6 APRIL 22-MAY 5, 2015 /THE WESTERN SUN
He’s the ‘Devil’ you want to know Marvel’s latest Netflix series redefines genre By Thom deMartino Western Sun entertainment editor He’s “the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen” who fights on the side of the angels. As a child, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) was blinded by chemicals in an traffic accident, after heroically pushing a bystander out of the way: but in a strange twist, he developed dramatically heightened senses as a side effect. Orphaned in his youth by the murder of his father, a boxer who refused to throw a fight, Murdock grew up to become a lawyer to fight for the powerless through lawful channels, along with his partner “Foggy” Nelson (Elden Henson). But at night, he dons a black mask and costume, doing whatever he can to help the helpless: hunting down criminals, while both giving out as well as taking beatings as he hones his skills and methods to aid his city, New York’s “Hell’s Kitchen” neighborhood. Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’onofrio), on the other hand, is a man so powerful and secretive that his name is only spoken in whispers. After the massive destruction wrought in the Battle of New York (from the first “Avengers” film,) he’s taken the lead, through shell companies and subtlety, to try and rebuild his city himself, shaping it into his own vision of the future...regardless of the cost in dollars, or in blood. Two men, two visions of a better city, two completely opposing modus operandi – and an inevitable, simmering conflict, certain to come to a boil. Marvel’s “Daredevil,” an original Netflix series, has bowled over both critics and viewers alike. Darker, grittier and more violent than the yawn-fest that was the 2003 Ben Affleck movie version, this iteration of the popular comic book hero has been widely received as one of the best adaptations in recent memory, comparable to the Christopher Nolan-directed Batman genesis film, “Batman Begins.” Seeing heroes we know and love in their early days and struggles, finding their
CHARLIE COX stars as “The Daredevil” in the new Netflix series. paths through the darkness without losing their souls and humanity, are often some of the best aspects of the origin story, in whatever genre or medium. One of the finest aspects of this series is the intricate level of character development: every single character seems human and relatable on some level; the protagonists have flaws, the antagonists have their demons, and their reasons for what they do. When one of the players are killed, the viewer genuinely feels the loss, even when it’s a “bad guy” – you’re sad to see them go, you know you’ll miss the complexities and charm of that individual. Speaking of sympathies, there’s not enough that can be said about Vincent D’onofrio’s superlative and multi-layered portrayal of the criminal mastermind Fisk. In his own words, he’s “not
Two men, two visions of a better city and an inevitable simmering conflict, certain to come to a boil.
Television cruel for the sake of cruelty,” he just does what he has to – what he must – to make his city better, regardless of the body count... or the lonely isolation of his solitary existence. You actually empathize with this man who is brutal and calculating, yet with a kind of gentle, awkward vulnerability below the surface, particularly when he slowly lets the beautiful art gallery curator Vanessa Marianna (Ayelet Zurer) into his complicated world. Some shout-outs to other actors in the series for their adept performances: Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, a woman set up for murder in order to shut her up about corporate misdeeds, exonerated by Nelson and Murdock, but still with some dark secrets of her own; Vondie Curtis-Hall for his portrayal of reporter Ben Urich, a man coming to terms with the changing of the news media and his relevance in an increasingly digitally-driven world;
and particularly to Toby Leonard Moore as James Wesley, Fisk’s righthand man and lieutenant, the man who gets things done – what could have been just a two-dimensional flunky, becomes a complex, loyal companion to his boss – his friend. One last note – the fight scenes are remarkable. While often brutal and violent, the fight choreography is absolutely stunning, by all actors involved – frankly, better than in most mainstream action films. There’s a fight scene in the second episode that feels like it goes on for 15 minutes straight, and you’re on the edge of your seat with amazement for every second (some have suggested it may be a tribute to a scene from the original 2003 “Oldboy” action film.) “Daredevil” is remarkable in it’s scope and depth, a treat to watch that redefines what a comic-based television show should aspire to. If any of the other upcoming Marvel Netflix series, such as “Jessica Jones” or “Luke Cage” are even close to this good, we have an incredible year of bingewatching ahead of us. H H H H