A new TV series by creator Ryan Murphy.
Creator Ryan Murphy has already been involved in many successful television projects, such as Glee and American Crime Story. Now his new project Hollywood is on Netflix, and - despite not being perfect - it is definitely worth watching. Here's why.
Hollywood tells traditional tales from the dream factory, in which beautiful young people are trying to become actors, screenwriters and producers. This part is of course rather superficial, even though it is always interesting to see Hollywood after WWII when the studio system ruled.
But there is more to this limited series, as the tag line "What if you could rewrite the story?" reveals. The main theme is the injustice and inequality in the entertainment industry, in which women are marginalised, homosexuality suppressed and minorities only given stereotypical roles without depth. This is where Ryan Murphy is rewriting history, showing how producers and studio bosses could have influenced the situation.
The way this is done is partly funny, partly very moving and beautiful. At times, some situations seem a bit artificial or some developments too easy and predictable, but then some very unexpected twists catch you by surprise and add some depth.
One of the most interesting elements is the fact that some characters are real, and others invented. The most prominent example is actor Rock Hudson, who is known to have been gay but suppressed this in order to become a film star. His agent Henry Willson is also a historical figure, who has influenced Hollywood at the time with his focus on so-called "beefcake" actors whom he forced to work out a lot and become more muscular. Hattie McDaniel, who was the first African American woman to win an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress for Gone with the Wind, a very stereotypical servant role), is also given a voice here, as well as Anna May Wong, who was an actress of Asian origin who was also marginalised and given stereotypical roles. These real characters, along with funny appearances of real stars like Vivien Leigh and George Cukor, give some element of reality to the series and show the very real problems of the time.
Another important real person who is central to the series is Peg Entwistle, a white aspiring actress who committed suicide in 1932 by jumping off the Hollywood(land) sign. Her act of desperation inspires a film and brings up interesting parallels to all the aspiring actors in the series.
The cast adds a lot to the success of the story, with some well-known faces such as Darren Criss (Glee, American Crime Story) and Laura Harrier (Blackkklansman) among the protagonists, as well as David Corenswet, Jeremy Pope, Jake Picking and Samara Weaving who are rather newer faces but play beautifully. Besides the 5 protagonists, the highlight is Jim Parsons as devious agent Henry Willson, who is both hilarious and tragic.
Famous faces such as Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, Emmy winners Holland Taylor and Rob Reiner, Golden Globe winner Dylan McDermott and other great actors such as Joe Mantello, PattiLuPone, Queen Latifah and Billy Boyd round off the great cast. (My personal favourites by far were Jeremy Pope and Jake Picking who deliver many moving moments as gay couple that is breaking boundaries.)
(Images: IMDB)