Trust

So, I want to start by saying this series was fricken awesome! This was my first time hearing of this kidnapping, and it felt like I was in the 70's. Great cast as well, this is hands down a good show to binge with a friend or close loved one.

It's 1973. John Paul Getty (Donald Sutherland) rules his family and oil business empire with an iron fist. His guests have to use the payphone inside his home. When his son George kills himself in Hollywood, he squashes any suggestions of a suicide in the family. Every one of his children is a disappointment to him. He pits his family and his live-in mistresses against each other. His free-spirited 16 year old grandson J. Paul Getty III shows up at the family English compound for George's funeral. The grandfather is taken with his relatively smart grandson and installs him as his heir apparent. While they clash over his need for cash, they do bond over their womanizing ways. The boy's estranged father outs his hard partying ways and the grandfather disowns him. Back in Rome, the grandson is kidnapped by criminals for ransom. Gail Getty (Hilary Swank) is the kid's desperate mother. James Fletcher Chace (Brendan Fraser) is the Getty cowboy investigator.

Sutherland is superb. This is fun. It's rich people dysfunction and it's a kidnapping caper. It's a lot of great stuff. There was supposed to be a second season but I don't think we're getting it at this point. That's fine. This show is half acting and half story. I'm sure they could come up with a similar level of story but it was going to be hard to do this without Sutherland. As a limited series, this is a solid ten episodes.

This is a tragic but true story surrounding THE most wealthiest family in the entire world. J. Paul Getty during the 1970's WAS THE richest man in the entire world and he was portrayed in this biography by esteemed actor Donald Sutherland who bares an uncanny resemblance to the real J. Paul Getty.

The first episode titled, The House of Getty, focuses on the death by drugs and by harakiri suicide of J. Paul Getty's eldest son George. The aftermath of the suicide represents what this dysfunctional families inherent wealth and power breeds. After the funeral J. Paul Getty is witnessed alone in his room berating his remaining heirs that are his other four (4) sons, three (3) of which are simultaneously hiding in one of their fathers mansions bathrooms sharing a cigarette and talking negatively about why none of them want to accept the responsibilities that their now deceased brother George once held.

It is during the aftermath of George Getty's funeral that a dishevelled and inappropriately dressed teenager named John Paul Getty III shows up at his grandfather's mansion with a plan in mind to either request or steal sufficient funds from his grandfather that would allow him to return to Rome and continue partying which is where he most recently was residing and enjoying his young life.

Donald Sutherland's portrayal of J. Paul Getty the richest man in the world is electrifying and one of a man who lived and shared money like a miser would, with no friends, far too many ex-wives, five (5) sons and a harem of mistresses who reside in his mansion and are available to him on his beckon call 24 hours per day and night. The opening episode is far from the over the top opulence and skulduggery of such former TV series such as Dallas, Dynasty and Flamingo Road. Instead, we are witnesses to a Getty family and his servants and mistresses that are all fearful of the man at the very top and who tend to walk on eggshells around him, cautious not to say the wrong thing in his presence.

I was very impressed with this opening episode and I am looking forward to seeing in future episodes of this Tv mini-series how J. Paul Getty reacts to the news of his grandson's presumed kidnapping in Rome.

Every episode reminds you that the dialogue is well, pretty much fact - but I have a hard time not believing the show took extreme liberties with the facts. That said, I definitely enjoyed the series very much. It's one of those, "OK just one more...OK just one more then I'm going to bed. OK just one more..." things that keeps you up too late. Donald Sutherland is GREAT as J. Paul Getty and even resembles the original JPG. I'm going to give Donald a .362 score as related in baseball batting averages for the entire season. The next heavy hitter is Brendan Fraser as the likable Fletcher Chace, with a BA of .340 and a lot of dingers. Luca Marinelli as Primo is a SOLID 3rd baseman with a strong arm hitting .309 with zeero errors. Fine actor. Silas Carson as the butler is impeccable, a .325 hitter and an errorless season. Harris Dickinenson as JPG III was a touted first round pick but ended up hitting .234 with too many strikeouts. Much of the show takes place in Italy, where they speak Italian - so I read what they were saying. I'd say the whole Italian cast did a fantastic job, most outstanding - Primo - see above. Beautifully filmed, most scenes take place at The Mansion or in Italy. Watch it, you will like.

8 reviews thus far, that surprises me. It also doesn't surprise me at all. It is not fast paced, semi-funny, cheap Netflix content, therefore not appreciated.

The synopsis is very interesting, the story-line intriguing. The acting rock solid, no-one exempted. Characters al have proper backstories and are interesting from the get go. The pilot had all the ingredients of a great show.