Deadwood premiered 10 years ago this month. To commemorate, my friend Matt Zoller Seitz (and Rogerebert.com editor-in-chief) has teamed up with editor Steven Santos and Jim Beaver, who was a Deadwood series regular (not to mention Bobby on Supernatural, an awesome dovetail), and is also a contributor at Rogerebert.com (his two pieces so far are awesome!), to create a video essay exploring Deadwood‘s themes and visual style. Jim Beaver narrates. If you are familiar with Matt Seitz’s work, then you know about his love of the video essay and his commitment to that brand-new landscape of criticism.
You can read Matt’s introductory words here, and watch the video below. (I love the connection made with McCabe and Mrs. Miller as well as My Darling Clementine, and there’s a clip included of my favorite moment from that film, involving Victor Mature.)
Enjoy. It’s beautifully done.
And speaking of Deadwood, Robin Weigert gave one of my favorite performances last year in Concussion. Check out my review here, and definitely check out the film.
ha ha Sheila, everything you post these days is Relevant to my Interests. When this doc came out yesterday I was in like Flynn. Have you seen Deadwood? I can barely even articulate how it makes me feel. Just thinking of characters like Joanie or Charlie or Ellsworth will make me verklempt in the weirdest, most melancholic way. It is a rare and precious jewel. So much of it is handed over to the wonderousness of, to the astounding human capacity for compassion and empathy. And the language, and the performances, and the 3000 shades of brown. It’s sublime.
Jessie – I love your comment!!
I watched it during its original run and was obsessed with it – and this video definitely made me want to re-visit it. I can’t believe it was 10 years ago.
But the acting, the mood, the story lines … written in indelible ink in my brain. There’s a reason that show casts such a long long shadow.
And the fact that Jim Beaver and myself are somehow on the same masthead at the moment … well, it all just seems perfectly wonderful to me!
I can revisit Deadwood ad inifnitum. There is so much happening thematically and with the performances, you always find something new; and when you don’t you’re hanging out with people like Sol Star! Who wouldn’t want a friend like Sol?
I will fan and nostalgia other shows into oblivion, but honestly, Deadwood and Supernatural are where it’s At for me. I can’t imagine any other shows that will ever mean as much to me as those two. They hit me at just the right time in my life.
Jim Beaver is such a clever and grounded and interesting person! I envy you your masthead!
He’s an excellent writer too – both of his pieces show a vast knowledge of myriad topics (so perfectly Bobby-esque), and an elegant style.
It’s amazing, those shows that come along at the right time, that get under your skin. Thirtysomething was one of those shows for me. Six Feet Under was one of those shows. Deadwood. Supernatural.
I am one of those who revisits Deadwood often.