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"Hell on Wheels" Trailer: AMC Aims for Deadwood

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (11)

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After the last few years of putting itself on the map with the current fearsome foursome of “Mad Men,” “The Walking Dead,” “Breaking Bad,” and “The Killing,” AMC has decided that it needs a fifth show to really round out the bunch, and it’s decided to go with a good old school western. “Hell on Wheels” is set in the midst of the construction of the transcontinental railroad, and features a protagonist who probably visited Deadwood before settling into the beating railroad workers business.

Here’s the first trailer:


I want to like this. I have a predilection for both AMC and westerns, but this just isn’t quite doing it for me. I dig Colm Meaney as the evil tycoon and Anson Mount seems to do a decent enough job with the tough washed up shades of gray soldier, but it suffers from two shortcomings.

First, it’s not “Deadwood.” This probably isn’t even remotely fair, but they’re asking for the comparison. Putting up a dark and gritty western only a few years removed from “Deadwood” is like putting together a contemporary mob show right now and expecting not to be compared to “The Sopranos.” This trailer looks adequate enough, but it can’t be watched without thinking that Al Swearengen would talk circles around it, arrange the deaths of half the characters, and steal the wallets of the other half, before taking a breather to talk to a head in a box.

Second, it suffers from that strange cliche of having a protagonist who was a confederate soldier whose wife was raped and murdered by Union soldiers. The instant I saw that, I rolled my eyes, recalling this conversation over on the Atlantic about exactly the same story being told over and over again. Told once, it’s unique, told over and over again this narrative of the honorable Confederate victimized by the terrible invading north takes on a twisted revisionist ring. I expect better out of AMC.

(source: SlashFilm)









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Comments

I'm noting a distinct lack of c&c's. I'm going to pass. (until someone tells me to like it)

Posted by: admin at May 4, 2011 10:12 AM

I had the same reaction you did - another Confederate protagonist where somehow slavery has nothing to do with the plot?

It's offputting.

Posted by: Damnyankees at May 4, 2011 10:17 AM

admin,

I heard the Music Factory turned down the show at the last second and agree that their absence is glaring, but is it really enough to skip the show entirely? I dunno, man. Seems kinda hasty.

Posted by: Kballs at May 4, 2011 10:20 AM

I was all set to hate on this (first off, bad drawls, y'all and it takes itself a bit too seriously---or maybe I'm just waiting on a "fun" western instead of the morose "I'll shoot ye faster than ye can swallow that there chewin tobacco" melodrama we seem to be getting) but then I was all "wait a mofo moment, is that Common as a railroad slave?"

And, I'll admit it I'm wishy washy and weak because I'll watch (i.e. download) an ep or two just to see him do some "actin'" (i.e. looking nice with his bald headed self).

Posted by: smijca at May 4, 2011 11:03 AM

Said Woo when he saw this in production, "SWEGIN! COCKSUCKERS!"

Posted by: dammitjanet at May 4, 2011 11:08 AM

So you're suggesting there should be a moratorium on gritty westerns in order to avoid comparison to Deadwood? That's just silly. I like the genre and I'm looking forward to this. Your gripe about the protagonist's background is equally silly.

Posted by: sosumi at May 4, 2011 11:09 AM

Ahhhh those lovely confederates, so misunderstood. One can only hope that Common’s character isn’t named n****r Jim.

Posted by: Pookie at May 4, 2011 11:11 AM

It's definitely no Deadwood, but I think the story of the building of the railroad is fascinating and it's probably better than 90% of the crap TV throws at us these days. It's not a reality show, an unfunny sit-com or a (kill me now or at least cut off my ears) bloody horrific talent show so I'll watch.

Posted by: PaddyDog at May 4, 2011 12:47 PM

"...but it can’t be watched without thinking that Al Swearengen would talk circles around it, arrange the deaths of half the characters, and steal the wallets of the other half, before taking a breather to talk to a head in a box."

Awesome!

Posted by: Laura at May 4, 2011 1:27 PM

From a purely objective stand point...it looks pretty good.

From someone who loved and still mourns DEADWOOD, I don't think I can watch it. I assume this will be on after the next season of BREAKING BAD in late July, and before MAD MEN in January.

Posted by: Sean at May 4, 2011 2:43 PM

It doesn't actually look "dark and gritty" which is a problem. In Deadwood everything was actually covered in sweat and grime. These boys look like they've put on their play costumes and been slightly misted.

Posted by: Arrogant Ambassador at May 4, 2011 6:32 PM