Narcos
Created by:
Chris Brancato
Carlo Bernard
Doug Miro
2015-
Crime, Drama
Netflix
TV-MA
At the beginning of “Narcos,” a new Netflix drama that’s based on the life and times of Pablo Escobar, this flashes onscreen: “There is a reason magical realism was born in Columbia.” We’re told that magical realism is too strange to be believed. But will this series live up to that standard?
Director José Padilha infuses the first episode of “Narcos” with a style and structure that are reminiscent of Martin Scorsese’s work, especially of “Goodfellas.” The story is narrated, via voice-over, by DEA agent Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook). He gives us an overview of how Escobar (Wagner Moura, who worked with Padilha on the “Elite Squad” films) went from being a successful smuggler of all manner of things to being a drug (cocaine) kingpin. Scorsese uses voice-overs in similar ways. We’re shown how Pablo operates. He’s a genius at this. For instance, in a scene that depicts one of Escobar’s early encounters with DAS (Columbia’s version of the FBI), he demonstrates his knowledge of the agents’ personal preferences and family lives and offers them gifts tailored to that. But, he issues a veiled threat afterward. He says, “I am Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria. My eyes are everywhere.”
Padilha also uses interior tracking shots to depict violence. He uses freeze frames, too. He’s like Scorsese siphoned through the rhythms and flavors of Latin America. But, Padilha’s style isn’t overly derivative. (He’s not afraid of hand-held cameras.) He’s an assured director, and his work on “Narcos” feels just right. This is a much better representation of what he can do as a director than his remake of “RoboCop,” which released last year. He makes you want to listen to what’s being said and to read subtitles when they appear – a necessary accomplishment.
Set in the 1970s and 1980s, “Narcos” doesn’t simply focus on Escobar’s rise to power. It also focuses on Agent Murphy’s life and work and on the tactics of his partner, Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal, who did a great job as the Red Viper, Oberyn Martell, on “Game of Thrones”). Peña is known as “the a**hole.” So, the first episode sets up this series’ three main characters and its time period. Furthermore, we see what the DEA has at its disposal to identify and hunt down its targets – no GPS or cell phones here.
But the question still remains: Will “Narcos” tell a story that’s too strange to be believed? Will it bring the magic along with the realism? At this point, I’d have to say no. But that’s not a big problem. “Narcos” works in the mold of a standard crime drama. Its execution is familiar yet strong. However, if it winds up casting a spell later on, that’ll just be icing on a rather fine cake.
Verdict: Very Good
About: (Source: narcos)
The true story of Colombia’s infamously violent and powerful drug cartels fuels this gritty new gangster drama series.
