Creator Lauren LeFranc gives us The Penguin. In episode one it is breathtaking and different. Vic says to Oz, “Whatever you need,” and he means it. Cobb, all fat, scarred afflictions and that tortured foot, means to get ahead. Gotham, says The Penguin, is his for the taking.
The story
The Riddler has destroyed Gotham’s defenses against the seawall. Large parts of the city are flooded and the “drop” community has suffered stunning losses of merchandise. Batman, in the background for a change, is mention. He is not part of the world just now.
Oz is pushing to become the new kingpin of Gotham. Carmine Falcone is dead and Alberto has taken over. The Penguin sets Alberto up and then shoots him to death.
Leaving the scene, with the corpse cradled in his arms, Oz meets Vic, a young hoodlum.
The Penguin begins.
The Main Cast so far
Colin Farrell is Oz.
Rhenzy Feliz is Vic.
Cristin Milioti is Sofia Falcone.
Clancy Brown is Salvatore Maroni.
Behind the scenes
Director Craig Zobel puts this first episode into brilliant prospective. The Penguin is playing both sides against the middle. Show creator LeFranc gives us Oz as “Yojimbo” or “Joe” from Leone’s homage film “A Fistfull of Dollars.” The Penguin is skilfully playing mob against mob so he can take over.
The shows looks brilliant and sounds even better. Oz being beaten by Sofia’s muscle has discordant violin strings in the background. *They sound initially like the harmonica in Once Upon a Time in the West. Henry Fonda’s badman breathing through the instrument as he lies dying.*
Has Zobel and LeFranc used these to signal the “death” of the Falcone family?
Colin Farrell knocks this one right out of the metaphorical park. The “fat-suit” the makeup and his intense delivery as The Penguin is beyond mesmerizing. I will admit to being a Farrell fan. There have been misfires sure. *We won’t even mention Total Recall.*
Farrell
If it had not been revealed that it was the Irish actor under all those prosthetics, I don’t think we could have guessed. In Bruges alerted me to Farrell and i have been a fan ever since. The thing is, once you know he is Oz you know it is him.
The facial expressions, even under all the makeup, scream Farrell. Don’t believe me? Look into his eyes. Pure Farrell there fans, those mirrors to the soul do not lie.
Colin Farrell is on fire this year. Sugar alone (Apple TV) should get him an Emmy nod. The Penguin should guarantee him the trophy.
The Verdict
The Penguin should get more than 5 stars. It captures the darkness of Gotham, and the mean streets that rule the city. Batman may well be in the background but this DC verse does not need him. Oz is the star here.
Although, Milotti is a magical addition to this tale. (Or course Sofia has to be there, but the casting of this actor was just brilliant. The show is streaming on Max.
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