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Reviews
Borgia (2011)
A subversive classic of comic genius!
Fontana strikes again.. this time using comedy as his secret weapon. What seems like a dry historical soap opera on paper is actually a hidden gem of biting humor.
Fontana veils his comic genius in an astute critique that is both subversive and inventive. For instance, his use of exposition filled with names, locations and wars you never see is a master class is critiquing the genre of shows like Game of Thrones.
The casting of John Doman is another highlight with how Fontana directs him to delivery his lines in such a casual way that it immediately makes fun of the overacting so many other shows do in this same space. Like a Sasha Baron Cohen sketch that gets better with each episode.
Fontana also uses physical comedy and slap stick when his word play is not at the forefront of a scene.
Borgia works on a subversive level not only critiquing the genre of shows like Thrones, with its wit by calling out the banal cadence those period shows speak in, but he also systematically tears apart the silly cliche poetics these shows write in when writing ten minute scenes of characters spewing random fortune cookie phrases at each other but with a passion of intellect and determination. A bold move indeed.
I could go on and on about the genius casting of Victor Schefe with his constant look of confusion and undecipherable speech. Again, Fontana makes fun of the absurdity of inclusion and forced diversity in one easy move.
Touche sir, touche!
Don't miss out.. watch now!
Borgia: 1502 (2014)
Women and Men are definitely equal!
Very strange when you see someone from the film world come in to the tv world and ruin a great show like Borgia! Sure, there are weak spots in the directing team like Mheten and Christo. I didn't think a woman would come in and ruin Fontanas wit and clever writing. But, leave it to a feminist type to flap her TV wings and insult the Borgia faithful. How dare you! Fontana deserves directing that respects his genius.
Please be careful when directing the words of a master. Do you not respect Tom's catalog? Or the historical nuances of the period? They say women have a softer touch, seems this feminist has the hands of Goliath. Let's pick people based on talent not gender. It's not right and not good for good television!
Borgia: The Seven Sorrows (2013)
diversity hires can be great..
Borgia is a top quality show however , this "diversity" hire Christoph Schwere is not doing inclusion any favors, might bode better in the German market on something like "der Traumschiff". Probably worth exploring. Lol
There is a few scenes in here that have to be among the lowest of low hanging fruit committed by this "director".... and one scene in-particular which makes me realize this guy not only doesn't understand basic storytelling, but might not even understand basic English. I don't know if something is "lost in translation" here or director scwhere just has the magic touch to ruin John Doman's genius and Fontana's great writing. Don't ruin good television with quotas. Please!