Paul Schrader is among the finest filmmakers working as we speak. Over the many years, he’s confirmed to be a risk-taking artist who isn’t afraid to push buttons or problem the viewer. And over the previous few years, he’s been prepared to take that form of perspective and apply it to social media, the place his Facebook posts have been stuffed with sizzling takes and savage criticism. No one is secure from Schrader’s vital opinion. Not even essentially the most universally beloved collection of 2023, “The Last of Us.”
In a latest Facebook publish, Paul Schrader explains his latest expertise making an attempt to observe HBO’s “The Last of Us.” The collection tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world the place a fungus contaminated the brains of people and led to the near-extinction of humanity and a horde of zombie-like monsters. But the story is unquestionably about extra than simply zombies. There are severe emotional stakes, thanks in no small half to the exceptional performing and writing.
“THE LAST OF US. ‘You gotta watch this,’ a friend said. ‘But,’ I replied, ‘it’s a zombie show.’ ‘Yeah,’ they answered, ‘but it’s really good.’ So I watched. And sure enough 35min into episode one zombies were staggering around the street. So I shut it off. ‘But you got to watch episode three,’ my friend countered. So I did. It was a super shmaltzy gay bro euthanasia melo (at least there were no undead). What am I missing?”
Without getting an excessive amount of into the spoiler weeds, suffice it to say, Episode 3 does characteristic a little bit of a bottle episode the place the story follows two survivors of the apocalypse who come collectively in surprising methods to develop love. It’s an episode that the majority are saying is well going to be among the best episodes of TV all 12 months. But to Schrader, it’s “super shmaltzy gay bro euthanasia melo.”
To every their very own, in fact, and Schrader has earned the proper to his personal opinion. But you possibly can’t assist however suppose that possibly the filmmaker has delivered a sizzling take a bit too spicy for his personal good, and he’s lacking the boat on what may be one of many higher tales advised on TV and in movie this 12 months.