JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonCalifornication – Season 1 (2007)
July 30th 2008 00:02
Sex and Drugs in a Souless City
''Now you're giving me that look, right now like I finger-banged your cat.''– Hank Moody
L.A that internationally renowned world of hedonistic excess, cesspool of artificial physicality and superficial intellect is no place for a gifted writer. Temptation and distraction are on every corner with an abundance of empty sexual encounters and excessive servings of illegal substances easier to come by than a can of Coke. (That’s the Cola kind)
Into this world comes Hank Moody (David Duchovny), a talented New York novelist whose most acclaimed work “God Hates Us All” has just been butchered by the Hollywood machine and of course has become a monster hit.
''Sweet baby Jesus, Hank is going to hell.'' – Hank Moody
In a state of perpetual self loathing he has destroyed a decade long relationship with true love Karen (Natascha McElhone). Heartbroken he is detached from his 12 year old daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin), the spawn of the union.
When he’s not pumping bimbos, getting high and throwing fists he struggles to maintain some presence in his daughters life while relentlessly pursuing Karen, despite her rejection.
The series begins with Hank already spiralling in a nihilistic lifestyle that would leave Caligula envious. The Muhammad Ali of verbal sparing, he attempts to numb the emotional pain and limitless disappointment with obnoxious observations, vacant trysts and pill popping, nose snorting marathons. This is a man who dreams of getting deep throated by nuns and manages to bust the cherry of the 16 year old daughter of Karen’s new fiancé.
“You can't snort a line of coke off a woman’s ass and not wonder about her hopes and dreams, it's not gentlemanly.” – Hank Moody
Professionally crippled Hank hasn’t written a word in months and yearns for inspiration, instead what he gets is a job blogging for Hell A magazine.
“People just seem to be getting dumber and dumber. I mean we have all this amazing technology and yet computers have turned into basically four figure wank machines. The Internet was supposed to set us free, democratize us, but all it’s really given us is Howard Dean’s aborted candidacy and 24-hour a day access to kiddie porn, you know. And people don’t write anymore, they blog; instead of talking, they text; no punctuation, no grammar. LOL this and LMFAO that. You know it just seems to me that it’s just a bunch of stupid people psuedo-communicating with a bunch of other stupid people in a proto-language that resembles more what cavemen used to speak than the king’s English.” – Hank Moody
John Doe’s Says:
Bawdy and brave, an exercise in colourful vocabulary, this misunderstood creation may contain an abundance of nudity and drug use, but it’s the exploration of character subtleties that make it such a rich experience.
The debeauch comedy is a surface attraction, just beneath lurks a study in the dynamics of strained human relationships, the shallowness of new millennium culture and the futility of meaningless liaisons.
David Duchovny is immediately recognized for his contribution to the pop culture lexicon as Fox Mulder but you don’t have to look too deeply into his filmography (Kalifornia, Playing God, Trust The Man) to see that he is far more than just a one trick TV personality. No stranger to nudity care of his early work on the hot and heavy Red Shoe Diaries, he brings a fearless vulnerability and tenderness to a role that at first glance should have us hating him. In Duchovny's hands we can see the raw charm and shrouded affection that keeps Karen on the line and makes women swoon. His dry sense of humour that comes through in press interviews serves him well and makes Hank Moody an unforgettable symbol of self sabotaging genius.
The elegant Natascha McElhone’s (Ronin, Laurel Canyon, Solaris) classy and natural beauty serves to juxtapose the surgically enhanced bevy of L.A bred flesh. Her soft and reserved presence again always at the forefront of why she differs from all the other woman who bounce on Hank’s bodice.
Evan Handler as Hank’s agent Charlie is the perfect foil to Duchovny’s “rude, crude obscene dude.” (A Hook reference, maybe I should shoot myself in the testes now)
Madeline Zima as the Lolita Mia is impossible to ignore. Coming a long way from the role of Gracie on the televised abortion known as The Nanny. Macaulay Culkin’s ex wife Rachel Miner (Bully, Black Dahlia) as Charlie’s Maggie Gylenhaal channelling S&M assistant earns the moniker of pansexual goddess.
Smartly written with acerbic skill and an eclectic soundtrack of worthy covers Californication has become JD’s latest addiction. Johnny may have been late to the party but now he is shooting back Martinis with slippery nipple chasers playing catch up and is currently in an inebriated puddle of fandom obsession.
The Showtime Trailer for the series
The first scene of Californication - Hank, The Stones and god
Some highlights from the first show
Behind the Scenes of Californication
Available on DVD in Australia
''Now you're giving me that look, right now like I finger-banged your cat.''– Hank Moody
L.A that internationally renowned world of hedonistic excess, cesspool of artificial physicality and superficial intellect is no place for a gifted writer. Temptation and distraction are on every corner with an abundance of empty sexual encounters and excessive servings of illegal substances easier to come by than a can of Coke. (That’s the Cola kind)
Into this world comes Hank Moody (David Duchovny), a talented New York novelist whose most acclaimed work “God Hates Us All” has just been butchered by the Hollywood machine and of course has become a monster hit.
''Sweet baby Jesus, Hank is going to hell.'' – Hank Moody
In a state of perpetual self loathing he has destroyed a decade long relationship with true love Karen (Natascha McElhone). Heartbroken he is detached from his 12 year old daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin), the spawn of the union.
When he’s not pumping bimbos, getting high and throwing fists he struggles to maintain some presence in his daughters life while relentlessly pursuing Karen, despite her rejection.
The series begins with Hank already spiralling in a nihilistic lifestyle that would leave Caligula envious. The Muhammad Ali of verbal sparing, he attempts to numb the emotional pain and limitless disappointment with obnoxious observations, vacant trysts and pill popping, nose snorting marathons. This is a man who dreams of getting deep throated by nuns and manages to bust the cherry of the 16 year old daughter of Karen’s new fiancé.
“You can't snort a line of coke off a woman’s ass and not wonder about her hopes and dreams, it's not gentlemanly.” – Hank Moody
Professionally crippled Hank hasn’t written a word in months and yearns for inspiration, instead what he gets is a job blogging for Hell A magazine.
“People just seem to be getting dumber and dumber. I mean we have all this amazing technology and yet computers have turned into basically four figure wank machines. The Internet was supposed to set us free, democratize us, but all it’s really given us is Howard Dean’s aborted candidacy and 24-hour a day access to kiddie porn, you know. And people don’t write anymore, they blog; instead of talking, they text; no punctuation, no grammar. LOL this and LMFAO that. You know it just seems to me that it’s just a bunch of stupid people psuedo-communicating with a bunch of other stupid people in a proto-language that resembles more what cavemen used to speak than the king’s English.” – Hank Moody
The loves and hates of Hank
John Doe’s Says:
Bawdy and brave, an exercise in colourful vocabulary, this misunderstood creation may contain an abundance of nudity and drug use, but it’s the exploration of character subtleties that make it such a rich experience.
The debeauch comedy is a surface attraction, just beneath lurks a study in the dynamics of strained human relationships, the shallowness of new millennium culture and the futility of meaningless liaisons.
David Duchovny is immediately recognized for his contribution to the pop culture lexicon as Fox Mulder but you don’t have to look too deeply into his filmography (Kalifornia, Playing God, Trust The Man) to see that he is far more than just a one trick TV personality. No stranger to nudity care of his early work on the hot and heavy Red Shoe Diaries, he brings a fearless vulnerability and tenderness to a role that at first glance should have us hating him. In Duchovny's hands we can see the raw charm and shrouded affection that keeps Karen on the line and makes women swoon. His dry sense of humour that comes through in press interviews serves him well and makes Hank Moody an unforgettable symbol of self sabotaging genius.
The elegant Natascha McElhone’s (Ronin, Laurel Canyon, Solaris) classy and natural beauty serves to juxtapose the surgically enhanced bevy of L.A bred flesh. Her soft and reserved presence again always at the forefront of why she differs from all the other woman who bounce on Hank’s bodice.
Evan Handler as Hank’s agent Charlie is the perfect foil to Duchovny’s “rude, crude obscene dude.” (A Hook reference, maybe I should shoot myself in the testes now)
Madeline Zima as the Lolita Mia is impossible to ignore. Coming a long way from the role of Gracie on the televised abortion known as The Nanny. Macaulay Culkin’s ex wife Rachel Miner (Bully, Black Dahlia) as Charlie’s Maggie Gylenhaal channelling S&M assistant earns the moniker of pansexual goddess.
Smartly written with acerbic skill and an eclectic soundtrack of worthy covers Californication has become JD’s latest addiction. Johnny may have been late to the party but now he is shooting back Martinis with slippery nipple chasers playing catch up and is currently in an inebriated puddle of fandom obsession.
The Showtime Trailer for the series
The first scene of Californication - Hank, The Stones and god
Some highlights from the first show
Behind the Scenes of Californication
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
You've pretty much summed up what I too think about it,
p/s...good review!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Yes I will have to lend you a copy for sure, there is much I know you will laugh at.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Thanks for the compliment...so in the end did you enjoy the show?
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I was hesistant about Duchovny at the start too, but I really like this series, it reminds me a lot of the early days of Sex and the City, with the sting in the story and some great lines. (Plus at least three actors in this also featured in Sex.)
I read an interview the other day with Duchovny saying the sex and language aren't gratuitous, and I agree. There's always something else going on, and humour is the intent, not pornography.
One of the characters I really think is great is the daughter, that girl does a great job. She looks like she really could be their daughter, and pulls of that 'cynicism of youth' very well.
Mich
Comment by Cheryl J
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability
Great review. I may have to revisit the series on DVD.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
One question:
the math doesn't work out....plus I'm a major nerd, hahaha!!
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
This is my favourite TV show. I'm really fond of Hank, particularly the author he's based off, Charles Bukowski (well, one of his protagonists anyway - Henry "Hank" Chinaski). Season 2 in September!
Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
The wonderful Peter Yang's Variety blog
Power Ranger Online
Comedy TV Online
Cheers
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
You cut me deep by comparing Sluts in the City to Californication, begrudgingly I can see a faint through line....though i never saw any wit, character complexities or intelligent writing in it. ( I only lasted a few episodes of SIC and that was only to ogle Kristin Davis)
Totally with you on appreciating Madeline Martin who plays Becca...talented beyond her years like a young Christina Ricci.
I had a hard time stopping writing on this review and had to draw the line somewhere, personally I think all the cast do an exceptional job.
As for claims of gratuitous sex and language, I agree completly, there is never a time where the dialogue and explicit scenes waver from tforwarding the characters.
As always a pleasure to have your company.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
i was sure I would not be alone in loving this show.
I am ashamed to admit I watched all 12 episodes 3 times in one week so i could memorize some dialogue for real life occassions.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Good pick up there, obviously my wording was lacking on that paragraph. Will have to rewrite it when i get some time…just to clarify Hank breaks up with Karen sometime before the series begins and they are already a fractured family in the pilot episode.
I am sure you will get a laugh from it and in no way does it glamorize the LA scene, the opposite in fact. It an indictment of the emptiness.
Thanks for keeping me on my toes
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Californication is just my latest obsession. There is so much quality out there in the last few years with Entourage, Dexter, Deadwood and Curb Your Enthusiasm etc I find it impossible to cite a favourite.
It's interesting that the writer of the show Tom Kapinos penned Dawsons Creek and Hank became a venting of his pain at being attached to such fluff crap, he felt dirtyt doing it but it paid well.
The beat poets will rock forever.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Even if you've seen it before, it's a good laugh:
Mel Brooks' "The Birds" parody
Off to share with Bryn next. Any Hitch fan can appreciate this...
Comment by Nathan 1
haha this sounds pretty entertaining. Could Duchovny be playing a more corrupted version of his performance in Evolution. it's always fun to see decadence on screen as long as there is some kind of philosophical backbone to justify it. Nice detailed review man.
Comment by Meggie
TV Chit Chat
PS-Some days I feel like Hank. Is blogging the best I can do as a writer? LoL
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The Birds already made me laugh, but that parody is classic in its own right. I love High Anxiety!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Judging from your writings there is much you will find amusing in Californication. Corrupt indeed, a misunderstood genius.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Appreciate you dropping in and happy a californication fan like yourself digs the review.
Blogging is indeed the lowest form of writers
witwork