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Film Discussion => The Small Screen => Topic started by: wilder on December 22, 2015, 04:09:07 PM

Title: Mindhunter
Post by: wilder on December 22, 2015, 04:09:07 PM
David Fincher To Direct Long Developing 'Mind Hunter' For Netflix
via The Playlist

2016 wasn't so hot for David Fincher. Sony moved on without the director for the further adventures of Lisbeth Salander and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" universe, while his projects at HBO, "Utopia" and "Videosyncrazy," both fell apart. But he's headed into the New Year with some very exciting news.

Deadline reports that Netflix has snapped up "Mind Hunter," the long developing project that Fincher has been brewing with Charlize Theron, which he will direct for the streaming service. The project first came on the radar back in 2010, ironically as a potential HBO series. It's based on John Douglas and Mark Olshaker's non-fiction book, "Mind Hunter: Inside The FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit," which follows Douglas' work as an FBI profiler tracking serial killers. At the time, "Dexter" writer Scott Buck penned a pilot, but after that, there was little development, though Fincher had long said it was still percolating.

Now, "Mind Hunter" has been revived. While Buck is not part of the latest iteration of the show, Joe Penhall has been tapped to write, with Theron executive producing alongside Fincher. There's also no word if, as he has done for "House Of Cards," Fincher will establish the tone and pass on helming duties to others, or if he will take on the whole thing himself.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: wilder on March 08, 2016, 02:42:33 PM
Netflix's 'Mindhunter' Starts Casting, David Fincher To Direct Premiere Episode
via The Playlist

After a half-decade kicking around in development, David Fincher's "Mindhunter" series is finally gearing up at Netflix. The streaming service ordered the show late last year, and now casting is underway.

TV Line reports that Jonathan Groff ("Looking," Broadway sensation "Hamilton") will star in the upcoming show. It's based on John Douglas and Mark Olshaker's non-fiction book, "Mind Hunter: Inside The FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit," which follows Douglas' work as an FBI profiler tracking serial killers, but aside from that, all other details are being kept under wraps. Much as he did on "House Of Cards," Fincher will direct the premiere episode and serve as executive producer. Charlize Theron is also involved as an executive producer on the show, but for now, it doesn't look like she'll be taking a starring role.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: ©brad on March 09, 2016, 05:27:00 PM
So much for no more serial killer projects.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: wilder on August 01, 2017, 02:31:57 PM


On Netflix in October
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: polkablues on August 01, 2017, 03:41:26 PM
"Investigator getting inside the heads of serial killers" is the most well-worn trope in all of modern fiction, but this looks fantastic regardless. Really feeling the Zodiac vibe in this trailer. I was worried that Groff is too lightweight for the material, but he doesn't seem out of place, even next to a powerhouse like Holt McCallany.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: RegularKarate on August 02, 2017, 09:45:28 AM
Quote from: polkablues on August 01, 2017, 03:41:26 PM
"Investigator getting inside the heads of serial killers" is the most well-worn trope in all of modern fiction

To be fair, the book Mindhunter is the source for all of the "Investigator getting inside the heads of serial killers" tropes. Will Graham, for instance is based on this guy.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: wilder on August 29, 2017, 07:11:25 PM
I don't know.


Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: ©brad on October 17, 2017, 09:05:54 AM
Quote from: wilder on August 29, 2017, 07:11:25 PM
I don't know.

Yeah I don't know either. This is shockingly mediocre for a Fincher joint. I knew from the uninspired title sequence we were in trouble (which is odd because Fincher is usually the king of title sequences if nothing else).

The dialogue is forced and wooden and just plain bad. Johnathan Groff's character doesn't make sense. There's a manic pixie dream girl who also doesn't make sense. There are predictable music choices. The pilot just ends with no climax or cliffhanger. It all feels very paint by numbers. I wish Fincher took more risks with the genre like Soderbergh did with The Knick.

That being said, episodes 3-4 get better. It's watchable and entertaining enough, just not essential.



Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: polkablues on October 17, 2017, 03:56:13 PM
Yeah, I pretty much agree. It's certainly not bad, it's just nowhere near as good as you'd like it to be. Groff and McCallaney are good, the actress from Fringe whose name escapes me at the moment is really good, the guy who plays Ed Kemper (the guy at the end of the clip wilder posted) is phenomenal. And I like the show's approach to the story; it's not really the "let's catch some killers" procedural I assumed it to be, it's more cerebral, more about how these characters are developing a new way of thinking about their investigations than about the investigations themselves. There is some crime-solving involved, but primarily to serve as obstacles to overcome in the evolution of their new methods.

But a lot of the writing is meh, the characterizations are inconsistent. ©brad is right about the song choices, there are some music drops in this show that will make you groan. The girlfriend character is a complete misfire. I don't think the woman who plays her is a very good actor, but it's hard to tell for sure because she's written so badly.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: diggler on October 18, 2017, 09:27:46 AM
The girlfriend stuff really puts the brakes on the show, to the point where I'm not sure what the point of her is. The minor characters are what make this. From the small town cops to Kemper, there are some great character actors chewing scenery. That's when the show is it's most riveting.

The "we can do both" in regards to solving murders as well as researching murderers sounds like the show declaring it needs to be more engaging. Are these guys investigators or researchers? The narrative feels a need to insert these guys into cases but the scenes like the ones with Kemper are interesting enough for me. It also looks fantastic.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: RegularKarate on October 18, 2017, 04:08:44 PM
I'm not expecting perfection and am really enjoying the show.
I agree about Holden's girlfriend seeming mostly pointless (I just finished episode 7 which hints that might change, but doesn't undo her previously pointlessness).

Quote from: diggler on October 18, 2017, 09:27:46 AM
The "we can do both" in regards to solving murders as well as researching murderers sounds like the show declaring it needs to be more engaging. Are these guys investigators or researchers?
You do know that Holden is based on a real guy who really did do both, right?
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on October 22, 2017, 02:12:41 AM
Halfway into the pilot. The writing, especially the dialogue, is shockingly bad. My favorite part was when the professor suspects he's being recruited, gets up and says "sign of the times, man," describing his own reaction. Really? Earlier in the episode, when Holden follows the lecturer to his car, they awkwardly chat about what a unique moment in history this is. Bizarre. And the entire subtitled conversation while the band played... so bad.

The girlfriend seems to be there to define Holden's character by simply describing him in dialogue and/or serving as a juxtaposition, representing "the counterculture," as they say. She has sass, but she's actually passive — just there to make Holden more powerful.

It gets better, right? When do they get into an actual case?
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: wilberfan on October 22, 2017, 11:14:44 PM
QuoteWith his new Netflix series Mindhunter creating quite a stir...

Really?  "quite a stir"?

The Problem With Modern Movies, Explained By David Fincher:  http://www.slashfilm.com/david-fincher-explains-the-problem-with-modern-movies/
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: RegularKarate on October 23, 2017, 02:33:56 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on October 22, 2017, 02:12:41 AM
It gets better, right? When do they get into an actual case?

Second episode is much better and I think it gets better from there (until a certain point).

You're dead on about his girlfriend though. Shame.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: ©brad on October 23, 2017, 04:29:16 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on October 22, 2017, 02:12:41 AM
Halfway into the pilot. The writing, especially the dialogue, is shockingly bad.

Fincher usually has a good ear for dialogue, which makes it all the more baffling. Hell I remember him advising Sorkin on dialogue for Social Network.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: polkablues on October 23, 2017, 05:20:35 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate on October 23, 2017, 02:33:56 PM
You're dead on about his girlfriend though. Shame.

Just finished the season last night. The show gets better, but that character never does.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Gold Trumpet on October 28, 2017, 11:57:56 PM
Yea, the show was very meh to me. While watching the show, I saw Fincher redo every standard of period piece filmmaking he established in Zodiac. This time he was just given a chance to do a version of that in longer form. All filmmakers enjoy certain types of stories and Mindhunter feels like Fincher returning to one of those. The show is fine in many senses and if Zodiac didn't exist, this would have felt more novel for him.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Alethia on July 30, 2019, 01:28:51 PM
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: ©brad on August 03, 2019, 02:06:22 PM
Quote from: polkablues on October 23, 2017, 05:20:35 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate on October 23, 2017, 02:33:56 PM
You're dead on about his girlfriend though. Shame.

Just finished the season last night. The show gets better, but that character never does.

I finally finished the first season two years later and agree with Polka. Also I'm reading rave reviews of this upcoming season. Fincher is back, and I'm optimistic we'll get a solid season 2 bump. Also that trailer was great.

I'm not convinced we'll ever get a show that comes close to filling the vacuum of GoT, so we have to get our fill with stuff like this.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: polkablues on August 03, 2019, 02:18:12 PM
The trailer gives me optimism that the producers are as aware as I am that Cameron Britton's perfomance as Ed Kemper is by far the show's strongest weapon.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Drenk on August 05, 2019, 08:36:54 PM


I don't understand how Manson enters the picture but I haven't even watched a second of this show, so...
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on August 17, 2019, 10:23:17 AM
https://twitter.com/DelroyCalloway/status/1162381399007084545
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Alethia on August 17, 2019, 11:48:27 AM
I'm six episodes in and am really digging it. 3 Finchers, 2 Dominiks...we'll see how Franklin wraps it all up.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Drenk on August 25, 2019, 10:34:53 AM


Kemper is very Kemper like.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: wilberfan on August 25, 2019, 11:18:16 AM
I thought episode 5, particularly the scenes interviewing Manson and Watson especially well-written and performed.  I think I've got 3 or 4 episodes left to see...
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Drenk on August 25, 2019, 12:24:58 PM
Mindhunter season 2.

Ugh, the subplot with the son of Bill is incredibly stupid; they really struggle to connect the personal lives with the work lives. I didn't really mind the girlfriend in season 1, even though everything that concerned her was in direct link with the cases, too. But it wasn't overdramatic. Not to mention that Bill's wife constantly sounds like a bot coming directly out of a misogynistic twelve years old boy.

Methinks they should simply stop with the personal stories.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Alethia on August 26, 2019, 11:17:07 AM
I have discovered that a most interesting real-life parallel to Mindhunter resides in the office I've been working in the past few months. Our UPM, an older American Spirit-smoking woman with a very wry sense of humor, revealed to me that she had produced back in the early 80s for HBO what was for all intents and purposes the first ever documentary on the subject of serial killers, the term having been only recently coined at the time. Chief among their interviewees was Mr. Edmund Kemper himself; all of the famous footage of him from that period - much of which provided a great deal of Kemper's dialogue in Season 1 - stems from this very documentary, therefore placing her right there in the room with him as he muses on all the nightmarish shit he made his name on. She claims they had a short-lived correspondence as well, this at the behest of whoever was treating him at the time, apparently in an effort to encourage healthier relationships with women. She also spent time and corresponded with Bundy, amongst a few other unfortunate notables. After telling me all of this, she turned to leave for the evening, then paused, chuckled, and said something under her breath to the effect of, "I oughta dig those out...".

Here's the doc, if interested:


Note: She has some cool credits as UPM and/or Producer: Leon: The Professional, Empire Records, Spanish Prisoner, a handful of Whit Stillman's....
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Drenk on August 26, 2019, 12:07:26 PM
The world of movies is small and entertwined with serial-killers. My, oh my.

I learned that Kemper threw darts to his mother face all night long. Fun guy. And he'll go, like, "this was the eventual product of the anger I developed over the years". No shit, Sherlock.
Title: Re: Mindhunter
Post by: Alethia on August 26, 2019, 04:58:49 PM
He also claims he buried the heads of co-ed's in his mother's garden out back, which her bedroom window looked out upon; he would bury them face-up, he says, because all her life "my mother wanted people to look up to her." What a wit, old Kemper.