Tag: june 2018

Soundtrack review: The assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Mac Quayle – 2018) – Soundtrack dreams

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” is the second season of the FX true crime anthology television series American Crime Story. The season premiered on January 17, 2018, and concluded on March 21, 2018. It consists of a total of 9 episodes, and explores the murder of designer Gianni Versace by serial killer Andrew Cunanan, based on Maureen Orth’s book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History. Mac Quayle, the new composer of choice for Ryan Murphy shows, wrote the score.

The score starts boldly with an almost 8 minute long “Adagio in G Minor” which I imagine serves as a sort of elegy for Gianni Versace and somehow using such a familiar piece to open the score fits with the popularity and elegance of the designer. It’s the kind of deep, sombre orchestral piece hat cannot leave anybody unaffected. Mac Quayle’s original contribution starts with the theme for Donatella and it’s really my kind of cue, deeply ambient, just the kind Mac Quayle knows how to write so well; a mix of tenderness and mystery that always gets to me. It’s almost a Pavlovian like reaction for me to be hypnotized by these sounds. After hearing a little while ago Mack Quayle’s surprising score for “Feud”, so old school orchestral, I didn’t know what to expect from ACS; as an electronic music fan I am more than happy to discover a pure electronic ambient score that just flows and lets me get lost in it, very inviting to reflection. I get Zimmer vibes when I hear a cue like “All of them” (not just because of the title) as this sounds similar to his electronic sound as of late; it goes quite deep.

It is hard for me to be objective and clear minded when I listen to a score like this because this is the sound that’s closest to me, I can’t help it. Electronic ambient, with subtle nuances of suspense and sadness that break the mood every now and then; I don’t even care or notice where one cue ends and another one begins because it’s all just an ambient feast for me. I do notice “Idea to kill” because this is one of those cues where the craft of a composer really shines, because in keeping his sound and atmosphere he manages to evoke completely different and raw feelings, aggressive,violent, full dark.

Fans of Mac Quayle and fans of ambient electronic music will love this score for sure. I can’t wait to listen to it in context as well and see how it fits with the story, the investigation. Until then, Mac Quayle cements his place as one of the best electronic music composers right now.

Cue rating: 82 / 100

Highlights:
Adagio in G Minor
Donatella
All of Them
Autopsy
David Murdered
Interviews 
This Is Not for You
Calling Modesto
Another Stage

Soundtrack review: The assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Mac Quayle – 2018) – Soundtrack dreams

Conversations with Penélope Cruz of THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY

Q&A with Penélope Cruz of THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY. Moderated by Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly. 

Inspired by actual events, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story is the second installment of FX’s award-winning limited series, American Crime Story. 

 Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk, Alexis Martin Woodall, Dan Minahan, Tom Rob Smith, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski are Executive Producers of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. It is written by Tom Rob Smith, and Ryan Murphy directed the premiere episode of the series, which stars Darren Criss, Edgar Ramirez, Penélope Cruz and Ricky Martin.  The series is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Last Year’s Winner: Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: FX and HBO have both earned nominations in this category since 2012 (and HBO’s streak dates back to 2003).
Fun Fact: For the first time since “Downton Abbey” made the jump from limited series to drama series in 2013, not a single anthology series (or other franchise) that was nominated the year prior is in contention this year.

It’s the movie stars vs. the TV favorites in a surprisingly competitive Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie race. Penelope Cruz (“American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”) and Nicole Kidman (“Top of the Lake: China Girl”) are looking to crack in for respected turns in prestige projects; Cruz as the sister of a fashion icon who became a star, Donatella Versace, and Kidman as an Australian mother, Julia, whose story dovetails with Elisabeth Moss’ detective.

Meanwhile, Angela Lansbury — a three-time Oscar nominee and 18-time Emmy nominee — aims for her first statue from the TV Academy for her role in “Little Women.” (No, Jessica Fletcher was never rewarded for “Murder She Wrote.”) Last year’s winner Laura Dern — who has a pair of Oscar nominations herself — is back in the race for “Twin Peaks: The Return.” She’ll be competing against another former Emmy winner Merritt Wever, who took home the trophy in 2013 for “Nurse Jackie” (and hasn’t been back in the race since).

But even with these big names in play, there are plenty more heavyweights vying for slots. Ellen Burstyn hit all the right notes in a tricky performance for “The Tale” (as did Elizabeth Debicki, whose haunting turn leaves a lasting mark) and Jennifer Jason Leigh played a complicated victim over decades of narrative in the Showtime drama, “Patrick Melrose.” Naomi Watts is hoping voters look fondly on David Lynch’s Dougie storyline, and Judith Light hopes members are taken with “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” enough to nominate her and Cruz.

Throw in Julia Ormond (“Howards End”), Anna Paquin (“Alias Grace”), and Sharon Stone (“Mosaic”) — who would be locks in other years — and this competition is looking mighty fierce. Much like the rest of the Emmys, the final tally could come down to which shows are seen, remembered, and beloved; two (or more) nominees from one show aren’t out of the realm of possibility.

Below are IndieWire TV Critic Ben Travers’ predictions for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie (listed in alphabetical order), which will be updated throughout the season. Make sure to keep checking IndieWire for all the latest buzz and highlights from the 2018 race, and read predictions for the rest of the categories, as well.

Predicted Nominees:

  1. Ellen Burstyn, “The Tale”
  2. Penelope Cruz, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”
  3. Laura Dern, “Twin Peaks: The Return”
  4. Nicole Kidman, “Top of the Lake: China Girl”
  5. Jennifer Jason Leigh, “Patrick Melrose”
  6. Merritt Wever, “Godless”

Spoilers: Elizabeth Debicki, “The Tale”; Angela Lansbury, “Little Women”; Judith Light, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”; Anna Paquin, “Alias Grace”; Naomi Watts, “Twin Peaks: The Return”

In a Perfect World: Julia Ormond, “Howards End”; Julia Garner, “Waco”

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

Last Year’s Winner: Alexander SkarsgĂ„rd, “Big Little Lies”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: HBO won this category eight out of nine years between 2003 and 2011. Since then, as the race has gotten more and more competitive, the premium cable network has only won twice in the last six years.
Fun Fact: Only one actor has won multiple times in this category: Beau Bridges, for “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom” (in 1993) and “The Second Civil War” (in 1997).

Jeff Daniels is aiming to be a double nominee in 2018, as a lead actor in “The Looming Tower” and also in the supporting category for “Godless.” But in which category does the former winner have his best shot? On the one hand, “The Looming Tower” is getting quite the prestige push from Hulu, but “Godless” has proven to be popular and long-lasting. Fans are still buzzing over his one-armed turn as the villainous outlaw Frank Griffin.

There’s still a lot of competition in the best supporting actor race via the limited series and TV movies in competition. Daniels has a few of his peers from “The Looming Tower” coming at him, from Michael Stuhlbarg to Bill Camp (who was nominated in 2017) to Peter Sarsgaard. Stuhlbarg has an early edge — hopefully to make up for his “Fargo” turn being snubbed in 2017 — but two Hulu favorites could end up making the cut. That, or Daniels’ “Godless” co-star Scoot McNairy could snag a nomination, too.

If they don’t bump Daniels, there are plenty of contenders disconnected from the “Newsroom” star, too. Brandon Victor Dixon made quite a mark on audiences in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” as did Bill Pullman in the USA Network thriller “The Sinner.” Edgar Ramirez and Ricky Martin played a couple onscreen in “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”; could they score joint nominations to match?

They may have to fight off two impressive performances from a couple of HBO films. Jason Ritter may be playing a monster in “The Tale,” but the well-liked actor took a big risk and made the most of it. (Similarly, Hugo Weaving plays a very bad man in “Patrick Melrose,” but will voters look past the character and see the work done to bring his evil to life?) He’s more than deserving, as is Michael Shannon for “Fahrenheit 451.” The Chicago theatre veteran and Oscar-nominated big screen star created a nuanced new take on Captain Beatty.

Below are IndieWire TV Critic Ben Travers’ predictions for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie (listed in alphabetical order), which will be updated throughout the season. Make sure to keep checking IndieWire for all the latest buzz and highlights from the 2018 race, and read predictions for the rest of the categories, as well.

Predicted Nominees:

  1. Jeff Daniels, “Godless”
  2. Brandon Victor Dixon, “Jesus Christ Superstar”
  3. Edgar Ramirez, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”
  4. Jason Ritter, “The Tale”
  5. Michael Shannon, “Fahrenheit 451”
  6. Michael Stuhlbarg, “The Looming Tower”

Spoilers: Bill Camp, “The Looming Tower”; John Leguizamo, “Waco”; Ricky Martin, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”; Bill Pullman, “The Singger”; Peter Sarsgaard, “The Looming Tower”; Hugo Weaving, “Patrick Melrose”

In a Perfect World: Miguel Ferrer, “Twin Peaks: The Return”; Robert Forster, “Twin Peaks: The Return”; Scoot McNairy, “Godless”; Tobias Menzies, “The Terror”; Tahar Rahim, “The Looming Tower”

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie