Mr. Corman

Existence in all its frustration. Fears, facades, buttons and conditioned responses, and worse-- conditioned, cliché dreams imposed by an overwhelming society.

Actors are great, direction is smart, dialog insightful, everything pro with some interesting dabs of creativity... but this show may not be the experience most people are looking for.

On the other hand, everyone can relate to something in this show and snicker or sneer... it's a must-see for psychologists, psychiatrists and anyone who has experienced paranoia, depression, severe anxiety or panic attacks. For me the real mastery in storytelling here was showing that these are all related, overlapping symptoms hinting at a greater underlying condition beyond anyone's control.

I knew I loved this show 10 minutes in when Mr. Corman spoke exactly like me. Everything he said on the couch with his friend is exactly what I say/think and my friends agree lol. It's great to see something so relatable that's not just like nostalgia comedy. I went in expecting to hate it because most things that touch in depression are preachy and pretentious (this is too), but it does a good job.

JGL is one of the best actors of our current era. He also has provided some of the best performances in TV and theatrical. He is also eccentric and a little quirky. Mr. Corman delivers yet another great character. The show really is taking some risks so early on which will probably alienate some viewers. The structure of the series is a bit choppy and uneven. A couple episodes are really good then a couple divert from the concept and are pointless. Did we need a whole episode already about his roommate who is missing for a lot of other episodes? Anything that promotes mental health is a huge tick and some of the scenes are brilliantly written and played but then it drifts off into "Ally McBeal"-territory and drags on some ideas which have no pay off. JGL is behind-the-scenes on this one so he takes a bit of responsibility here. I would be surprised if this gets a second season and even more shocked if it ever gets to a third one. JGL is kinda to blame here despite yet another excellent performance.

It's very well made, written, acted... but it's absolutely not what I need right now in my life (personally). More anxiety, stress, despair, depression is not what I need from my entertainment when my state is on fire (California) and we're in a pandemic and teetering towards fascism. That mixed with the "life of despair" element to this, where he's clearly not feeling happy or satisfied with his life... yeah, after 2 episodes, I had to stop.

Again, extremely well made. Just not what my brain (or soul) need right now. It's hitting a little too close to home, given everything.

But I don't want to rate it for the same reason...

I didn't like "Don Jon" - despite it having some outstanding moments - and I missed "Hitrecord on TV".

Mr Corman won't be remembered for any spectacular scene, directing trick or great actor's moment. In fact, looking at the reviews here, it's likely it will be even forgotten. Still is a brillant production where realism and characters' inner thoughts and feelings meld together; where surrealism, grit and misery mix effortlessly.

Mr Corman - except for at most 10 minutes over the whole series length - is incredibly solid in depicting crisis, incommunicability and modern human condition in all its personal dimensions. Aging, loneliness, family life, love relationships, friendships, financial hurdles, societal pressures, work-life up to the meaning of life: JGL provides a very mature and refined ouvre, which surprisingly gets produced (possibly due to a very limited budget?). All the while avoiding being preachy or overly depressing.

It could have winked a bit more to the viewers by introducing more immediately funny or tear-jerking stuff and by cutting out some of the heaviest scenes (ep 2 and 9 IMO): but is this a flaw? I'm not sure myself so between 8 or 10 I'll go with a 9.

Kudos for a great job.