Riley Chow, Zach Laws, Tom O’Brien, Tony Ruiz and Amanda Spears debate the Emmy race for Best Movie/Mini Writing, where ‘Black Mirror’ and ‘American Crime Story’ hope to be the first anthologies in recent years to repeat. | 27July 2018
“Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” – “House by the Lake” – Written by Tom Rob Smith
Plot: Minneapolis architect David Madson is forced to go on the run with Andrew Cunanan.
Ryan Murphy’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” is a misnomer. The show was more about assassin Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss). It starts with the titular murder and works backwards to the impetus of Cunanan’s disturbances. The submitted episode works best as an engrossing two hander. David Madson (Cody Fern) conveys fear as his kindness places him in the hands of a murderer. It’s harrowing and engrossing. It walks into this category as the frontrunner. The first “American Crime Story” won this award two years ago. However, no other Ryan Murphy miniseries has won the category. Even “American Horror Story” wasn’t nominated until season three. Even if “Gianni Versace” runs away with the Emmys, it could stumble here, as frontrunners often do. If so, what is the buzzy crowd-pleaser that will take its place?
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“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” – “House by the Lake”
Garrett McElver, SuperMusicVision (The Tick, Seal Team)
Show: American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace – Music Supervised by Amanda Krieg Thomas
Episode 4 – ‘House By The Lake’
Song: “Drive” – The Cars (on-camera performance by Aimee Mann)
“Drive” comes about midway through the season, and as a viewer we’re just so traumatized by everything that’s happened (and what we know will happen soon) that this music moment really cuts through. It’s a great showcase of the collaboration between the writers, director, executive producers, music supervisor, and Aimee Mann herself, as they’re all accomplishing a lot with a big featured song moment with an on-camera performance. We feel so helpless for the character David as he’s essentially been kidnapped by his murderous ex-lover Andrew. David’s whole life has crashed down around him, and we know there’s really no way out for him. As Andrew and David stop in a local bar during their escape out of town, we see the incredible Aimee Mann as the evening’s anonymous performer, and she begins to play a rendition of the song made famous by The Cars. David considers escaping through the bathroom window but ultimately does not, in fear of not making it very far and because Andrew’s manipulative reasoning for staying has gotten to him.
While Andrew sits at the table watching this performance by himself, we get to witness one of the very few honest human emotions from Andrew as he breaks into tears. So much of Andrew’s story showcases how manipulative and fake he is, but in this moment, something comes out. I love that this song can really resonate with both characters in this moment. Lyrically applying to David feeling lost and trapped in this situation with no literal or emotional escape. Who is going to be there for him? Who will drive him home? And also with Andrew, who we can tell thinks he’s in the right, feeling alone in his own regard. He feels he’s lost David. Andrew has put himself into this situation where murdering those in his way is the only conceivable choice left in his mind. Who’s gonna pay attention to his dreams? Who’s gonna drive him home? Seemingly no one, as he feels woefully under appreciated by the world around him. He cries at the bar, but we know these are not tears of a lesson learned, it’s fuel for his continued spree to come. Aimee Mann’s performance captures this sense of loss and dread so beautifully and hauntingly. It’s heartbreaking, it’s frustrating, it’s unfair. It’s a great scene.
@tomrobsmith: Honored by the writing nomination for Episode Four of #acsversace titled “House By The Lake”. Special mention to director Dan Minahan. And to @maureen_orth for her non fiction book Vulgar Favors which the show dramatizes #EmmyNominations2018 @FXNetworks @ACSFX
1. ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ Episode 4: “House By the Lake”
With its fourth episode, The Assassination of Gianni Versace emerged as the show it had been trying to be. Without the gaudy trappings of the Versace family, producer Ryan Murphy and writer Tom Rob Smith turned their narrative eye towards the unbearably tragic murder of David Madson.
Darren Criss (as Andrew Cunanan) and Cody Fern (as Madson) turn in searing performances as killer and victim, respectively, anchoring the episode even as it takes a few flights of fancy. — Joe Reid
ACS news 