Sneaky Pete

Bryan Cranston's Amazon Drama 'sneaky Pete' A Fun Actors' Showcase

... Bryan Cranston; it’s this guy, in this story. Nearly everyone involved throws themselves into their parts with similar enthusiasm and humility, and are rewarded in turn with something fun and unexpected to play, whether Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Marius’ parole officer, a motivational type who calls himself Mr. Success; Justified alum Jacob Pitts as Julia’s ex, a slick local lawyer; or Michael O’Keefe as a crooked cop on Vince’s payroll, who has his own vendetta against Marius. Again and again, both the regular actors and the guest stars give moments an extra bit of emotion (the way Gerety’s voice cracks when he’s expressing his love for his family at a particularly dire moment for Otto) or energy (the way that Kull’s character, who has gone straight with a husband and daughter, can’t resist enjoying herself as she temporarily unretires to help Marius), and they almost never overdo anything. The dirty cop could so easily be a caricature, but O’Keefe has a scene where he threatens Carly that’s chilling because of how matter-of-fact and human the guy seems in that moment. And where Justified could at times fall victim to overplotting, Yost, Fred Golan, and others use ...

Bryan Cranston's Amazon Drama 'sneaky Pete' A Fun Actors' Showcase

... real, without stealing more focus from the stars than is good for the story in question. So it’s not surprising that the first TV show Cranston has co-created — and the first series on which he’s had a significant role since Breaking Bad ended — is both a hell of a showcase for an impressive army of character actors, and one that’s about the art of acting, even if the context is a lot sketchier than the days when Cranston was playing Tim Whatley on Seinfeld. In Sneaky Pete, a new Amazon drama debuting tomorrow (I’ve seen all 10 episodes of the first season), Giovanni Ribisi plays Marius, a veteran con man coming to the end of a prison stint and looking for a place to lie low while plotting his revenge against Cranston’s Vince, the cop-turned-gangster who cost Marius dearly on his last job. His cellmate Pete (Ethan Embry) has long regaled Marius with stories of an idyllic childhood at his family’s Connecticut farmhouse, and Marius uses those stories and their vague ...

Bryan Cranston Lends Familiar Dark Humor To ‘sneaky Pete

... Murphy, his still-incarcerated cellmate. Pete, estranged from his family for 20 years, passed most of his time in prison yakking to Marius about his long-lost idyllic childhood at the family farm in Connecticut — run by his wealthy grandparents, who were “in bonds.” Shortly thereafter, Marius materializes at the farm as “Pete,” re-introduces himself to astonished grandparents Audrey and Otto (Martindale, Gerety) and gets a rude awakening: The “bonds” to which Pete referred is the family’s floundering bail-bond business in Bridgeport, run by Audrey with assistance from Pete’s cousin, Julia (Marin Ireland). Before long, Marius/Pete joins the family business and meets the extended family, which includes cousin Taylor (Shane Mc Rae), a goofy Bridgeport cop (with shades of DEA agent Hank Schrader from “Breaking Bad”) and his sharp teenage daughter, Carly (Libe Barer, “Parenthood”). The “Sneaky Pete” back story is fleshed out in Episode 2, where we learn much more about Vince (and that $100,000) and about Marius’ romantic history — while Grandma ...

New Amazon Show ‘sneaky Pete’ Is A Fun Ride

... keeping track of its characters’ relationships — becomes a full-time job. “Sneaky Pete” is not one of those intricate series. It’s relatively easy to follow, and, more important, it’s a lot of fun. About a con artist just out of jail, it’s not work so much as a cool ride, on the order of nimble con stories such as “Hustle,” “Burn Notice,” “Catch Me If You Can,” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Executive produced by, among others, Bryan Cranston and Graham Yost (“Justified”), the show offers suspense, elaborate deceptions, and close calls without making your head pound. After four preview episodes, I’m ready to ride on with the rest of the 10 episodes of the first season, available Friday on Amazon. Giovanni Ribisi stars as Marius, who isn’t exactly free now that he’s out of jail. He owes $100,000 to a vengeful ...

Sneaky Pete

... up on her doorstep. The spot-on casting doesn't stop there. Ribisi is a delight — he's put his fingerprints on a number of fine roles in the past, but if Sneaky Pete takes off for Amazon, this one can add some definition. He's funny and likable and, when the stakes get raised and the narrative becomes dramatic, he's the anchor. Cranston, who was only supposed to have a small role as Vince, the dangerous gangster Marius tried and failed to con, has stuck around (it's still a small role, but important, and you can sense he feels there's something special going on). Marin Ireland (Hell or High Water, Girls), who is long overdue for a role fully worthy of her talents, could end up being the wild card here. She plays Julia, one of fake Pete's many relatives whom, as it turns out, he doesn't really know much about (see, that plan had lots of holes). She's a ...

Young 'victoria,' A 'young Pope' And 'sneaky Pete

... on Sunday, it's the premiere "The Young Pope" (10 and 11 p.m., HBO) — which is pretty much exactly what the title indicates. The narrative on this very dark series centers on a 40 ish pope — Pius XIII, born Lenny Belardo, (Jude Law) — who is an enigma. He's not progressive. He's not liberal. He might not even believe in God. Or is he just kidding. TOP JOBS. I've seen four episodes and, honestly, I still haven't figured this one out. And if you're a subscriber, check out "Sneaky Pete" (streaming beginning Friday, Amazon): If you give it a couple of episodes, you just might get caught up in this tale of a con man (Giovanni Ribisi) who gets in trouble with a gangster (Bryan Cranston). Friday on TV. • Women's college basketball (6 p.m. P 12 N): Stanford at Utah. • "Mac Gyver" (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. ...

Tv Shows To Watch The Week Of Jan. 9, 2017

... a con that is always on the verge of coming apart. Much like Marius, “Sneaky Pete” so throws itself into the art of selling the story that it is mostly convinced itself of every emotional beat; it lives in the moment with precise doling out of suspense and monologue, keeping the audience hooked. “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events,” Netflix, Friday. Neil Patrick Harris stars in Netflix’s latest series, which Variety critic Sonia Soraiya calls a “fantastic adaptation” of the original Lemony Snicket children’s books. In her review, she continues to rave about the “weird, wonderful masterpiece,” though she notes that Harris, who plays the villainous Count Olaf, falls a bit short with the tricky role. However, with the overall cast, the set pieces and performances, the series comes together for one “complete, considered vision.”. “ The Young Pope ,” HBO, Sunday, 9 p.m. Jude Law counts as the latest A-lister to head to TV. In this 10-part miniseries, he plays an American who is elected to be the Pope, and our critics says he “delivers the goods” with the “intelligently meaty role.” Our review says the Paolo Sorrentino-directed project has a “delicious conceit ...

Amazon’s ‘sneaky Pete,’ With Bryan Cranston And Giovanni Ribisi

... Studios. January 7, 2017 | 01:26 PM PT. not quite prestige drama, not quite procedural, 'Sneaky Pete' has the fun of a heist movie and the sensibility of crime drama. For a show about a desperate ex-con looking for his next mark, “ Sneaky Pete ” is awfully lighthearted. Early on, a criminal tries to shake a tail by convincing his accomplice to do “that thing you did in Wichita.” Recognition dawns on her face.”Are you f–king serious?” she yelps — but then the episode smash cuts, with ruthless amusement, to her doing that thing she did in Wichita, which in this case is drawing away the tail’s attention by appearing nude in an upper-story window. (You can see why she was annoyed.). “Sneaky Pete” is both crime and caper, walking a fascinating and ultimately successful line between grit and hijinks. The show’s murderous sense of timing makes it feel like a Rube-Goldberg machine of episodic storytelling, where the audience is constantly imagining the many ways this precarious construction will fall to pieces. It’s a style that befits “Sneaky Pete’s” lead Marius ( Giovanni Ribisi ), a smooth-talking con man who is always extemporizing, adding frills to a con ...

Fairview's Sneaky Pete's Returns

... little nightspot isn't the sort of place to go if you’re in a hurry. The cocktails are prepared in stages, and every item on the menu is made to order from scratch. But it’s well worth the wait. The menu itself is like a bistro bible that's fun to read. Every cocktail, wine, spirit or craft beer has a detailed description that includes a short history. There are also helpful hints that explain which beverages should accompany which food items. General Manager Darrell Knopfel has a genuine passion for providing wonderful products with exceptional service. His recent motto, “Hey Erie, let’s Charcut-Erie,” is part of his new mission to give locals the same kind of refined dining experience found in metropolitan areas. The charcuterie boards served up at Sneaky Pete's offer choice prepared meats and cheeses bursting with flavor. But be sure to save some room for other delectable choices, too, including the crabcake appetizer or the mouthwatering filet medallions with roasted red peppers and Gorgonzola on a buttered croissant. Sneaky Pete’s, formally called the Colonial Inn for many years, is in ...

Amazon’s Sneaky Pete Is An Addictive Binge-watch

... audience to exhale before some other calamity presents itself. Admittedly, it requires a leap of faith to think that Pete’s family would accept that Marius was their long-lost relative, even if he does slightly resemble the actual Pete (Ethan Embry) and, thanks to Pete’s constant nostalgia trips in prison, know key details about their backstory. (It also helps that Martindale’s Audrey becomes more skeptical of him starting in episode two.) The series has such a strong command of tone and pacing that, like any good con artist, it persuades you to overlook the parts that might not add up. Sneaky Pete is a show about a guy in a pretty serious situation that doesn’t take itself too seriously. To borrow yet another phrase popularized by an AMC series, one that happened to star Mr. Cranston, it understands the value of treading lightly. ...

The Beginning Of Everything,' 'sneaky Pete' And More Coming To Amazon Prime In January

... racism. Edward Norton and Edward Furlong play two brothers who become involved in the neo-Nazi movement. In the present, younger Danny uses a history class assignment to explore why he and his brother's involvement with the neo-Nazis was so deeply flawed. In the past, older Derek goes on a racist tirade on television and later is sent to prison for manslaughter after killing would-be thieves. Rent (2005), Jan. 1: Featuring six of the original Broadway cast members, Rent chronicles the lives of a group living in the East Village of New York City. The musical tracing the group's struggles with sexuality, drugs and paying their rent in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic in the late 1980 s. Sneaky Pete: Season 1 (Amazon original), Jan. 13: Con man Marius (Giovanni Ribisi) gets out of prison, but is still haunted by the vicious gangster he once robbed. Like any smart con man, he decides to assume the identity of his cellmate, Pete, and reunite with Pete's estranged family. The series was part of Amazon's pilot program last year and also stars Marin Ireland, Margo Martindale, Peter ...