Mindhunter

Started by wilder, December 22, 2015, 04:09:07 PM

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wilder

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.

wilder

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.

©brad

So much for no more serial killer projects.

wilder



On Netflix in October

polkablues

"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.
My house, my rules, my coffee

RegularKarate

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.

wilder


©brad

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.




polkablues

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.
My house, my rules, my coffee

diggler

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.
I'm not racist, I'm just slutty

RegularKarate

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?

Jeremy Blackman

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?

wilberfan

QuoteWith his new Netflix series Mindhunter creating quite a stir...

Really?  "quite a stir"?

The Problem With Modern Movies, Explained By David Fincherhttp://www.slashfilm.com/david-fincher-explains-the-problem-with-modern-movies/

RegularKarate

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.

©brad

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.