The Deuce is a new series on HBO that does not lack nudity, violence and colorful scenes of sex, but we have already been used to it. The subject that deals with this new work by David Simon and George Pelecanos.
(the two who has generously given us The Wire)
Namely, the series goes into the heart of prostitution that flourish in the streets of New York in the '70s, on Times Square itself, and in the bustle of pornography. We are embroiled in a world of pimps, cheap hotels, a world where raids are just agreed routines, the world of getting prostitutes to passers-by, suspicious locals, and ultimately to sets of early pornographic films. It's difficult to determine which is dirtier - the streets or moral of characters, but one thing is certain - all cards are on the table. From prostitutes who like to spend leisure time by reading or dreaming about a film career to excellent female students who drop out of college, this series has them all.
The Deuce doesn't have time to waste and immediately deprives us of the industry and the characters it deals with. Vincent Martino (James Franco) is a family man who has to work on two jobs to feed his family, at the same time fighting his unbelieving wife and angry New York gangsters who think he is Frankie (again James Franco), Vincent's twin brother , a gambler who owes half of New York. Thanks to that attack on Vincent at the very beginning where he can distinguish Vincent and Frankie from scratching on the forehead because they both follow the latest fashion of the '70s and are decorated with thick mustaches and equally slanted hair. We will soon find out that Vincent is a talented businessman who can easily find ways to earn as much money as possible.
Eileen "Candy" Mergell (Maggie Gyllenhaal), unlike other girls, works alone, that is, she does not belong to any pimp, although they are trying hard to get her. Her little son lives with her mother, who doesn't approve the choice of her career, but just as she is stubborn with pimps, Candy is equally stubborn with her mother. Candy, however, is very well informed and familiar with other girls, their pimps and the general atmosphere in the streets, and soon she meets a new growing pornographic industry. The series offers us a few more gorgeous characters, which give us a more complete impression - the perversions of C.C. (Gary Carr) and Larry (Gbenga Akinnagbe) are both attractive and intimidating, and the girls who work for them, such as Dominique Fishback and Lily (Emily Meade), do not lag behind with their personality and individuality. There is also Abby (Margarita Levieva), a student at the NYU who only decides to give up a college one morning and hook up with Vincent.
It is precisely the integrity of characters that is one of the first things that The Deuce separates from the rest of the material currently offered to us on television. The pilot episode in its hour and a half exposes the playful characters of the Russian realistic novel and do not rush to enter the center of the action. Each major character gets his five minutes, ensuring that the viewer will not forget it. So we find out who we are dealing with and get an idea of who is moving in what direction. The authors thus create a solid foundation that will then either be upgraded or dismantled.
Because of their brutality, the characters act extremely realistically, and even James Franco doesn't overstate his acting, but rather tolerates and controls his double role. The next two episodes of characters slowly enters a large network where everyone will know each other and be able to exploit the talents they possess.
''The Deuce is richly atmospheric, whether it’s all those contrasting theater marquees (ranging from Patton to The Conformist to Mondo Trasho) to Vincent’s bustling Hi-Hat bar, site of a killer version of “96 Tears” in Episode 8. There’s also an all-hours diner suitable for gathering characters. And each hour’s blazing horns, during the closing credits, are a weekly must-hear.
The dialogue is sharp and suitably dicey, as when a pimp says in Episode 4, “I personally don’t mind a little ketchup on my hot dog.” No, he’s not talking about either food or condiments. And in the concluding episode, it’s something of a revelation to Candy and Harvey when a mobster tells them, “Lesbian sex. That’s a punch way above its weight class” in terms of audience appeal.
Simon has shown time and again that he knows how to make an audience cringe while also contemplating the impacts of his dramas’ oft-unforgiving surroundings. In that sense, The Deuce is the dirty lowdown, with much of the action below the belt. There’s nothing pretty here. But in the eyes of this beholder, you’ll otherwise know great drama when you see it.'' (1)
TRAILER
This is my translation from Croatian to English from Ziher hr article ''Povijest pornografije'' (The Deuce) by I.Kolar
(1) Down and dirty sex sells in HBO's unflinching The Deuce, unclebarky.com
