serving time, you’ll do anything for a chance at freedom—even if that means facing a suspected killer. Inspired by true events, Dennis Lehane’s newest Apple Original Series stars Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH1FOkJys3Y&ab_channel=AppleTV

Slydice

I swear I didn't recognise Ray Liotta on first watch.

I did notice his name in the credits.

JP Liz V1

Black Bird will premiere globally with the first two episodes on  Friday, 8th July  on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday

Watched the first episode and will stick with it i liked it

Snake Plisken

Loved the first episode very well made some great performances from Taron Egerton ( I can see why he is being linked to playing Wolverine with those muscles) Greg Kinnear Paul Walter Hauser and the great Ray Liotta.

Probably because of the settings and some of the shots it reminds me of True Detective and Sharp Objects.

Looking forward to watching the second episode later on

Mr E

Watched the first two episodes and this really is excellent. Well acted by all, and a great story.

Slydice

Anyone think it's a more week-to-week or wait-for-binge effort?

Mr E

There are 6 episodes and they are chunky enough at an hour each. I'd say get stuck in.

Slydice

OK! This show is REALLY well made. All of it.

Feels high quality in the writing, directing, casting, acting, camera work, sound work, location shots, visual shots.

1: This was well put together. Following along with two stories set years apart but both digging into the story.

Really good performance from Taron Ederton. Also top work from the scenes Ray Liotta was one from one of his last performances. Greg Kinnear putting ina good performance too. The whole cast are doing really well to be fair. To me that points to the director working really well with them all.

I think so far, the big reminders I'm getting are of the Mindhunter and True Detective TV shows and what I remember of the prison type scenes from the Blow movie.

Spoiler Warning

It feels so errie how this Larry Hall had just been telling the cops all about what he did an nothing happened. It does feel a bit like True Detective though that maybe there's more going on with him than he's letting on.

The FBI woman comes across really annoying. I dunno if that's just her or if she's pushing against Keene to see if he'll be capable enough to work this job.

I get the feeling Ray Liottas scenes are going to be emotional as the show continues.

Oh.. kinda side note.. those 1990s phones! Oh I remember that pain!

Slydice

2: A solid follow-up. Feels like the first two episodes combined made for a proper introduction and setting the story up.

Spoiler Warning

Thinking it should just be to see how it all unfolds from this point.

I think in this one, I noticed the theme of Fathers and maybe it's going to be core to the show.

Jimmy and his father. The detective is a father. The scene in the prisoner transfer mini-bus with the three guards all being fathers.

Maybe something about fatherhood or maybe Larry and Garys father will come up. I dunno.

The show brings in the appeal in what feels as a way to put the squeeze on the time. Seems legit as just a time squeeze but at the same time, it's keeping the thinnest idea of Larry being falsely convicted. At this stage, and without having looked into the case, .. I dunno... everything points to Larry having done it.

Last thing I'm guessing might come up is Jimmys Dad James and Sammy might be going to open up a secondary arc in the story of finding out where he has disappeared to. I'm guessing that could possibly cause issues with the undercover-ness of Jimmy.

Solid song at the credits...

Crash Test Dummies - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm (Official Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTeg1txDv8w

Agent Coulson

Excellent opening double episode.

Paul Walter Hauser could be the real standout the way things are going.

The real James Keene.

The first thing I thought was Ray Liotta could have played him if the had made this in 90's when it real murders happened.

JP Liz V1

Awards imho for Dennis Lehane, Paul Walter Hauser and deceased Ray Liotta

kirk.

Brilliant stuff this

Larry is it ? What a perp

Sudden Valley

it is good but incredibly slow. Also I doubt the real guy had such a relationship with his female handler :)

Atlantic Dawn

Good opening 2 episodes, I'm going to wait until the last 4 are done and watch them over a weekend, can't handle the waiting week to week as it will ruin it for me.

Slydice

It does kinda feel like it could be absorbed in bulk. Won't know till the end to be sure though.

Slydice

3: Solid episode. Definitely had a tenseness to it. Does feel like it would be good to jump into the next episode to find out what happens next.

Spoiler Warning

They are still keeping that falsely convicted thing going but .. i dunno.. seems pretty clear after that conversation in the boiler room. Maybe it's just that it's going to be the FBI agent running with it.

I wonder is that guard done-in. Gone for an emergency after they already did something to his face. Doesn't sound good.

Jimmys family really did a number on him.. clearing out everything her hoarded. I wonder did he not leave enough regular stuff (furnitue/fittings/3 speakers?) to sell to make 10k. Maybe not in the time he needed it.

Oh and the notable character..

Spoiler Warning

I swear when I heard Vincent "The Chin" Gigante .. I got a bit hyped that it might have been a secret cameo by Vincent D'Onofrio. Not to be.

Song from the end:

Lo Fidelity Allstars - Battleflag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B99nd2iKGOw

Snake Plisken

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119343411#Comment_119343411

Great 90's soundtrack back on episode 2 at the start the college girl was listening to The The's. Track Dogs Of Lust. With Johnny Marr on Guitar ,👍

https://youtu.be/7T-c1x0ILWI

artvanderlay

It's slow, it's occasionally annoying, but I'm in. I'm not enjoying it yet but I want to know what happens, which is good enough for now.

Slydice

4: Well ****! 😲 Strap in folks. This ones a journey! Headspace all over the place.

Spoiler Warning

I dunno. I was trying to build up what way the episode was going right up to the first yard scene.

I was like... aaaaahhhh this is real tense, they must being going for a tense episode.

Then the riot and the cleaning and the backstories all panned out.

Definitely had some **** you moments about the parents.

They really threw out a lot of story there. I think.. not sure though.. that the audience should be able to keep with it though.

Credits song.. choice makes sense:

Eric Burdon & The Animals- When I Was Young

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72eUZqxROXY

yabadabado

Paul Walter Hauser was excellent in that episode.

Slydice

I don't know much of any of Paul Walter Hauser's work. I assume with the praise he's getting here, he must usually play very different characters?

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_walter_hauser

Agent Coulson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119376764#Comment_119376764

Well he is hated for the role he has in Cobra Kai in the last few years.

I though he was great in Kingdom and in Clint Eastwood's Richard Jewell playing Richard Jewell.

Slydice

Ah I remember the trailers for Richard Jewell. I think this will have it a bit bumped up on my to-watch list.

Slydice

5: 😭😭😭 ****!

Spoiler Warning

but it's not enough

credits song:

Nine Inch Nails - Something I Can Never Have

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAGAoy5WZWY

Just ****!

Slydice

Best made episode of the season. **** ing in bits after that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Bird_(miniseries)

Director was new Joe Chappelle. Writer is the series 'developer' Dennis Lehane. He worked on most of the other episodes.

Chappelle has directed some Godfather of Harlem, Fringe, The Wire, CSI Miami amongst others

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Chappelle

Slydice

I'm a freakin ball of emotions after it. Some kind of mix of deep saddness and rage.

Snake Plisken

Great episode this is a fantastic series, this episode reminded me a bit of The Lovely Bones with the girl speaking about moments in her life.

Can't believe there is only one episode left.

Cina

Magnificent show.

not surprised to hear that Paul Walter Hauser said he found some of those lines very difficult to deliver.

I also liked how they made Jessica Roche the narrator and made it about the life she had and not what he took from her. Great stuff.

brianc27

Loving this, episode 5 was absolutely brilliant, incredible performances from taron egerton and especially paul walter hauser, the NIN track at the end was just perfect too

Roxxers

awesome

Roxxers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119405730#Comment_119405730

unreal

ejmaztec

The credits mention Karsen Liotta, Ray's daughter. She played the part of the "knitter's" daughter. It's good to see another Liotta carrying on the family tradition 😎

artvanderlay

Only one episode left. Can't believe it's over so quickly. Egerton is definitely a fan of young De Niro's style of acting but him and Hauser have been great. In fact I'm driving my wife nuts by impersonating Larry's voice when the mood strikes me. Might even grow me some burnsides too :)

Slydice

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119376803#Comment_119376803

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119378817#Comment_119378817

I watched it. I don't think there's a thread on boards from a quick search.

Yeah definitely Paul Walter Hauser did a different performance there. He has some similar mannerisms but he put out some real heart especially towards the end. He did a decent job at keeping things subtle earlier on.

Snake Plisken

Great final episode to a great series. Emotional seeing Ray Liotta's final scene in the episode for obvious reasons.

As always music on point with this 90's classic from The Verve ending the show

https://youtu.be/MH6TJU0qWoY

Slydice

Agreed. Strong series! I think the biggest impacts coming from episodes four and five.

Credit to the developer, Dennis Lehane, for structuring the story in that way for the audience.

Overall top performances, I thought from:

• Taron Egerton (Jimmy)
• Paul Walter Hauser (Larry)
• Jake McLaughlin (Gary)
• Ray Liotta ("Big Jim" Keene)

The Egerton and Hauser dynamic especially.

6: I wasn't hugely glad with how it all played out but I guess that's how it went down. The standout scene for me here was the

Spoiler Warning

decision to make the map in blood. Egerton really got across the desperation Jimmy was going through at that point. Later in the court room, the change in demeanour and pressence didn't feel off.

Oh.. almost forget.. that dream sequence in the start was so messed up! 😲

I can't believe

Spoiler Warning

they haven't found one of the bodies... and he only confessed to 15 not the 21.. and then recanted.

it felt a bit of gut punch that the map didn't help at all.. especially after that wood shop scene where Jimmy put across the perspective of the families of the victims. That stayed with me right to end I think and just collided with this outcome.

McGrath5

Was so surprised the map got burned and didn’t play any part in locking up Larry.

A very strong 6 episodes, one to rewatch later this year.

DrZeuss

Wow, what a refreshingly good show. Paul Walker Hauser being the standout for sure.

I would gladly watch a few seasons of this.

In my mind it does have a mix of Zodiac (a super super film) and a bit of Mindhunter, gotta say Apple have knocked it out of the park again...Severance (cannot wait for season 2) and Pachinko being other stand outs.

Just to add, Ray Liotta looked terrible from the start, whether intentional or how he actually looked it looked ominous for him (legend)

Atlantic Dawn

Enjoyed it, the format really opens the possibility of spin offs, get someone inside a prison to get a high profile prisoner to confess, could be murders, could be locating missing millions in a bank job etc etc.

I hope Lucky Man by The Verve gets the same level of air play as Running Up That Hill did for Kate Bush after Stranger Things used it, stomping track 😁

RIP Ray Liotta. As said, he didn't look well in it from start to finish, was this intentional with makeup or a measure of how ill he was? Hollywood has near zero succession planning, there's a block of greats aged from 50-80 that nothing new is coming anywhere near up to replace, particular in the gangster era movies.

Zero-Cool

Loved it, such a great show. If it was on Netflix, I'd have no doubt everyone would be taking about it. I've been a fan of PWH since first seeing him in Kingdom where he was brought in for the first season as a comedic character but then kept on and story fleshed out because of how good he was. Then going from Cobra Kai to Black Bird couldn't be more opposite, hopefully he picks up a few award nods for this, definitely deserves them.

yabadabado

Excellent show ,near perfect 6 episodes.

PWH was brilliant as Larry.

ejmaztec

I wonder if Mr Carter existed in real life, and if he did, I wonder if he got what he deserved?

The only poetic licence that I've seen mentioned is that the bloody drawing of the map apparently didn't happen.

yabadabado

I would say there are plenty of Mr. Carter types in prisons.

RocketRaccoon

Shocked at how little this is being spoken about, one of the best shows I've watched in recent years.

Zero-Cool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119461851#Comment_119461851

Yupp, if this was on Netflix, everyone would be talking about it.

kirk.

Larry was awesome some acting

wingnut32

I was looking for something good after Mare of Eastown which was amazing and this was just as good if not better. PWH was fantastic.

Slydice

Feels like I missed some over exposure of Egerton or something.

PWH put in a good performace but I thought Egerton did too.

Seems to be radio silence on Egerton though. Nothing seems to be controversial on the Welsh actors wiki page.

Saint_Mel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119376803#Comment_119376803

Ahh thats it, I couldn't remember what I'd seen him in before.

Yeah he's a pointless character in Cobra Kai, but plays the Larry Hall part well

Aisling(",)

This was fantastic. Amazing performance from Egerton especially the last two episodes.

Larry's voice was enough to put me on edge never mind his mannerisms and demeanour when he was talking about the girls.

I decided to give it a go after seeing a tweet recommending it, no idea how it's flying so under the radar.