I've succumbed to the Netflix algorithm.
What I mean by that is I'm investigating the service's suggestions, which I always pooh-poohed. I seem to have seen all the low-hanging fruit, the best rated TV series of all time. I'm always hoovering for more, and it isn't an easy job, I need something that has great ratings, and therefor I started researching the international series that Netflix suggested and we ended up watching "Clark."
Sounds like an American show, I know. Maybe Clark Rockefeller, if you remember that scandal. But "Clark" is a Swedish show. And in addition to having an 83/81 rating on RottenTomatoes, my research raved about the cinematography.
This is the best cinematography I've ever seen in a TV series. I'm not sure I can think of better images in a movie. What I mean here is not richness, I'm talking about innovativeness. It's a feast for the eyes. Not hard to watch. If I tell you more... Hell, if you're interested, dive in.
So what you've got to know is "Clark" is a true story. It won't feel like one, it'll seem ridiculous, but it's very faithful to what actually happened in Sweden.
But we don't know what happened in Sweden, because we are Americans.
Well, Clark Olofsson invented Stockholm Syndrome. Well, let's just say the term resulted from his winning over hostages in a famous bank robbery.
Clark had a rough upbringing, and immediately turned to crime. Well, he turned to sex before that, but that's his life, one of hedonism and criminality. He's famous for robbing banks. There's not a lot of planning, but when he needs money... And of course he gets caught, but he's escaped jail numerous times (they say seventeen in the series, the internet is not quite sure of the number, but it's in excess of ten). Jail is just a place for him to chill out.
Clark is played by Bill Skarsgärd, one of Stellan Skarsgärd's eight children. He's a tall, imposing, good-looking guy, and you believe he has luck with the ladies, and can beat up people when necessary.
As for the women...
If you're a boomer, you'll remember the movie "I Am Curious (Yellow)." It was a phenomenon, because of the nudity and the sex. Now this is hard to fathom if you're a youngster with access to Google, never mind Pornhub, but that used to be a big deal, and "I Am Curious (Yellow)" was the breakthrough, because the nudity didn't override the concept, as in the film wasn't exploitive, it just didn't censor itself like American flicks. All this to say that the Swedes are uninhibited. Therefore there's nudity and sex and it's got a very real feeling, as opposed to what we normally see in America. And you have full-frontal male nudity too. But the women are not all perfect, and there are scenes of sex that ring true, especially with Clark's long time girlfriend Maria. So despite the hilarity, despite the broad strokes, there's a resonance.
And there's so much. Revolution, hippies, it is the sixties and seventies, even escape on a sailboat. And you're watching, laughing, thinking it's ridiculous, and then when it's over you go online to find that it is all true.
Now I don't want to ruin my credibility. If you're a novice, a newbie, if you just watch what HBO serves up, I wouldn't start your exploration with "Clark." But if you're a fan of international productions, if you realize that the best TV series come from overseas, and you can recommend a number of foreign productions off the top of your head, put "Clark" on your list. On some level, it's indescribable. You can only watch and laugh and be amazed. But in terms of cinematic experiences... What you've got here is a linear story, but within this framework there's a level of innovation in imagery that results in a great leap forward for TV series. If only there was this level of innovation in commercial music.
And one more thing... If you're a cheapskate and watching Netflix with ads... I don't understand it. Does your time mean that little to you? One movie in a theatre can cost more than Netflix's $15.49 a month. But having said that... I resisted paying the extra five dollars a month for 4k. I mean LG OLED is so good to begin with. But all new Netflix productions are in 4k, and even though it improves the experience less than 10%, it does add to your viewing pleasure.
And I'd buy an OLED set. Think about how much time you spend in front of the flat screen. Think of it like buying a stereo in the seventies. Or a computer in the nineties. You want the best. And if you watch streaming television, if you're even paying for Netflix, why not live large for so little money?
Now the standard for OLED is the LG C3. This model, with yearly updates, has reigned supreme for years, this is what everybody in Hollywood watches their productions on. There is finally a Samsung that challenges the LG...but if you know that, you probably don't need my advice. I recommend buying at least a 65" set. That size is large enough to allow you to blend with the picture. If you've got some bread, go larger. But once you go to 77" there's a big price jump, never mind 83." The rule of TV is to buy the biggest screen you can afford. No one ever buys a TV and says there's too much screen real estate, if anything they watch a new set for a while and wish they went bigger. Also, do not mount your TV high. The center of the screen should match the level of your eyes when you're sitting down, in your viewing position. (Having said that, OLED technology makes it so the picture is still good at an angle.) TVs are introduced in January, hit the market in the beginning of February, and are constantly marked down as the year goes on. The list price of the 65" LGC3 65" set is $2500, but even LG itself is now selling the set for $1900. And on Amazon you can get it for $1800. And they even sell it at Costco! The price will drop at least once more this fall, but at some point they will run out of sets.
LG: tinyurl.com/5cz89uua
Amazon: tinyurl.com/32b2bufk
P.S. I don't want to hear from the holier-than-thou giving me crap for recommending a TV set at this price. If you're proud you are poor, you've missed the message, the joke is on you. As for me...there was a time not that long ago when my eighties Sony was broken and I had to live without a TV at all. I like it better this way.
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