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Photo: Home Box Office
HBO premiered a new series last Sunday night, Hung. The show follows a teacher and basketball coach, Ray Drecker (Thomas Jane), whose life is falling apart. Drecker decides he must capitalize on the one asset he has, a large appendage that is accustom only to the male body. The series premiere held promise, a good script with talented actors. The show's impressive premiere was not a surprise considering the director and executive producer is Alexander Payne.
Payne is best known for his film Sideways, a film about two friends touring wine country on a drunken bachelor-party weekend. The two men are both down on their luck in most every way, and their trip turns into a very unexpected path of understanding. Payne is a master at capturing humanity in his films. Payne is consistent with his films as well, displaying a genius gift for narrative and real life. Payne's films About Schmidt, Election, and Citizen Ruth all deserve more attention, as they are some of the most authentic films of the recent past.
Jane is also an incredible talent. Jane, who has never been given the right role to really showcase his acting skill, is best known for The Punisher. Jane is an actor who is recognizable but not distinct appearing in many forgettable films (Deep Blue Sea, Under Suspicion). Hung, hopefully, can be Jane's chance to gain some deserved recognition.
Anne Heche has a supporting role in the series playing Drecker's ex-wife Jessica Haxon. Heche was once an in-demand actress who went completely cold following a tumultuous personal life. Payne may be the perfect director to work for considering he has resurrected some stalled careers with his films (Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Matthew Broderick). While Heche was once a notable film actress she has been almost completely absent from acting in the past few years, Hung could be her chance to resurface.
Hung might be the next great HBO series, it would be in good company (Entourage, In Treatment). HBO makes television shows that are more like extended films; they are of a higher caliber (The Sopranos, Six Feet Under). If anything, Payne would be the driving force behind a successful show, and Hung seems like it could be authentic as well as addicting. Aided by talent such as Jane and Heche, Hung has massive potential, and while it is a television show, the series has the backing of a masterful filmmaker.
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