I identified failures and abuses of government and adult leadership as the unifying theme of the Outstanding Television Movie nominees at the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards, but no such shared element exists among all the nominees for Outstanding Limited Series. However, three of them, "The Alienist," "The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story," and "Godless," examine murders and the search for justice that ensues. One can even stretch that theme to the second season of "Genius," which is about Pablo Picasso, who criticized Spain under the Phalangists and lived under Nazi occupation in France, and "Patrick Melrose," which has its own scandalous events and story of redemption. The theme of crime and punishment extends to the limited series that earned nominations in other categories, including "Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders," "The Looming Tower," "Seven Seconds," "The Sinner," "Twin Peaks," "Waco," and even "American Horror Story: Cult." Since stories of crime and punishment usually involve law enforcement and the courts, they tell their own tales about the roles and actions of government.
When I submitted my Saturn Award television recommendations in February, I predicted that "'The Alienist'...will receive recognition at the Emmy Awards this summer and the Golden Globes and guild awards this coming winter, so the Saturn Awards may as well get a jump on it." I'll have to wait three to four more months to see if the Golden Globes and various guilds make my predictions come true, but, wow, did the Television Academy ever make my prognostication look good for the Emmy Awards.* In addition to Outstanding Limited Series, "The Alienist" earned nominations for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Main Title Design, Outstanding Period Costumes, Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More), and Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role. I think the story of catching a serial killer in turn of the last century New York deserved all of them. As for whether it will any of them, I'll have to look at its competition first. In the meantime, watch as 21st Century New York transforms into its 1890s form, taking the viewer back in time in the main title of "The Alienist."
Continuing with fictional period pieces about crime and criminals leads to "Godless," one of the rare Westerns on television today. It earned even more nominations than "The Alienist," being recognized for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Michelle Dockery), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Jeff Daniels -- yay, local boy!), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Merritt Wever), Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special, Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special, Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special, Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special, Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music, and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special on top of Outstanding Limited Series. The strongest nominees are probably Jeff Daniels, who earned acting nominations at the Critics' Choice Awards and SAG Awards, and Scott Frank, who earned a writing nomination from the WGA and a directing nomination from the DGA. My favorite though, is the main title theme. Watch and listen to "Godless" Title Sequence from Netflix to hear why.
Godless, the first limited series produced for Netflix, is now steaming. Rodrigo Perez from The Playlist calls it "...one of the best Netflix series of the year, and one of the best narratives on TV, period."I think that's better than the theme to "The Putin Interviews," as much as I like Jeff Beal. I also think the Troopers should play it, but that's neither here nor there.
Moving from fictional period crime to modern true crime takes one to "The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story," the most nominated limited series this year with 18 nominations in 13 categories. In addition to Outstanding Limited Series, it garnered nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Darren Criss), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Ricky Martin, Édgar Ramírez, and Finn Wittrock), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Penélope Cruz and Judith Light), Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie or Special, Outstanding Contemporary Costumes, Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special, Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic), Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special, Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie, and Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special. I consider this season of "American Crime Story" to be the favorite to win Outstanding Limited Series, as it has the most nominations, won Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials at the TCA Awards last month, and its predecessor, "The People v. O. J. Simpson," won this award two years ago. I also think that Darren Criss has the best chance of winning of all six acting nominees, having been nominated at both the TCA Awards and the MTV Movie and TV Awards, a rare confluence of critical and popular opinion.
The theme of crime and punishment does not apply as strongly to "Genius: Picasso," but Picasso painted "Guernica," a depiction of a bombing that can be considered a war crime, and helped history pass judgment on it. He also had run-ins with the Gestapo in occupied Paris, another aspect of abusive law enforcement, so applying the theme does not come off as much of a stretch, even if it is only a secondary theme of the show. The second season of the Nat Geo series earned six nominations in addition to Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Antonio Banderas), Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic), Outstanding Period Costumes, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie. Out of all of them, I suspect its strongest category is Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie, as Mathias Herndl won for Genius: Einstein at the American Society of Cinematographers Awards earlier this year. I'm not calling him the favorite, as the competition is very stiff.
"Patrick Melrose" fits better the theme of abusive and neglectful adult leadership/parenting that unite the television movie nominees, but even those include a search for justice and healing after a violation, if not an outright crime, so the final entry for this category does not lie far afield from the rest of the nominees. The Showtime adaptation of Edward St Aubyn's novel earned four other nominations besides Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Benedict Cumberbatch), Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special, Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special, and Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special. If the critics had their say, it would be the main competition to "The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story," as it was the only other member of the Emmy field that earned a TCA nomination. Instead, I think that honor goes to "Godless."
Follow over the jump for the acting nominations for limited series along with other limited series nominations.
All nominations quoted from Wikipedia.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie"The Looming Tower" is the limited series here that is not nominated for Outstanding Limited Series ("Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert" is a Live Variety Special, but it also deals with accusations of crime and unjust punishment). It definitely is about crime and (delayed) punishment and about the (failed) efforts of law enforcement and government to prevent a crime. In addition to Jeff Daniel's nomination, it also earned nominations for Michael Stuhlbarg as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (see below), Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special, and Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie or Special; it was definitely well acted. That written, I'm not sure how to handicap this category. Benedict Cumberbatch and Jeff Daniels are the most respected actors, Jesse Plemons is an up-and-comer who earned a nomination as a villain, Antonio Banderas and John Legend may be nominated for the roles of theri television careers, and Darren Criss has been twice nominated for the same role. I'll go with the local talent and pick Daniels.
Antonio Banderas as Pablo Picasso on Genius: Picasso (Nat Geo)
Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
Benedict Cumberbatch as Patrick Melrose on Patrick Melrose (Showtime)
Jeff Daniels as John O. Neill on The Looming Tower (Hulu)
John Legend as Jesus Christ on Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
Jesse Plemons as Captain Robert Daly on Black Mirror: USS Callister (Netflix)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or MovieThe nominees in this category have the least overlap with those in Outstanding Limited Series, as only "Godless" appears in both, while "The Tale" is a Television Movie nominee. These are the only nominations for "The Sinner," "Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders," and "Seven Seconds," while "American Horror Story: Cult" has a total of seven, including Adina Porter as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (more below), Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic), Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More), Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special, and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie or Special. I am most optimistic about the hairstyling and makeup categories, as it won three awards at the Makeup and Hair Stylists Guild Awards.
Jessica Biel as Cora Tannetti on The Sinner (USA)
Laura Dern as Jennifer Fox on The Tale (HBO)
Michelle Dockery as Alice Fletcher on Godless (Netflix)
Edie Falco as Leslie Abramson on Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders (NBC)
Regina King as Latrice Butler on Seven Seconds (Netflix)
Sarah Paulson as Ally Mayfair-Richards on American Horror Story: Cult (FX)
All three of "The Sinner," "Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders," and "Seven Seconds" explicitly examine crime and punishment with full participation of law enforcement and the court system, while "American Horror Story: Cult" takes a much more political and religious look at the subject, being a parable about America under Trump. Still, the theme applies all of the nominees, even to "The Tale" in its personal way.
I find this another difficult category to pick, as Laura Dern, Edie Falco, and Sarah Paulson are all previous Emmy winners, Michelle Dockery and Regina King have multiple Emmy nominations, and Jessica Biel gave a riveting performance in the first season of "The Sinner." While Paulson is the only prior winner in this category, Dern won an Emmy last year and probably gave the most compelling performance, so I'll choose her as the favorite.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie"Waco" appears among the limited series nominees for the first time in this category. That show also protrays the efforts of law enforcement to respond to a religiously-motivated criminal enterprise, the Branch Davidians, although it fails in a different way than it did in "The Looming Tower." In addition to the acting recognition, it earned nominations for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie or Special.
Jeff Daniels as Frank Griffin on Godless (Episode: "An Incident at Creede") (Netflix)
Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas Iscariot on Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
John Leguizamo as Jacob Vazquez on Waco (Episode: "The Strangers Across the Street") (Paramount Network)
Ricky Martin as Antonio D'Amico on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Episode: "The Man Who Would Be Vogue") (FX)
Édgar Ramírez as Gianni Versace on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Episode: "Ascent") (FX)
Michael Stuhlbarg as Richard Clarke on The Looming Tower (Episode: "9/11") (Hulu)
Finn Wittrock as Jeffrey Trail on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Episode: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell") (FX)
I find handicapping the outcome to be difficult here. Daniels has a second acting nomination in this category, John Leguizamo is a previous Emmy winner, although that was for a variety performance last century. Ricky Martin, Edgar Ramierez, and "Finn Wittrock" could split the vote, although what usually happens is that the electors end up deciding on the best performance. Meanwhile, Stuhlbarg has been a hard-working and underappreciated character actor throughout this decade, including work in the Oscar-winning "The Shape of Water." He could be due, so I'm split between Daniels and Stuhlbarg.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or MovieFinally, a category in which I've discussed all the shows before, including "Black Mirror: Black Museum," which I wrote about in yesterday's TV movie entry. It's also where I take back what I wrote in What if the entertainment professionals voted on the television acting nominations at the Saturn Awards? It looks like the Saturn Awards did the right thing in nominating Adina Porter, and not just for improving diversity among nominees; the professionals agreed with them that she was worthy. As for who will win, I am again torn. Penelope Cruz won an Oscar, Merrit Wever won an Emmy, Judith Light has earned four Emmy nominations, and Letitia Wright is an up-and-comer with a Black Reel Award for this role and a Teen Choice Award for her role in "Black Panther." Porter and Sara Bareilles, who is a Grammy-nominated singer, should just be happy to be in this company. I'll go out on a limb and pick Wever, who I enjoyed when she was on "The Walking Dead" and I wish was still there, as she lasted much longer in the comic. When her character died, I thought, "No! You idiots just killed off the only character in the show whose performer in the cast who has won an Emmy!" Winning for "Godless" would make up for that.
Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene on Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
Penélope Cruz as Donatella Versace on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Episode: "Ascent") (FX)
Judith Light as Marilyn Miglin on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Episode: "A Random Killing") (FX)
Adina Porter as Beverly Hope on American Horror Story: Cult (Episode: "11/9") (FX)
Merritt Wever as Mary Agnes McNue on Godless (Episode: "The Ladies of La Belle") (Netflix)
Letitia Wright as Nish on Black Mirror: Black Museum (Netflix)
"Twin Peaks" has the dubious distinction of being the most nominated limited series without a program or acting nomination. It has nine nominations, Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama Special, Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama Special, Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More), Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic)Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie or Special, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie. In both incarnations, as a series during the 1990s and as a limited series now, the show has always been about crime and punishment, but more as a McGuffin to explore questions of good, evil, and the supernatural than as a theme in itself. I'd like to think that it would repeat its success at the Saturn Awards, but I'm not optimistic except for the two categories in which David Lynch earned nominations. He might be able to pull those off.
Three other limited series nominees also explore crime and punishment, "Alias Grace," "American Vandal," and "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams." "Alias Grace" is an adaptation of a Margaret Atwood novel about the psychiatric evaluation of a murderer. "American Vandal" is a parody of the true crime genre. "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams" dramatizes ten of Dick's short stories. The movies made from Dick's stories, "Blade Runner," "Total Recall," and "Minority Report," are very interested in crime and punishment and the ones in "Electric Dreams" share that concern. "American Vandal" has only one nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama Special. "Alias Grace" and "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams" both have nominations for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special (Original Dramatic Score), one for "Alias Grace" and two for "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams," so I conclude this section with sample tracks from both both shows. First, Grace in the Mirror
"Grace in the Mirror," Music From The Original Mini Series Soundtrack of the Netflix Original series Alias Grace (2017).That's very pretty.
Music from both "Crazy Diamond" and "The Commuter" received nominations, so I'll let the episode nominated at the 2018 EMA Awards that also has the plot summary more explictly about crime represent the series, "CRAZY DIAMOND" TEASER from Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams by Cristobal Tapia de Veer.
Teaser from my original score for "CRAZY DIAMOND" (Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams). Directed by Marc Munden. Starring Steve Buscemi, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Julia Davis.That's cool, but I still prefer the soundtrack to "Black Mirror: USS Callister."
I mentioned in the subject line that today is National Wildlife Day. That gives me an opportunity to do something I should have done at the end of 'Jane,' 'Icarus,' and 'Blue Planet II' — Nature, science, and politics in documentaries at the Creative Arts and Primetime Emmy Awards, embed a clip with music. Here is March of the Penguins 2 (Official Trailer) from Hulu.
Witness the rise of a new dynasty. Morgan Freeman and the Emperor Penguins return in March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step.That's it for limited series and movies. I'll return tomorrow with another installment about the Emmy nominees, preferably something with fewer categories and nominees. Variety talk shows looks good.
...
Filmmaker Luc Jacquet returns to the Antarctic to revisit the Emperor Penguins who call the frozen continent home. A decade after making his Academy Award® winning March of the Penguins, Jacquet spent two months shooting in the Antarctic winter using the new technology of 4K cameras, airborne drones, and under-ice diving to show the astonishing lives of these mysterious creatures in an entirely new light. March of the Penguins 2 tells the story of two penguins, a father and son, as they face and overcome the almost unimaginable challenges of life in this hostile land.
*That might be made more difficult by the decision of TNT to order a second season of the show based on the sequel novel "The Angel of Darkness." That will move "The Alienist" from Limited Series to Drama Series or their equivalents in future awards shows, which will make the competition stiffer. That happened to "Big Little Lies" when HBO ordered a second season and the Producers Guild of America (PGA) moved "Big Little Lies" to Episodic Television, Drama as a result, clearing the way for "Black Mirror: USS Callister" to win for Long-Form Television. On the other hand, it makes the Saturn Awards classifying "The Alienist" as an Action/Thriller Television Series look prescient.
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