A very high-quality and suitable TV series from the directors of top serial projects with Billy Bob Thornton himself in the title role (his hero is also called Billy).
A rather grim mixture of court drama, detective and thriller.
The main character, once very successful, but now a downtrodden lawyer. Billy’s view of life is cynical and sarcastic, but there is some paradoxical, very strong sense of responsibility, justice and dedication.
Noisy Albanian - a small lawyer and broker with a strange name Petty Solis-Popeigen draws Billy into the trial of a case related to the suicide of a man. The case against a large law firm, which is now headed by the former companion of the protagonist, and now the sworn enemy of the sinister Donald Cooperman and which works ex-wife Billy Michelle (she is good). Billy attracts his friend - a beautiful prostitute with legal skills Brittany Gold.
It turned out to be much more complicated than it initially seemed, and the big sharks of American capitalism were involved.
The fierce confrontation of the strange group of Billy and monsters of corporations came out on the screen dynamic, rather twisted and with periodic deaths. In general, of course, the plot too divided the sides into black and white, clearly indicating who is on the side of good and who is obvious evil. That makes everything look a little naive. But as a result, the first season was exciting and the role of Thornton suited very well. Definitely a hit.
The second season slightly changed the atmosphere and became a detective thriller. The main character is involved in a murky and certainly dangerous case to protect a teenager associated with drug trafficking and corrupt police officers. At first it seemed that the season was weak, the melodrama was shoved, but then the plot began to spin and became even more bloody and dynamic. But overall, the atmosphere of the first season was probably cooler. Although the second one turned out to be normal. You can also see slight criticism showing problems with corrupt American politicians.
The third season immediately without sharing dipped into a purely detective story, obviously associated with corruption, with a certain touch a la Twinpeaks mysticism, which we immediately hinted at the episodic role of Sherilyn Fenn. She died very quickly and dramatically. Everything revolves around the travails of large landowners, wasteful use of water resources in the southern United States. Indirectly, again, there is a critique of the beauty of capitalism, where even the violation of federal laws will be completely ignored until the intervention of professional private lawyers. And such lawyers are very expensive, well, or you should be in a fairy tale where there is crazy Billy.
In general, a beautiful demonstration of the modern attitude of the state to the problems concerning the non-rich segments of the population. Of course, we will punish if anything, but this is help yoself.
The third seasonman came out meditative-hallucinogenic-trip. It is plot-based, but the overall less dynamic atmosphere many viewers did not like. I think it was pretty good, though.
I'm looking forward to Season 4. Judging by the trend, all his demons will drag behind the main character and may even dance on the lid of his coffin. He's indestructible.
The genre of detective is one of the most popular for filmmakers, if not the most. On our screens, hundreds of different characters solved thousands of different mysteries around the world. Policemen, jurors, casual passers-by all feel their ability to unravel tangles of secrets of any scale. The same ambition turned out to be the character of Goliath – a successful lawyer who has sunk to the bottom in the past, confronting the powerful. Of course, the plot does not burn with originality and such a concept has been considered many times and I will not say that the series gives something much new: we have all seen, we all know, do not know only the details and in the details of us and are going to surprise: the subtle nuances of lawsuits and laws launched into the complex storylines of a lawyer, his ex-wife, his assistants and the huge law firm opposing them. Military organizations, politicians, drug dealers, the mafia will resist so that the lawyer will not find the truth.
The series itself knows about the secondary base and does not intend to provide the viewer with a tear of the fifth wall and becomes a cult substitute for a real detective. That's what buys. A simple and sensual series that does not chase stars from the sky can easily make the evening much more interesting. The series look in one breath, well-written characters, albeit sometimes cartoonish, buy. Pleasant directing, cinematography and sound will cause only positive responses, and scenario finds and turns will be to the liking of both the sophisticated viewer and the novice connoisseur of detective stories and TV series. I would especially like to note the main star of the series - Billy Bob Thornton, the actor looks above all praise reliably and very noticeable, how the role corresponds to the life path of the actor. The actors evoke deep empathy and a great emotional connection with each of them. Certainly worth the attention of those who are tired of watching AAA projects that dream of becoming TV series of the year. While there are only 2 seasons, however, judging by the positive response of the audience, the continuation will be.
7 out of 10
No longer young for battle, not yet old for victory
When life seems to be over and it is time to retire. When a boring and dull life begins, in these moments you need to remember the main thing - you are not who you think you are at the moment.
The life of an elderly lawyer is going down, daily drinking creates the impression of not quite happy person. His wife has long since left him and sees no further meaning in his relationship with him. The only person who still loves him is his growing daughter.
Billy is no longer the lawyer he used to be famous for, until he was approached for help by a girl who decided to unearth a major case.
In the first season, there is an investigation into the mysterious death of an ordinary fisherman.
In the second season, there is an investigation in the case of a teenager suspected of committing a crime, which smoothly flows into a major drug cartel case.
When I started watching, I didn’t expect to be drawn so quickly by Billy and the rest of the characters. I loved Billy Bob Thornton from fargo. And from here, watching the behavior and conversations of the main characters is just great! Of course, I watched on the Internet in a good professional translation (in places with profanity) that I advise you, as the atmosphere really feels good when words are translated in the way that this scene requires.
The story reflects well what a real series should be, it is pleasant to see the realism of what is happening. There are no over-the-top people who are easy to do, no 007. It is shown as it can be in life in reality. I liked the soulful, life conversations of the actors, which undoubtedly adorns the whole series as a whole.
I advise everyone who loves detectives with intrigue and unexpected twists in the plot.
10 out of 10
While everyone is singing odes to the series “Ozark”, calling him the heir to “Breaking Bad”, I want to advise you “Goliath” – a criminal serial story about a drunken lawyer from Los Angeles performed by Billy Bob Thornton. The protagonist, despite his outward negativity and rare stay in a state of undisturbed alcohol consciousness, shows wonders of insight and perseverance, almost alone confronting a huge corporation (season 1) and a drug cartel (season 2). The battle is not without casualties, which adds tension and drama to the plot. In the assistants of the lawyer are a eccentric colleague, prone to self-digging prostitute and cheerful fat girl in the role of secretary.
The series attracts not only the opportunity to witness on the screen Billy B. Thornton, which in itself can be a sufficient reason to watch, but also an excellent humor that dilutes the tense, rushing at all pores action. In both seasons, the script is well written, avoiding the “provises” and the desire to rewind the image. At every corner there is an unexpected incident, radically changing the overall picture and the plans of the heroes. If season 1 is more like a classic lawyer detective with many scenes from the courtroom and shown the inside out of the profession, then season 2 in its style is closer to the already mentioned “Breaking Bad” or “Murderer” Villeneuve – a description of the cruelty and power of Mexican drug cartels sweeping everything on the way to their goal.
For all its dynamism and brutality, the series is not without a romantic line. The main character is surrounded by women’s attention, like an animator at a children’s holiday with naive carapaces. But, as befits a real hero of an American action movie, only a daughter is available, leaving a vacant place in his heart for another fatal lady. The periodic change of these friends also leaves an imprint on his fascination with strong drinks, and therefore the image of a sad gray booze with a bottle in his hand, pensively looking into the distance, against the background of a troubled night ocean, only slightly illuminated by the lights of a huge sleeping metropolis, is repeated almost in every series.
As a result, Goliath is a beautiful detective action series with a bright main character, an interesting script and beautiful views of the coast of Los Angeles. Suitable for fans of Fargo, Ozark and Breaking Bad, as well as personal fans of Billy Bob Thornton.
9 out of 10
The series runs along the "acceptable" line. Absolutely not a masterpiece, operating long-known and stable schemes, completely in the "Grisham" trend, the series frankly and honestly relies on the central actor. Billy Bob is good and quite an average role because of the charisma makes it impressive, but the rest of the actors and roles for them are selected on the principle of “retinue”. This also applies to Hurt, whose image is taken directly from noir and disharmonizes with the style of the film. A couple of plot twists are worthy of respect, but as in most noirs, the question remains unanswered: with such superpowers of the opponent, why would it be easy and without plots to kill the hero? I confess that the scene in which the character of Billy Bob directly impersonates the judge and, pursuing indirect goals, accuses him in the blue eye of corruption, is surprising. The court system is such that it can get away with it easily.
I was also surprised by this circumstance. Movies where the principled lawyer toppled in court Goliath, a car and a small cart. The recipes for victory are also limited: either someone in the enemy’s row split, or a superconfluence of circumstances and evidence appears in the finale. As a rare option: the lawyer pushes such a speech that the jury is directly shocked and everything gets upside down. There's nothing like that in Goliath.
And the outcome of the trial is absolutely amazing.
One of the best series of 2016, in my opinion, almost does not appear in one of the tops, which is understandable hardly anyone is waiting for a masterpiece from Amazon. However, the main role in the series is played by Billy Bob Thornton, which in itself should have attracted attention, especially after a brilliant role in Fargo.
But everything in order. The plot of the series is not new and revolves around a lawsuit against a large corporation. In this regard, it is worth noting very interesting plot twists around the trial, when the opposing parties exchange mutual blows and most importantly, that the viewer is not drowned in legal subtleties, and he is very clear from what he gets great pleasure.
All the characters of the film are perfectly worked out and played, from the hero of Billy Bob to the main antagonist played by William Hurt. They do not look boring and bland, as in most films of this genre, but have their own unique image, which gives the series a peculiar and very pleasant entourage.
In general, the series looks very pleasant and not intrusive. It is worth noting that it is not artificially tightened, and therefore quite dynamic and attracts to itself as a result of the unusualness of some heroes, which, as I said, gives a kind of pleasant entourage.
Of the disadvantages, in my opinion, it can be noted only that the series somewhat lacks scale and unexpected plot twists. Some of the characters and riddles of the narrative are not fully disclosed, which, however, may be the subject of the upcoming seasons, which I hope will be.
8 out of 10
I cannot say that this is one of the most successful representatives of the criminal-judicial genre (if such a genre exists at all). The main thing, in my opinion, is the picture. For the hundred-twenty-third time, I repeat that I cannot get rid of the feeling of envy and bewilderment - why do our filmmakers, if they cannot come up with anything original, not adopt the experience of Western operators? Is it really difficult to fill in and build a multifaceted frame, is the technique of controlling drones so complex that it is scary to break away from the ground? In Goliath, the image is beautiful and voluminous, and this alone justifies the time spent on the series. Your eyes should be beautiful too. Not Fargo, of course, but very professional and attractive. As for the plot, the kindred in spirit of TV series and films is stamped hundreds - a marginal lawyer / investigator enters into confrontation with a powerful system and sometimes wins, and sometimes loses. So in "Goliath" once brilliant (let's take the authors at their word) lawyer Billy sips whiskey in the bar, in pauses between states of complete intoxication, interrupted by random affairs. This place became his office and second home. And, perhaps, the first, because he does not have his own house, and a sloppy hotel can only be called such conditionally. And then one day he is offered to engage in a strange and vague business - the alleged suicide of an employee of a large company engaged in the development of weapons. The situation becomes piquant due to the fact that in the legal field protects the interests of this company law firm, one of the founders of which was Billy and whose name still adorns its name. The battle of David, aka Billy, and Goliath has begun.
The atmosphere of the series will be easier to describe briefly - Billy Bob Thornton starred in the title role, which means that there will be a leisurely development of the plot with the significant silence of the hero and with his equally significant and slow movements. I have such an undercurrent of B. B. Thornton’s films. Even the aforementioned Fargo series did not break my stereotype. It so happened that most of the other memorable characters in the series are given to women. Their roles, unlike the male ones, turned out to be lively and bright, and the characters are written and memorable. The main antagonist and enemy of Bill, like the wizard of the Emerald City, locked himself in a dark room and accessible for direct contact only to especially close people, produces not an ominous, but rather a strange impression.
In crime and court films, a jury trial usually becomes apotheosis, all previous storylines are brought together, the process places the final points in sentences. Unsuccessful implementation can destroy all the intensity of the passions that have boiled until now. In Goliath, I didn’t like the action in the courtroom. I remember the duel of the defense and the prosecution in one of the seasons of Broadchurch and regret that the British were much more convincing in demonstrating methods of manipulating the minds of the jury. In Goliath, it turned out somehow crumpled, fragmentary, underdeveloped. While the defense arguments are very revealing – large corporations are said to be donors of the budget and provide jobs to thousands of Americans – the weapons that the corporation makes are used to fight terrorism, and in general, they act on the basis of American values and protect them, because at the heart of these values is the truth. All the speculative pathos of speaking in defense of the truth are based on lies, but this is the law of the game - the main victory for which all means are good.
I do not want to reveal the secrets of the finale, I will only say that it did not go beyond the Hollywood tradition. I cannot call the series weak, it is good enough and well tailored, but it did not become a breakthrough, so I will leave it at the level of just good series in my genre.
Court dramas with the plot - "a lone lawyer alcoholic in a divorce begins a fight against a powerful corporation" are filmed almost more often than love melodramas.
The hero of Thornton at first strongly resembles the character of Paul Newman in the role of the unsuccessful lawyer from the “Verdict” in 1972, but after several episodes he grows into a real Goliath, visionary, intelligent and inflexible. But at the same time, his Billy is quite vulnerable in terms of affection for his daughter and customers, which gives the series a certain charm.
I can’t say that Thornton did a super-genius job in this movie. His character is not a cartoonishly spectacular Malvo ("Fargo), whose character demanded a lot of work from the actor in terms of reincarnation, just the opposite - here Thornton plays on the semitones, simply, evenly, and at the same time getting into the very core of the essence of his hero.
Probably this is the talent of the artist to conquer without visible pathos and original moves.
As for the rest of the cast, he was flawless. Heroes of William Hurt, Maria Bello, Molly Parker, Damon Gapton and even plain Olivia Thirlby, created one large orchestra.
It seems to me that only dramas about the imperfection of the justice system show how weak or strong the most ordinary person at first glance is. And although Goliath is not the most spectacular series of 2016, it is definitely worthy of attention.
And to Billy Bob Thornton & Co., my big applause and thank you so much for enjoying it.
When I finished watching the pilot, I decided the solid 10 was a masterpiece. The second slightly lost pace, and the severity and wit of the dialogues came to naught. But her finale, killer and unexpected, again made me think - yes, no, it's 10!
Then came the clicking comic villain, brilliantly played by William Hurt. This magnetic character with a burnt face and gleams of red flames in glasses (the work of the operator is flawless), but the intrigue ... it began, alas, to decrease.
Billy Bob Hornton, such an impeccably charming, genius loser lawyer who gets the chance to solve the huge case of the entire last part of his life against his former colleagues and an arrogant cynical corporation, a lonely little hero, he is David versus Goliath, and Goliath is terrible ... Again, but ...
Goliath suddenly ceases to be a monster, it breaks down into characters. The firm lacks integrity, onslaught. Many of them are certainly colorful, but they do not have sharpness, speed of reaction.
And now this beautiful in all respects judicial drama begins to stall on the turns. The villainous Leviathan somehow misses blow after blow, and he himself sometimes looks not a monster, but a strange monster on thin legs. If you are afraid of him, why not kill him? The viewer asks the question.
There are only 8 episodes in the series, and the writers’ fuse is enough for a maximum of 4.
And while I’m still excited about their work (it’s brilliant), had the suspense of the first pilot run throughout the film, had David (Billy Bob Thornton) demonstrated the Bulldog’s grip, it would have been much more interesting.
And the courtrooms, where unexpected witnesses are called, are good, fascinating, but not as impressive as the bloody and evil beginning of this semi-noir, which, moreover, corny, as it seemed to me, ends.
8 out of 10