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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A profound innovation in the American western, June 18, 2008
First, "Deadwood" has the most constantly profane and racist language, and graphic sex and violence I have ever seen on mainstream film. So, those who are offended by material of this nature should not watch. But if you can get past that, "Deadwood" is brilliant.
Let me begin by giving an example of the writing. In the following scene, Al Swearengen, Deadwood's ruthless leader, deplores the fact that the self righteous Sheriff, Bullock, is too involved in his adulterous affair with Alma (who controls a rich gold mine) to focus on the political struggles the community is facing in its attempt to be annexed into the United States. Swearengen watches Bullock leave the hotel after being with Alma. One of Swearengen's men remarks that Bullock means no disrespect. Swearengen replies:
"Horror is, you are f**kin' right. He don't know if he's breathin' or takin' it through f**kin' gills. He is that f**king c**t-struck. They're afloat. In some fairy f**kin' bubble, lighter than air, him, her snatch, and his stupid f**kin' badge...Self-deceiving c**k-sucker I am, I thought, when America took us in, Bullock would prove a f**kin' resource. Look at him, stridin' out like some randy, maniac Bishop."
"Deadwood" is a true western because it is the story of the creation of a community on the frontier. The town of Deadwood was born when gold was discovered in the Black Hills, lands ceded to the Sioux by treaty. All kinds of non-Native Americans, Europeans, and Chinese invaded the area. This action was illegal under the laws of the United States and, of course, considered grounds for war by the Sioux. So, the people who founded Deadwood, of every class, were all true outlaws. And Deadwood had no law but custom and the knife and gun. In three seasons, "Deadwood" tells the story of how the town was founded and ultimately annexed to Dakota Territory.
Many of the characters portrayed are based on historical personages. Formost among them is Al Swearengen the "Bloody King of Deadwood," who operated the town's first saloon and bordello. Swearengen is played by Ian McShane. It is the role of McShane's career and he is astounding. As the episodes progress, Swearengen's charachter evolves to amazing complexity, far beyond the simple villain he at first appears. We come to root with guilty pleasure for Swearengen, the murderer and whoremonger, and to admire his cunning as he allies with Bullock and others who attempt to hold their own against even worse and more powerful and morally corrupt forces; Cy Tolliver, the despicable overlord of a competing gambling house, Wolcott, mining engineer, serial killer of prostitutes and agent of the ruthless, implacable mining magnate, George Hearst, and against corrupt and idiotic politicians from Yankton who would deprive Deadwood's founders of political rights of self determination.
The thing I enjoyed most about "Deadwood" is the fact that it is brilliantly and blatantly Shakespearian. Scenes of high drama are artfully alternated with comic vignettes. A number of characters actually engage in soliloquies with strange yet understandable sentence structure. It is surprising and pleasing to see how well such scenes work in a western. For example, Swearengen keeps the head of a dead Indian in a box. When he is beset by fools, his lackeys, Swearengen, like Hamlet to Yoric, confides his feelings, questions and stratagems to "The Chief." In one such scene, Swearengen complains to The Chief about one of his men. Swearengen says:
"Dead, and without a body, you still outstrip him for intelligence."
There are a few pure and good souls represented in this savage work. Calamity Jane, played by Robin Weigert is a true Shakespearian "wise fool." In one of my favorite scenes (it made me laugh and cry) Calamity visits the grave of the murdered Wild Bill Hickock, who she adored. It is her custom each night to tell Wild Bill the news of Deadwood. On this night, she is joined by Charlie Udder, Wild Bill's other closest friend. She allows Charlie to tell Wild Bill the news. But he breaks down. He asks Calamity:
"Can I...can I tell `im some more tomorra?"
Calamity replies with kindness:
"Sure. What the f**k you askin' me for? I don't make the rules."
The scene is at once melancholy, hilarious, and profound. And there are many such scenes in this brilliant masterpiece.
"Deadwood" is an innovation, in the American western, so profound that it will be studied by many over time. Whether it will ever be matched is an open question.
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12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shakespeare meets Melville amidst "the Mud and the Blood and the Beer" of the Old West , March 15, 2008
Whether you buy it here, or rent it somewhere else (it IS pricey to purchase), elbow out some room at the top of your "must see" list for all three seasons of "Deadwood." It is ambitious in scope, with dialogue that could have come from Hamlet, had every line in Hamlet been peppered with one or more variations on the coarsest of obscenities.
Producer David Milch has accomplished something extraordinary for any mediium. "Deadwood" is populated with outrageous, over-the-top characters who are nevertheless believable and who continue to evolve throughout the narrative. The storyline builds with the power of Epic drama, a Medieval morality tale played out by pimps, prostitutes, Comstock Tycoons, saloon keepers, and hardware merchants.
Milch also has a wonderful instinct for revealing the complexity of his players. Sometimes a cocked eye, a single word, or fleeting physical gesture can hint at previously unsuspected dimensions in a character, whether central or peripheral to the story.
With a Wild West setting in the Dakota Badlands of the 1870s, every step taken by the characters in this series holds the possibility that they will sink into mud up to their ankles, as they try to pick their way through the maze of hastily cobbled together buildings, relationships, and moral dilemmas that make up "Deadwood."
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Compare Prices -Also Available In New Release and By Individual Season, November 8, 2008
So, I must confess. I am a "Deadwood" junkie. I have purchased the complete series and look forward each evening to spending time with these bigger then life characters based on the gritty mining camp of Deadwood(Don't call or come over between 10 and 11 PM, I will not answer the phone or door!).I even love sitting through the opening title sequence each and every time.
Legendary characters Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane mix in with the fictional characters who are some pretty gritty and most often lecherous people, who speak like they were brought up on the King's English, but may also set a new record for the most swear words in any program. There is also quite a bit of sex, nudity and violence. And although all of that only add to the "ambiance" of the setting, it is certainly not one for the kiddies or anyone who cringes at 4 letter(and longer) words.
Here is a little about the opening of the series, from there I was completely hooked.
Episode 1: "Deadwood"
"No law at all in Deadwood...is that true?"
This of course, is the episode that will introduce you and hook you on all the fun and the characters that grow throughout the series and grow on you.It will be hard to chose a favorite. They are all shall we say "charismatic" in their own special way...
Ex Montana Marshall, has rolled into town with business partner Sol Star. They open a hardware business for the miners of the camp. It isn't long before Bullock meets up with the legendary Wild Bill Hickok, and also is at odds with the owner of the "Gem" saloon, the formidable Al "pardon my French" Swearengen. Swearengen seems to be the Godfather of the the camp. He has his finger in every pie, and nobody seems to make a move without his approval. Al may at first rub you the wrong way with his crude style, but I have to say, that he has become my absolute favorite of the series. This episode has commentary with writer/creator David Milch as an option.
The muddy midway of Deadwood comes alive in this very real series. The cast of the series is marvelous. Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Jim Beaver, Brad Dourif, William Sanderson, Powers Boothe, and Keith Carradine(Wild Bill), will all draw you in immediately.The music is so good I bought the Season 1 soundtrack Deadwood: Music From HBO Original Series(see my review for details of the CD) that mixes short quotes from the series(also explicit) with some western style music and some great blues. Each episode runs about 50 minutes.
My 5 stars rating is for the entire series, each and every episode. By the way the clarity of the picture is excellent and the sounds of the Old West will come alive in your living room.
I bought each season individually as soon as they came out, but if you haven't got around to buying them yet, or if you know someone who would kill or die for this series for Christmas, check around for best deals. The deal is a good one at this time(I paid much more buying them separately,but now prices have dropped). Prices do change though so check each season separately as well when you are ready to order(take shipping, if any into consideration). You can also find the complete series rereleased for pre-order(at this time) here:Deadwood: The Complete Series.You can even sometimes find them sold by disc with a couple of episodes on each:Dead Wood: The First Season, Volume One - but this can get quite expensive. If you pruchase from an outside seller, keep in mind that you may have to pay shipping on each individual season, but buying the set, you only pay a single shipping charge once. DVDs have set shipping price no matter how many DVDs are in the order.
Check out this great series..be careful though, it's addicting!
Saddle Up for one heck of a ride and..."A Hell of a Place to Make Your Fortune"......Laurie
also recommended for western lovers:
Great American Western V.10, The
Goin South
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