His 2012 incarnation looked nothing like him. Harrelson’s was done well, with him loosing hair and gaining weight over the years, but McConaughey’s stole the show. Taking place across three separate times, Harrelson and McConaughey both had distinctive looks that not only placed them in that era, but showed their evolution. One final note, the character aesthetics were astounding. There were others I vividly remember, seeing the busted taillight on Rust’s truck at the end of episode six, “Haunted Houses,” or Rust’s visions, notably the birds in episode, “Seeing Things.” I could go on, but the single camera chase stuck with me the most. The single camera shot, following them through the neighborhood was expertly crafted, keeping the action correctly centered while ramping up the tension. The end of episode four, “Who Goes There,” was exhilarating. There were plenty of smartly filmed scenes that kept me tense throughout, but there’s one in particular I want to highlight. Smart setups like this littered the series, increasing my enjoyment. For example, when Marty returned home with his teenager daughter, everything from the setting to the expression on their faces informed you. While the scenario leading to this was quickly explained, the writing was intelligent enough to allow viewers to surmise what had transpired. Often times viewers were dropped into a scene with no explanation. One that gripped you from beginning to end.Īside from the writing being wickedly smart, the delivery was astounding. Just as I can’t picture anyone other than McConaughey as Rust, I couldn’t imagine someone else putting the words into his mouth.
Being an HBO show, this allowed them to take the time with production, delivering a sold and consistent feel. It’s not common for one person to write or direct every episode of a show, mostly due to the schedule their beholden to.
Every episode of the eight were written by series creator Nic Pizzolatto, and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Performances can only take the material so far. Throughout the show he says incredibly profound, but dark things. Rust though, having been damaged by life and drug abuse from years undercover has a warped nihilistic view of the world. Harrelson’s Marty was a typical cop, a hard man, but a cheat, unable to remain faithful to his wife Maggie (Michelle Monaghan). I can’t picture anyone else playing Rust. Here, both give the best performances I’ve seen from either, particularly McConaughey. While I’ve enjoyed Harrelson on other projects, McConaughey has never entertained me. One that garnered them plenty of attention. Reluctantly partnered together, the two, in present day 2012, are being interviewed about their first case together from 1995. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson play detectives Rustin Cohle and Marty Hart, respectfully. Stop reading this, or any other article about True Detective. Only with Breaking Bad has such accolades been deserved.
As the weeks rolled on for this short season, the hype and acclaim only grew. With two well known actors headlining this new anthology show, there was even more of a reason to watch. HBO’s pedigree for original content is such that any new project merits a cursory glance at least.