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HBO productions class acts, both in casting and writing

Clear History
Clear History

HBO has been at or near the top of the quality TV heap for well over a decade, with series such as The Sopranos, Sex and the City and Game of Thrones garnering big ratings and big awards. It’s also known for its TV movies and miniseries, so let’s take a look at two of their 2013 offerings.

First up is Clear History ($19.97, Blu-ray $24.99). Nathan Flomm (Larry David) is a marketing executive with Electron Motors, an electric car company about to release a new model called the Howard, named after the son of company founder Will Haney (Jon Hamm). Nathan objects to the name, has a big blowout with Will, and leaves, giving up his 10 percent share in the company.

Of course, the car goes on to be a huge hit. Will becomes hugely famous and wealthy while Nathan becomes a laughing stock and loses his home, his wife and his hair.

Years later, Nathan has become Rolly. He lives on Martha’s Vineyard, eats at the local diner and hangs out with his poker buddies.

But then Will and his new wife, Rhonda (Kate Hudson), build a mansion on the island and Will doesn’t even recognize his old co-worker.

Seeing Will’s ostentatious wealth and happy life, Nathan decides the only appropriate course is to exact revenge. For this, he enlists the help of his best friend Frank (Danny McBride), local wacko Stumpo (Michael Keaton) and Stumpo’s sidekick Rags (Bill Hader).

It won’t be easy, though,because a Chicago concert, a painting, a friend’s weight loss, a minor car accident and the question of whether silverware should go on a napkin or directly on the table will all factor in to whether or not Nathan/Rolly is successful. And should he be successful? Because appearances are deceiving.

Fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld will probably enjoy this and should recognize the story tangents that are more relevant than they first appear, interwoven plots and a main character who may be funny but is not particularly likable. Rolly is an obsessive, self-centered jerk who is, ultimately, his own worst enemy.

The story starts to go in directions that seem cliched and predictable only to take some surprising and funny turns and it’s all wrapped up with a nice, big bow. Sort of.

There are no extras.

HBO got quite a bit of attention for the flashy, all-star Behind the Candelabra ($19.97, Blu-ray $24.99).

Yes, it’s about Liberace (Michael Douglas), but it’s not a full-fledged bio-pic. This isn’t the story of his childhood, rise to fame, career and death. Instead, it focuses on Liberace’s last few years, starting in 1977 when he met a young dog trainer named Scott Thorson (Matt Damon).

Scott treats one of the showman’s dogs and finds himself getting sucked into Liberace’s sparkly, flamboyant world, becoming his “secretary” among other things. What follows is a complicated relationship that builds and then gradually falls apart thanks to Scott’s drug use and Liberace’s controlling nature and wandering eye.

Also involved are Dan Aykroyd as Liberace’s agent, Rob Lowe as a plastic surgeon with questionable ethics and Debbie Reynolds as Liberace’s passive-aggressive mother.

While there are parts that tilt slightly to camp, it never really crosses over. It’s ultimately a very honest love story that’s surprisingly normal.

The production values are terrific, with quite a bit of attention paid to the elaborate sets and costumes that are a must in a story about Liberace.

For extras, there’s a 14-minute making-of featurette.

New this week: Family Matters, Season 4; Joanie Loves Chachi, Complete Series; Laverne & Shirley, Season 7; Midsomer Murders, Set 23.

Next week: The Americans, Season 1; Dallas, Season 2; Diagnosis Murder, Season 7; Farscape, Season 2; The Mod Squad, Season 5; Newhart, Season 2.

Style, Pages 46 on 02/02/2014

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