Too Old to Die Young

One beautiful shot after the other, atmosphere-building silences, sparse dialogue, echoing analog synth drones. If you've seen any of Refn's last 3 films (Drive, Only God Forgives, Neon Demon) then you know the score and you should probably know what to expect coming into this so-called series, which really is much more of a 13-hour movie/bad acid trip.

Except with so much time for Refn to do as he pleases we end up with much more atmosphere-building silent moments, and somehow the dialogue is even sparser - Miles Teller basically plays a corrupt cop version of Ryan Gosling's Driver minus the toothpick. The end result comes across like a non-supernatural, neon-colours David Lynch piece with a mesmerizing score by Cliff Martinez at his best. This alone makes it worth watching - it's like being in an art gallery, watching one beautiful moving painting after another as brilliant, haunting music fades in and out. Is there much underneath this shimmering, beautiful surface? Debatable. Does it matter? Only if you like your TV and movies old school style, with a well-conceived plot and characters you can empathise with.

This is going to be very difficult to summarize properly.

Refn is a madman. It seems that he truly doesn't care how difficult his series is to get through, and once you get far enough into it, you start to admire that. Does it feel like each scene is designed to entertain the viewer? No. Not at all, and it takes a lot of getting used to.

I found Episode 1 challenging but by the time it was over, it had me extremely excited for the rest of the series, then I found Episode 2, 3, and 4 absolutely miserable. But, now, looking back, I find myself wondering...were they as bad as they felt to me upon my first viewing, or had I simply not yet become accustomed to Refn's fully unique approach to series programming? I actually told myself I was gonna stop watching after Episode 5, but then Episode 5 was bold enough that it re-piqued my interest, then I found Episode 6 and 7 absolutely masterful and I was locked into finishing the series. I would actually say that Episodes 6 and 7 are two of the greatest things Refn has ever done (along with Bronson and Drive, I suppose) - everything that makes him an innovative force in filmmaking are really firing off full fledged in these episodes. And, if I hadn't battled through the dreadfully boring lead-up episodes prior, I don't think these episodes would have been nearly as rewarding. Though this series does not offer a traditionally linear story, even upon completion, Too Old To Die Young IS a cohesive experience, which is not worthwhile unless you give it all 13 hours.

You may find yourself angered at first - why are these slow panning shots of environments with basically nothing happening lasting 3-5 minutes long? At first, I felt that even in a sense of world-building, they were not effective. I did not feel that they were building any atmosphere or tension - however, by the time I got about halfway through the series, I found myself addicted to the show's slow burn. It moves with a nightmarish sludge, comparable only to the likes of David Lynch's LOST HIGHWAY, and such. Though Lynch and his Twin Peaks, primarily, are the only truly comparable things that I can think of, Too Old To Die Young still maintains it's own unique vibe that is fully a beast of it's own, actually quite far off from anything Lynch did - the only way they are comparable is in their dreamlike pace, their brooding sense of dread, and their utter bizarreness.

With all challenging aspects put aside, what the series really obviously offers as it's greatest strengths are it's stunning photography, sets, and lighting, another lush and masterful synth music score from today's maestro, Cliff Martinez, who I swear just keeps getting better and better, and some truly gripping, perhaps even legendary, acting performances.

First of all, Billy Baldwin, coming out of left field and putting in one of the most jilting, revolting, creepiest performances I have seen in some time. I was quite surprised and completely astonished. This man deserves much more work, and even some awards in my opinion. Cristina Rodlo, whom I had never heard of - absolutely breathtaking with her presence - convincingly terrifying in her almost inhuman role, which requires a bit of suspension of disbelief - in the end, her character and her haunting performance the most memorable thing about this entire series - and it must be mentioned that she is utterly gorgeous, stunning beyond belief. Augusto Aguilera also leaves serious mental marks as the orphaned drug lord - much like Rodlo as Yuritza, he manages to be so beautiful looking yet so simultaneously terrifying just underneath his discomforting calmness, consistently. All three of these characters are legendary. Miles Teller is also tastefully casted, as his character is never quite likable, always disquieting, and always keeps you guessing - a vibe that Teller is quite made for. Nell Tiger Free and Babs Olusanmokun also make lasting impressions - I will not be forgetting them after this viewing.

Overall, I'm pretty certain I'm going to consider myself a pretty big huge fan of this series for a lifetime, but it's one of those things that I will not be recommending to most people. I truly don't think that the majority of individuals will have the patience for it, nor will they understand what's to appreciate about it in the end, but if you let it creep it's way into you, if you admire true innovation in art & media, and if you have a taste for the darker side of surrealism, Too Old To Die Young may very well be worth your eternal brain space.

Thank you, Nicolas Winding Refn, for giving series programming something truly different for a change. Thank you very much.

Being a fan of Refn's previous work I've been waiting patiently for this and definitely not disappointed. Yes it's a slow-burn piece but with that it's building perfect atmosphere and mood! If you enjoyed Drive, Only God Forgives and Valhalla Rising you'll be in for a treat here. The soundtrack is dark, gloomy and the visuals have a beautiful tint of colours.

A little disappointed in reviewers saying it's slow and giving low scores after only seeing 1 episode. It's for viewers with open minds and willing to take in what's happening in a cinematography stand point, sounds, as well as acting and story...

If I was to compare this to other directors work I'd say it has a fair bit of Lynch's abstract filmmaking and Kubrick's tracking shots on top of its own unique originality.

Extremely dark, powerful, provocative and holds a place in my heart.

We cannot be certain of our true selves for we are not the rational creatures we purport to be. We lie to ourselves constantly. And when we do reveal ourselves - it is often with the suddenness and venom of serpents. At the heart of Too Old to Die Young lies a mandala of irrational selves, where characters are adrift in a vivid dreamlike emptiness that is both conscious and unconscious and "time is a river that flows in both directions."

The characters cannot help but to be molded by the irrational, by choices, accidents, violence and experience. You do not need a brick by brick plot in order to decipher them-for with these characters the mighty stone has already dropped into the river when we meet them - and the rippling gyre is already in motion. This is the genius of Refn. The ripples widen, slow and fade like the pure tone of a Tibetan gong.

The cinematography is bold and saturated; the location and settings and lighting is equal to the characterization. It is beautiful and challenging and violently poetic. If you need to cling to manifestations of order and generalized stereotypes to enjoy a work of art - then this won't appeal to you.

Nicolas Winding Refn said he wanted to create a "really long movie," and "Too Old to Die Young" was birthed from that desire. It is a very long, slow, bizarre, and violent series that covers a series of topics pertaining to corrupt police officers, the Mexican cartel, paid hitmen, psychics, and many more that are too graphic to write about. And I loved every minute of this show.

I am definitely biased because I enjoy Nicolas Winding Refn's films, but I found "Too Old to Die Young" to be mesmerizing and utterly engaging with its euphoric score and ethereal visuals. Granted, it took me about three episodes to be fully engaged, but the wait was certainly worth it. This show treats you to depraved characters you won't be able to help but like as the series goes on; to violent sequences that are filmed so beautifully that you'll want to look away but be unable to; to a slow-paced and nuanced story that consistently picks up steam and builds to an explosive finale; to plot points so horrific that you won't believe Amazon greenlit this series for their streaming platform. And it all makes for some of the best viewing I've had in a while.

As always, this show looks and sounds absolutely incredible, which isn't a surprise with Refn. This show has a decidedly over-stylized feel to it, with neon-drenched visuals and an overbearing score hanging overhead most scenes, and I couldn't get enough of it. Refn has a way of making those things work, and I just enjoy both of those aspects a lot in movies. Every episode submerges you to new things to look at and hear, and it is honestly exciting to see what Refn will make you endure next.

As I mentioned, "Too Old to Die Young" also has a story that deals with a various amount of plot points. I won't spoil any here, but let's just say that it makes the show completely unpredictable as you won't know what it's going to pull out of its hat next. Also, every actor in here did a phenomenal job, even though most of them are classically stoic and borderline mute, both traits that Refn enjoys making his characters embody. Regardless, the acting in this show was good, and as the series goes on it gives its characters many times to shine.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this show and will definitely be giving it a rewatch when I have time to spare. There is just so much to enjoy here, and if you're a fan of Refn, you will definitely find things to like, if not love.