AT THE MOVIES: THE BINGE

by Isy Jordan

Westworld
Creatores: Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
Starring: Sir Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, Tessa Thompson, Thandie Newton, James Marsden, and more.
Network: HBOMax

Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, explore a world in which every human appetite can be indulged without consequence.

With the ongoing pandemic, it seems odd to have a column about going to the movies when most people can't. So let's, for a little while, talk about what is available for us to watch in the safety of our homes. That allows us to includes television series and I've got a good one for you today.

Westworld is based on a 1973 film of the same name. It's centered around Westworld, a park where the incredibly rich can say and do whatever they like without consequence. The park is populated by "hosts" who are human androids that are so lifelike, even the regulars have a hard time telling if they are real or not. "If you can't tell, does it matter?"

The hosts are unable to harm their human guests. The humans can do whatever they want to the hosts including rape and murder which aren't uncommon. At the end of the night, the dead or injured hosts are brought back to a high-tech facility to be repaired and brought back online.

What happens when some of the hosts become self-aware?

I pretty much put all three seasons down in two weeks. This show is fascinating. It's not good as a filler or aneasy binge if you need to cleanse the pallet. It's complicated. The time jumps make it difficult for the viewer along with the hosts to determine what is real and isn't. And there are surprises aplenty.

While Westworld has a tendency to take itself very seriously at times, it's well-written, well-acted, and one of the most original sci-fi pieces I've seen in some time. It's violent, offensive at times as it takes an unflinching look at human nature, and thought-provoking. And the best part? Just when you think you've got it figured out, they reveal something else that blows you away!

I highly recommend this HBOMax series. The first three seasons are complete and available. The fourth season is in the works.

Isy