No, I'm not a shill, but I did type this originally for the FOX forums, I'd like to get the word out, because so many NOLA films aren't this good, and/or full of potential. Let's keep it from being canceled, and watch it grow!
(7/10 now, perhaps better after I see a few more episodes)
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For once, I think this series on NOLA has potential, others have tried, and, well, were quite horrible.
First off, here's what I like : Though not perfect, they've actually got a lot of the lingo down, something a native might not pick up on so much, but when you're from New Orleans, and have since lived all over the U.S. and the world, you become impressed with the volume of your original, indigenous language.
They've got awesome uniforms, which, by law, must be at least slightly varied from real ones. Hell, I'd buy one.
They did an eerily good job on the outdoor Katrina-flashbacks, that include the characters.
They try to (and usually succeed) in adding a 'The Shield' - style action to the episodes, without stepping on actual toes, yet addressing real and/or suspected goings-on in post-K New Orleans.
The protagonists and antagonists aren't a bunch of ultra-unrealistic sex symbols, overcompensating in style, detracting from the story, they're realistic.
The cons? Forgivably few.
The juxtapositions of chase scenes, from the Quarter to Algiers under the bridge, back to the old River City casino lot, and back to Uptown... in one straight scene? There's scenic ways around that, easily, and if not location-wise, there's ways to shoot it where belief doesn't get suspended by locals.
The overuse of the word 'gumbo.' The accents are wonderfully varied (as they are in NOLA,) but there's too much drawl, and not enough '9th ward' and/or 'Yat' accents, depending on who they're talking to.
- All in all, being a writer, I can see a LOT of storyline potential here, hell, I could give a season's worth away.
I think they should work on the accents, I think they should include a lot more local talent (from Morning 40 Federation, Rock City Morgue, Gal Holiday, Suplecs, Galactic, etc....) It's too soon to deconstruct further, since I'm sure there's upcoming episodes that go into character development and background, some supporting cast (the other cops) having their own prominence in an episode, and, well, what I like to call the 'overcomplicated' episodes that are a thrill ride of possibilities, and turn out quite simple, due to character's overthinking... those episodes, if done right, can flesh out a character very, very well, and stretch their usual acting style.
- Most NOLA films are cheesy (No Mercy, Big Easy, Hard Target, Candyman 2, The Big Easy (TV,) Live and Let Die, and that latest one with Denzel Washington... and others that are actually good, like Angel Heart, The Pelican Brief...
...this one has a lot of potential, but is already far ahead of the game over most of New Orleans-filmed material.
Right now, they've got a lot of homework done, they've set a good stage, they've got a good cabal of actors, they've got good advertising, and they're local-conscious in their story lines...
...I wish them the best, and I'll watch.
If I were still in New Orleans, presently, I'd hit them up for a small job. :)
