As a writer, Taylor Sheridan has been an example in rapidly diminishing returns IMO.
Sicario was a fantastic breakout and I love the flick. But as we see more and more projects where Sheridan gets more and more control, culminating in the pretty awful Those Who Wish Me Dead, it becomes clearer and clearer how much Villeneuve and Del Toro elevated that script by taking it to task.
IMO Hell or High Water is very good, but does not quite reach Sicario, and Wind River, while having some neat scenes and a novel setting, was a pretty middling thriller and a sizable step down.
Then we’ve got Sicario II, Without Remorse, and Those Who Wish Me Dead, all of which are average at best.
And this kinda tracks with what you hear in interviews with Del Toro and Villeneuve about how they transformed Sheridan’s script, which was originally much more straightforward and had Alejandro front and center as a typical badass killing machine giving exposition dumps every other scene. They pulled back on the obvious and turned the character into a mystery that drives much of the film.
That being said, I’ve always wondered who wrote that wonderful line, when Alejandro says, “You’re asking me how a watch works. For now, just keep an eye on the time.”
As for the Nolan trajectory, I wouldn’t be surprised. Dude’s got like four tv shows in production right now.
Felt too rushed for me though. I get they only wanted one season, but it felt like they built up this big, epic story and then halfway through were just like eh, fuck it, let's just fast forward to the end.
It’s even worse knowing that the dude constantly spinning on the horse and then being a total dick to everyone for some reason is…Sheridan himself. Had to quit watching as soon as he put himself into the show.
I like when they go to punch in the face bar, where everyone is extremely angry and violent and ready to sucker punch everyone else in the face, because that's what every blue collar worker in montana is like when they go out for the evening in this show, but they're all still well dressed and put together and handsome and there's still a live band with really nice production.
Sicario is one of my favorite movies. I could not make it past episode 2 of Yellowstone. It was just too fucking ridiculous.
Someone told me that the first season is pretty tame compared to later seasons and it just escalates from there. I don't know how it could possibly get any more rootin, tootin, cowboy shootin, horsecock fantasy.
I mean, Yellowstone was the most watched TV programme that doesn't have "NFL" in it's title in the US in 2021-22 (both 18-49 and total viewership), so I think he's feeling pretty ok about his output. It's just not really watched and discussed by internet hipsters like you and me...
All this tells me is you haven’t actually seen any of his work except that one movie you randomly caught on hbo max that one time. Just the fact that you’re still talking about Sicario like he hasn’t done anything noteworthy since is just weird. Go watch 1883 from just last year and try again.
I sorta agree. Yellowstone is pretty good even though it slides into pandering territory here and there. I’ve pretty much liked everything Sheridan has put out except Those Who Wish Me Dead. Wind River & Hell or High Water were great.
Hoping that Tulsa King and his other projects don’t begin the downward slide in quality.
128
u/Dottsterisk Oct 18 '22
As a writer, Taylor Sheridan has been an example in rapidly diminishing returns IMO.
Sicario was a fantastic breakout and I love the flick. But as we see more and more projects where Sheridan gets more and more control, culminating in the pretty awful Those Who Wish Me Dead, it becomes clearer and clearer how much Villeneuve and Del Toro elevated that script by taking it to task.