Saturday, May 21, 2016

DC/Vertigo's Preacher Arrives via AMC...


AMC continues its trek into the bold and unique, this time with a ten-episode adaptation of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's "graphic novel" epic, "Preacher". 


"Preacher" made its mark in the '90s as an offbeat DC/Vertigo title. The Sam Catlin/Seth Rogan/Evan Goldberg produced version (commencing 5/22) stars Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer, an uncertain cleric who decides to take over his father's Texan church: a nice idea, except that he's destined for possession by an angel/demon hybrid called Genesis. The entity could rival God's otherwise infinite power, and conscientious Custer decides to venture forth to attain a face-to-face meeting with the Lord, so that He may help squash Custer's Hyde side. However, Custer's path is no quickie, and along the stretch, he encounters a variety of dangerous and ethereal entities and circumstances.


Custer is accompanied by his tough-as-nails gal, Tulip O'Hare, played by Ruth ("Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.") Negga and his best buddy Cassidy, played by Joe Gilgun, who just so happens to be a vampire. The series also stars Tom Brooke and Antoli Yusef  as guardian angels; W. Earl ("Deadwood") Brown as a roughened sheriff; Ian Collotti as the lawman's deformed, forlorn son; Derek Wilson as a raucous, church-going adversary; and Lucy ("Constantine") Griffins as an organist/single mom, who backs Custer's cause. Acclaimed character actor Jackie Earle Haley also has a recurring role. 


Cooper is a swell choice for the lead, holding a sturdy fan base as Marvel's Howard Stark in "Captain America: First Avenger" and "Agent Carter". His present presence in the DC dimension is likely to draw the same fantasy-friendly following. 

Considering AMC's track record with such groundbreaking shows as "Walking Dead", "Hell on Wheels" and "Breaking Bad", "Preacher" looks like a clinched hit. Time will tell, though, but I, for one, will be checking in, avidly absorbing the off-kilter proceedings. 

5 comments:

  1. There’s a dash of my “Flask of Eyes” in the prologue to “Preacher”. Didn’t realize that such was the case, for though “Preacher” was around long before I penned my tale, I became aware of the graphic novel well after its premiere. Still, the show seems to push matters in a different direction than what I include in my concept. That’s great, but it also makes me wonder: Where exactly will the AMC production go?

    Certain things have been promised in various “Preacher” press releases/reviews, but as with “12 Monkeys”, it appears it will take some time before these ingredients simmer and the promises delivered.

    I guess that’s all well and fine, but I also believe that if something is promised, with the implication that it will happen immediately, it should. Why must we wait several episodes for a particular plot device to materialize? There’s something insincere, if not fraudulent, in that approach.

    Still, I like “Preacher’”s offbeat feel. I believe (or hope, in any event) it’ll do justice to its good-vs-evil theme.

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  2. Caught the pilot a second time. It's a good lead-in, I should confess, setting up the characters as it does. I appreciate the doleful quality of Custer and his segments. There's a weird sort of dignity about such.

    The other segments are interesting, as well, rather in a Tarantino/Rodriguez vein, I suppose. That doesn't make the show "From Dusk Till Dawn" by any means, but the atmospheric conditions strike me as similar.

    There's also a spot of "Fargo" and "Ash vs Evil Dead" in there, which can only ensure the show's odd feel.

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  3. The second episode (alas after a week being skipped)was fulfilling: a good sign for a show's progression. I'm far more convinced now that the series is on the right track and anxious to follow it religiously.

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  4. For the most part, I've been enjoying "Preacher": the inherent Jekyll/Hyde conflict of the show, anyway, but it lost a big point when it used the death of a dog as a shocking plot twist.

    Hey, I gotta say, "Bates Motel" is just as guilty in this regard, but then again, at least "Bates" acknowledged the moment as something sad and awful, not just for sadistic kicks.

    "Preacher'"s use of the device just angered me. Sure, kill off as many humans as you want, guys, but when it comes to killing off animals, you're just gonna distance me. That's precisely what happened here.

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  5. Caught the show's finale. Reminded me of the "Star Trek" variations on "Wizard of Oz": "The Apple", "Way to Eden" and "Trek V: Final Frontier". Funny like "Trek V" and with a false projection of God at its heart, but on the whole, rather doleful and quirky like most of the series.

    Not sure what else may be in store. We'll see...

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