DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
'Catch-22' Again Eludes Capture, but Hulu's Six-Part Miniseries Makes a Very Game Go of It
May 17, 2019  | By Ed Bark  | 9 comments
 
 
George Clooney recurrently loves a man in uniform, dating all the way back to Combat High, a super-obscure 1986 TV movie in which he played Maj. Biff Woods.

He’s since fought his way through The Peacemaker, The Thin Red Line, Three Kings, The Good German, The Monuments Men and a live TV remake of Fail Safe. But Hulu’s six-episode redo of Joseph Heller’s careening, paradoxical anti-war novel is by far Clooney’s most daring mission. Catch-22, published in 1961 and made into a spotty 1970 feature film directed by Mike Nichols, is tough duty for any filmmaker. But here it is, rambling into view as a very nice try that may be as good as anyone will ever get in terms of puzzling all of this out.

Clooney does triple duty as producer, director of two episodes and supporting character who snarls his way through Catch-22’s beginning before returning at its end as Lt./Col./Gen. Scheisskopf. He originally had cast himself in the busier role of Col. Cathcart but decided to step back, ease his workload and instead deploy Kyle Chandler (left), who’s superb as the dictatorial group commander of a U.S. Army Air Forces base in Pianosa, Italy.

Catch-22’s central role of reluctant bombardier John “YoYo” Yossarian is played by Christopher Abbott (top), whose TV work includes supporting parts in Girls and The Sinner. The character is first seen in the nude, his face bloodied before he unleashes a primal yell. It’s then back to Flight Training School at the Santa Ana Army base, where Scheisskopf loudly chews out his underlings for their inability to march in straight lines. At one point he exclaims, “Apparently we’re all a bunch of mongoloids!”

That kind of language since has rightly become a fireable offense. And in that context, it’s worth noting that Catch-22, with its all-white male cast (and only brief appearances by women, the majority of them prostitutes) cannot help but look badly out of step, even if it’s true to the World War II realities of the novel. Clooney has chosen not to “re-imagine” any of the principal roles in the interests of casting women or persons of color. Sensitivities being what they are, some will find fault with this -- and they have a point to some extent. After all, Catch-22 is in large part a surreal, satirical novel that is ready-made for diverse casting and applicable to any war.

The title refers to Yossarian’s central dilemma. Following training and his repeated punishments for insolence, he’s quickly transported to “Two Months” later in Italy. Having flown 16 of his required 25 bombing missions, he’s looking for a medical reason to bail on the rest of them. But as Doc Daneeka (Grant Heslov, right) tells him, an airman is considered crazy if he willingly keeps flying combat missions. But a request to be removed from them, on the grounds of insanity, is in fact evidence of a sane response to putting one’s life in constant danger. So under the military’s “Catch-22” clause, there’s no way out. “That’s some Catch, that Catch-22,” Yossarian says.

The demonic Cathcart otherwise keeps raising the number of mandatory missions while Yossarian repeatedly dodges death but witnesses others breathing their last. Episode 1 ends with him trying to scratch off leftover blood spatter on the outside window of his aircraft, the Yankee Doodle. It’s a low point for Yossarian, but one of the miniseries’ symbolic high points.

Yossarian’s airmen buddies include Milo Minderbinder (Daniel David Stewart), a symbol of rampant war profiteering, and Major Major Major (Lewis Pullman), whose haphazard promotion to Major adds a fourth. But he has no interest at all in taking charge of anything, ordering his aide to let people in to see him only after he has left the office for the day.

Tessa Fuller occasionally pops in as unyielding Nurse Duckett, who’s dedicated to serving with no questions asked. And Hugh Laurie (right) of House fame plays Major de Coverley, a requisitions officer who completely disappears after Episode 3. This also is the episode in which Cathcart salutes the deaths and bravery of his airmen by treating them with Baked Alaska. But Yossarian and his crew are bypassed for aborting a mission due to a fabricated in-plane intercom malfunction. “And that is not a face that gets Baked Alaska put in it!” Cathcart bellows after shaming them as cowards. As previously noted, Chandler is really good in this role.

Catch-22 also can lag and drag, particularly in an Episode 4 that’s largely devoted to Milo’s far-flung mercenary machinations. Yossarian, for some reason, joins him, even though he seems to be on the verge of finally getting his discharge. Episode 5 also veers rather wildly at times before Episode 6 finds its bearings in a very moving and extended segment in which Yossarian comforts a badly wounded new member of his crew while their bombing run is still in progress.

The ending differs from the book’s or the previous movie’s wrap-up. It’s absurd on the face of it, but also in keeping with Yossarian’s numbness and surrender to his inescapable realities. 

Clooney and company have tried their utmost to navigate the swervy Catch-22. It may well be the last such effort. And they fare better than the movie did without fully sticking the landing. Then again, who could? Bronze stars to all.
 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
HCGPA
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: 
9 Comments
 
 
Scott
To whom it may concern,

There is a tech expert that can help you in recovering all the money lost to scammers online. It recently worked for me and I now have peace of mind after the huge recovery of all my lost funds. If you are a victim of online scams then I will advise you contact them with the details below.

Email: alliancedigitalrecovery (AT) outlook.com
Whatsapp: +44 7,,4,,5,,2,, 2,,4,,7,,2,,7,,7
Aug 27, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
It has been great for me to read such great information about this content,thanks a lot keep sharing any new updates.
May 11, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Hello, I read this nice article. I think You put a best effort to write this perfect article. I appreciate your work. thank you so much.
Apr 2, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Can I just say what a relief to seek out someone who actually is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You undoubtedly know the way to bring an issue to light and make it important.
Mar 6, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Artificial Grass Liquidators
By using the Tor browser, you can access the dark web. The dark web is also referred to as onionland, since onion routing is a method used to anonymize traffic.
Feb 18, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Our comprehensive services include brickwork, stone work, curbing, concrete/interlock patios, walkways, retaining walls, fireplaces and all types of waterproofing/drainage problems. construction and material selection require attention to detail and expertise in masonry plumbing. Lusitania Masonry, LLC. combines dependability and art to create construction you will enjoy for years to come.
Feb 13, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
We are proud to provide our customers with the best possible home, business and condo tree trimming service and experience. We believe in showing up on time and getting the job done right the first time, at a good value for your hard-earned money. Our tree surgeons and arborists offer a really wide range of tree services and we look forward to helping you improve or repair your property's landscaping. Contact us today at 631.212.8250 for a no obligation, free quote!
Feb 13, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Superior post, keep up with this exceptional work. It's nice to know that this topic is being also covered on this web site so cheers for taking the time to discuss this! Thanks again and again!
Jan 28, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Neil
>>Clooney has chosen not to “re-imagine” any of the principal roles in the interests of casting women or persons of color... After all, Catch-22 is in large part a surreal, satirical novel that is ready-made for diverse casting and applicable to any war.<<

True, and IMO, anyone who wants to tackle a satirical story about the absurdities of war should start with a more modern book, a new title, and/or a contemporary screenplay. (Sort of like M*A*S*H, which already did this to great success.)

Joseph Conrad's "Catch 22" was a masterpiece, and is a classic. Leave it alone. IMO, George Clooney took the right approach. Adapt the story for the screen with the fewest alterations possible, even if that means "Damn both the torpedos and Political Correctness".

Regardless of what someone thinks of Mike Nichols' movie adaptation, he was handicapped by the realities of length and budget. Clooney, having six hours for his "canvas", at least has a better chance to do justice to the book.
May 17, 2019   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: