Rambo: Last Blood (2019) or, Rambo: Mexico Cleanup!

♥♥♥

Sylvester Stallone's Vietnam hero's arguably becoming a Halloween-type revenge-set human ghoul is obvious in this stylized, great poster for Adrian Grünberg's Rambo: Last Blood

Vietnam veteran John Rambo has build a quiet life for himself on his Arizona ranch, but as a step-father for young woman Gabrielle, he now must alert himself to new strife, as she insists on exploring her alienated father in Mexico.

Rambo: Last Blood is written by Matthew Cirulnick (Paid in Full (2002)) and co-writer/star Sylvester Stallone (F.I.S.T (1978)), with Dan Gordon (The Hurricane (1999)) supplying story elements, and directed by Adrian Grünberg (Get the Gringo (2012)). It is the 5th film in the Rambo franchise that has previous chapters; First Blood (1982), Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988) and Rambo (2008).
Stallone returns with impressive physique, especially since he is 73 years old today, and his face is a chapter in itself; the hang-dog expression, bulges and furrows that make him look like no other 73 year-old: certainly a life of training, violence (most of it staged), steroids and who knows what cosmetic alterations have made Stallone's face unique to the point where he almost appears a new Halloween monster, right up there with Karloff's Mummy, Dracula and Freddy Krueger.
The first scenes show us that Rambo still feels impelled to help out his fellow man when possible, saving a young woman in a raging storm on a mountain. His life with live-in maid Maria and adoptive daughter Gabrielle is as close to idyllic as this traumatized killing machine will ever get. But Rambo lives mostly in his dirt cave system underneath the ranch, a clue to understanding the depths of his knowledge of human darkness.
Gabrielle's rebellious trip to Mexico doesn't end well, (the film teaches us to never trust anyone by the name Gizelle, and also shows us that all Mexican men, (which are almost restricted to cops and cartel gangsters in Rambo: Last Blood), are violent, misogynistic rapists. SPOILER Rambo tries to save Gabrielle but the gangsters' evil claims her life, apparently necessary for the elaborately creative death-trap plans that Rambo then sets up at his ranch, luring evil home for his bloody reckoning.
No one expects a masterpiece with Rambo V. And there are plenty of things to wonder about and half-way flaws in the writing: Where is the violent rainstorm, when Rambo has ridden back to his ranch on his horse? Why does a casual line from one of the villains about 17,000 girls trafficked by them in a year not get followed up? How did the convoy of armed villains drive straight into the US and to Rambo's ranch? And so on and so forth.
These objections are not too important, but what does impede the film are other elements: Paz Vega (Not Forgotten (2009)) is a Mexican journalist, who lost her sister to the cartel and who helps Rambo, - but then leaves the story again. The main cartel villains are two brothers, but as characters and villains they are wholly forgettable. Gabrielle's ordeal and the story on the whole could have done with some more brains; clever writing and unforeseen developments are not Rambo: Last Blood's main forte. But it brings the violent carnage that its pulpy title promises and is still better than the franchise's lowest ebb quality-wise, Rambo III.

Related post:

Adrian Grünberg: Get the Gringo/How I Spent My Summer Vacation (2012) - Mexico is just a little merrier with Mel Gibson

Stallone talks about the film in a 3-minute video here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: Unknown yet
= Unknown yet
[Rambo: Last Blood premiered 18 September (Indonesia) and runs 89 minutes. Pre-production was started and stopped several times with different plot ideas since the flop of Rambo (2008). Shooting took place in Bulgaria and Spain from October - December 2018. The film is opening against other major releases Ad Astra and Downtown Abbey. It is opening next week in France, Chile, Colombia, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Portugal and Spain and in Argentina 10 October. Talks of the Rambo franchise's future, coming from Stallone, center on a prequel about the character before and during his time as a soldier in the Vietnam War, which may or may not come to fruition. Grünberg does not have an announced next directing gig. Stallone is announced to star in 3 upcoming films; Tough as They Come, The Expendables 4 and Scarpa. Rambo: Last Blood is rotten at 36 % with a 4.58/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Rambo: Last Blood?

Sunshine (2007) - Boyle's great-looking, suspenseful sci-fi

♥♥♥♥

+ Best Huge Flop Movie of the Year + Best Science Fiction Movie of the Year

Critical hype that's barely readable features on this visually promising poster for Danny Boyle's Sunshine

The sun is dying, and consequently, so is mankind. A second manned space mission is launched in 2050 to reignite the sun with a nuclear bomb. But the Icarus II mission encounters many problems along the way...

Sunshine is written by Alex Garland (28 Days Later... (2002)) and directed by great English filmmaker Danny Boyle (Shallow Grave (1994)). It is arguably one of Boyle's best films and could even be called the most exciting space movie since Alien (1979).
Sunshine has beautiful images (terrific, ambitious cinematography by Alwin H. Küchler (Morvern Callar (2002))), impressive visual effects, a handsome, talented ensemble cast, and good suspense.
What isn't wholly great is the film's ending, which is strange, as a mysterious, deformed person from the first Icarus mission is roaming onboard. SPOILER It all ends in a psychedelic conclusion, where Boyle sticks closely to the film's unexceptional score (by John Murphy (The Man (2005))).

Related posts:

Danny Boyle: 127 Hours (2010) - Boyle and Franco get stuck with an inconsequential true story
2007 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
28 Days Later (2002) or, Fast Zombies in England 
The Beach (2000) or, Paradise Never Lasts

Watch a trailer for the film here 

Cost: 40 mil. $
Box office: 32 mil. $
= Huge flop (returned 0.8 times its cost)
[Sunshine premiered 23 March (Bochum Fantasy Filmfest Nights, Germany) and runs 107 minutes. Shooting took place in London, England, Sydney, Australia and in Stockholm, Sweden for 3 months, starting in August 2005. The film opened #25 to a 242k $ first weekend in 10 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #13 and in 461 theaters, grossing 3.6 mil. $ (11.3 % of the total gross). The film's biggest market was main production country the UK with 6.4 mil. $ (20 %). North America was the 2nd biggest, and 3rd biggest was France with 3.1 mil. $ (9.7 %). The film won 1/2 British Independent Film awards. Roger Ebert gave it a 3/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. It was criticized by scientists for scientific inaccuracies; for instance reportedly billions of the nuclear bomb targeted at the sun in the film would actually be needed to cause a reignition. Boyle said that he would not return to the sci-fi genre after the lengthy production process with Sunshine. The film made in excess of 15.83 mil. $ on North American home video sales; if added into the calculation, it would change the film's status to that of big flop instead. Boyle returned with Alien Love Triangle (2008, short) and theatrically with Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Cillian Murphy (Cold Mountain (2003)) returned in Watching the Detectives (2007). Sunshine is certified fresh at 76 % with a 6.84/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Sunshine?

Something's Gotta Give (2003) - Meyers, Jack & Diane are a killer combo

♥♥♥♥♥

+ Best Screen Couple of the Year: Jack Nicholson & Diane Keaton

Few stars are established enough that marketing their major film relies solely on their first names, but in the case of Nancy Meyers' Something's Gotta Give, the confidence is understandable

A middle-aged playwright gets an unexpected visit in her house in the Hamptons by her daughter and her much older boyfriend. SPOILER He has several heart attacks; she falls in love easily; he does not...

Something's Gotta Give is written and directed by great Pennsylvanian filmmaker Nancy Meyers (The Parent Trap (1998)).
It is a wonderful film of a rare breed that I don't mind admitting being a sucker for. It features grand acting from Diane Keaton (The Godfather: Part II (1974)), Jack Nicholson (The Rebel Rousers (1970)), Frances McDormand (Bleeding Hearts (1994)), Amanda Peet (Identity Thief (2013)) and Keanu Reeves (Ellie Parker (2005)). It is completely sweet and smartly written and directed. Meyers' grip on the romcom genre is eminent. My only (small) qualm is that the third act is a little long.

Related post:

Nancy Meyers: It's Complicated (2009) - Meyers' delightful romcom star vehicle

2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 

2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 80 mil. $
Box office: 266.7 mil. $
=  Box office success (returned 3.33 times its cost)
[Something's Gotta Give was released 12 December (USA) and runs 128 minutes. Nicholson and Keaton had previously starred together in Reds (1981). Shooting took place in Paris, France and in California, including Los Angeles, and in New York from February - July 2003. The film opened #1 to a 16 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed in the top 5 for another 4 weeks (#3-#4-#3-#5) and grossed 124.7 mil. $ (46.8 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Germany with 22.2 mil. $ (8.3 %) and the UK with 12.6 mil. $ (4.7 %). The film was nominated for 1 Oscar: Best Actress (Keaton), lost to Charlize Theron for Monster. The film won 1/2 Golden Globe nominations, a National Board of Review award and several other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 3½/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Meyers returned with The Holiday (2006). Nicholson returned in The Departed (2006); Keaton in The Family Stone (2005). Something's Gotta Give is fresh at 72 % with a 6.6/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Something's Gotta Give?

Song for a Raggy Boy (2003) - Walsh's adaptation of reforming a Catholic reformatory school is moving and well-acted

♥♥♥♥

+ Best Box Office Disaster of the Year + Best Irish Movie of the Year

The limitation of color seems to imply something troubling on this sparse poster for Aisling Walsh's Song for a Raggy Boy

We are at an Irish Catholic reformatory school for troubled boys. The first teacher who does not arrive from the church is now hired, and he is immediately confronted with the tyranny of violence that rules the premises.

Song for a Raggy Boy is written by Kevin Byron Murphy and co-writer/director Aisling Walsh (Joyriders (1988)), adapting the same-titled 1991 autobiographical memoir by Patrick Galvin (The Death of Art O'Leary (1994)).
Aidan Quinn (The Eclipse (2009)) plays the outsider teacher, who begins a fight for radical change, which comes at a significant prize, and one is left to speculate whether his approach was the right one.
Song for a Raggy Boy is a highly sympathetic film about some of the dark sides to Catholicism. Good acting across the board elevates the sometimes banal presentation with moving results.
The story is told very properly; with explanatory (and grim) flashbacks from the Spanish Civil War and brutal scenes of violence. There is an overly sugared ending, but Song for a Raggy Boy is a distinguished effort for all involved nevertheless.

Related posts:

2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 

2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

 

Watch a 1 minute clip from the film here, with Spanish subtitles

Cost: Reportedly around 4.1 mil. $
Box office: Reportedly 783k $
= Box office disaster (returned only around 0.19 times its cost)
[Song for a Raggy Boy premiered 19 January (Sundance Film Festival, Utah) and runs 100 minutes. Getting the project made took 4 years. Shooting took place in Ireland. The film reportedly made 751k $ (95.9 % of the total gross) in the UK, 31k $ in Italy and less than 1k $ in Belgium, the last market on the gross list, though it was released in more countries. The budget is known from a sheet from the Danish Film Institute, who supported the production. Walsh returned with 2 TV and a segment project before hitting theaters solo again with The Daisy Chain (2008). Quinn returned in Freedom: A History of Us (2003, TV-series documentary), Plainsong (2004, TV movie) and theatrically in Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004); Iain Glen (The Iron Lady (2011)) in Spy Sorge (2003). 3,550 IMDb users have given Song for a Raggy Boy a 7.6/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Song for a Raggy Boy?

Silent Hill (2006) - Gans' senseless, unfrightening adaptation

♥♥

A mouthless girl with grey, ghostly eyes and a decaying paint face entreats you from this poster to see Christophe Gans' Silent Hill

A mother drives her adopted daughter to a ghost town called Silent Hill that the girl talks of in her sleep. This proves to be a place with some dark secrets.

Silent Hill is written by Roger Avary (Glitterati (2004)), based on Konami's same-titled 1999 Playstation game, and directed by Christophe Gans (Crying Freeman (1995)).
The film makes no sense to me: SPOILER Silent Hill is a parallel universe with monsters from environmental disasters (it seems?), and a religious demon cult. It is incredible to me that Avary, who had made the masterful Rules of Attraction (2002) shortly before, would fall into this CGI-fueled pit of a film.
Silent Hill does produce great discomfort for its viewers and also boasts some really sick inventions, but as for narrative stringency, building atmosphere and tension, and, most importantly, real scares; this is an empty drum.

Gans gives a 2-minute interview about the film here

Cost: 50 mil. $
Box office: 97.6 mil. $
= Big flop (returned 1.95 times its cost)
[Silent Hill premiered 20 April (Hollywood, California) and runs 125 minutes. Gans had reportedly lobbied to attain the film rights for 5 years, eventually getting them after sending an interview of himself explaining what he would do with the property. Shooting took place in Ontario, including Toronto, and in Manitoba, Canada from April - July 2005. Sony Pictures bought the US and Latin America distribution rights for 14 mil. $. The film opened #1 to a 20.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another weekend in the top 5 (#4) and grossed 46.9 mil. $ (47.6 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 6.7 mil. $ (6.9 %) and France with 5.8 mil. $ (5.9 %). The film made in excess of 22.1 mil. $ from North American home video sales of 1.3 mil. units in 4 weeks, which, if added into the calculation, would change its status to that of a minor flop. Roger Ebert gave the film a 1½/4 star review, translating to a notch harder than this one. Michael J. Bassett directed the sequel, Silent Hill: Revelation (2012), which got even worse reviews but was a box office success. Gans didn't return for 8 years before his Beauty and the Beast/La Belle et la Bête (2014). Radha Mitchell (The Crazies (2010)) returned in Pu-239 (2006). Silent Hill is rotten at 30 % with a 4.52/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Silent Hill?

Sprængfarlig Bombe (2006) - The two Jensens' satire is unrefined but hilarious

♥♥♥♥

Two distinct layers of society, members of the lower class and of the higher creative class, meet on this fun-promising poster for Tomas Villum Jensen's Clash of Egos

Tonny, a modern caveman recently released after serving a stint in prison for violence, works at a garbage station and has just lost visitation rights to see his children, when he snaps over an awful local art film that he has recently bought tickets for.

Clash of Egos is written by Anders Thomas Jensen (The Salvation (2014)) and directed by Tomas Villum Jensen (Love at First Hiccough/Kærlighed ved Første Hik (1999)). The Danish title translates to 'highly charged bomb'.
Both Ulrich Thomsen (Hitman (2007)) as Tonny and Nikolaj Lie Kaas (Max (2000)) as the art film's director Claus Volter are excellent and play their opposed characters with real panache.
The central idea of a primitive brute meeting a pretentious art film snoot is funny and original, and the film has lots of funny moments.
Clash of Egos could have been even better, if the production hadn't looked like rubbish; if Volter's ridiculous art film had been presented sharper; and if the writing had been a little smarter here and there. But these minor complaints don't rob the film of its considerable laughs and primed stars.

Watch a clip from the beginning of the film here, where Tonny has made the mistake of taking his kids to see an inappropriate art film in the cinema

Cost: Unknown
Box office: Uncertain - likely in excess of 2.82 mil. $
= Uncertain - but likely a huge flop
[Sprængfarlig Bombe was released 25 August (Denmark) and runs 90 minutes. Shooting took place in Denmark, including Copenhagen. The film sold 272,140 tickets in production country Denmark, making it a solid hit locally in the small Danish market. It was shown at 4 minor film festivals and released in 2 foreign markets subsequently, likely with negligible grosses. If made on a realistic 20 mil. DKK budget, approximately 2.95 mil. $, the film should likely rank as a huge flop theatrically. It was nominated for a Robert award (Denmark's Oscar). Jensen returned with Ved Verdens Ende (2009). Thomsen returned in Der Liebeswunsch (2006); Kaas in Pu-239 (2006). 2,225 IMDb-users have given Sprængfarlig Bombe a 6.0/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Sprængfarlig Bombe?

Pain and Glory/Dolor y Gloria (2019) - Almodóvar's 8½

♥♥♥♥

Delicious character snapshots from the film are ordered together on this poster for Pedro Almodóvar's Pain and Glory

Aging Spanish filmmaker Salvador Mallo has health problems that restrict him from his craft, which in turn makes him depressed. He reacquaints himself with an old actor friend, thinks of his upbringing and acquires a new dangerous habit.

Pain and Glory is the 22th feature from Spanish master filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar (High Heels/Tacones Lejanos (1991)). It is unique in his body of work in that it is admittedly at least partly auto-biographical, (notice on the deep red poster under the review that the shadow of lead actor Antonio Banderas (Desperado (1995)) has been altered to that of Almodóvar himself.)
It brings to mind the autobiographical film of life as a free-spirited filmmaker, 8½ (1963) from Italian master filmmaker Federico Fellini. - Almodóvar's film is understandably very different, not least because Fellini was in his early 40s, when he made his introspective classic; Almodóvar is turning 70 in a couple of weeks. Judging from the filmmaker we meet in Pain and Glory, Salvador Mallo, this may be Almodóvar's last film.
Pain and Glory is a very quiet film; it has an elegant, subdued score and comes from a noticeably older Almodóvar than we are used to: SPOILER Mallo has quit fancies of a love life; his craft is beyond him due to ailments, which take up much of his energy, - and a considerable amount of the screen-time, - and he smokes heroin as a new hobby instead. Though this aging, melancholic, ailment-complaining filmmaker is well-acted by Banderas, - who would prefer this compared to Almodóvar's past, vivid masterpieces? (This, of course, is also the painful, melancholy reality that growing old confronts the old person with itself.)
I think it is the other part of Pain and Glory that is especially worth the price of admission: The flashbacks to Mallo's childhood, living in poverty with his graceful mother: Penélope Cruz (Ma Ma (2015)) is gorgeous and natural in the part of Mallo's mother, and debuting Asier Flores is terrific as the precocious, wilful chap, who has his first experiences of lust in the perfected shape of workman César Vicente (A Different View/La Otra Mirada (2019, TV-series)), whom the boy teaches reading and writing.
There is warmth and life breathing through these scenes; more so than in the ones about present-day Mallo/Almodóvar, although perhaps honest, the aging creative is too dramatically unopposed here. Nevertheless the result for a longtime cinephile (and therefore obviously a fan of Almodóvar) is like a moving interaction with an old friend.

Related posts:

Pedro Almodóvar: 2019 in films - according to Film Excess 
The Skin I Live In/La Piel que Habito (2011) or, Almodóvar's Extreme Make-Over
Broken Embraces/Los Abrazos Rotos (2009) or, Mysteries in Love and Life
Live Flesh/Carne Trémula (1997) or, A Spanish Fix
Labyrinth of Passion/Laberinto de Pasiones (1982) - Sexual mix-ups in screwball Madrileña style

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: 26.5 mil. $ and counting
= Unknown - but likely a box office success
[Pain and Glory premiered 13 March (Madrid, Spain) and runs 113 minutes. Shooting took place in Spain, including Madrid, for 44 days from July - September 2018. The film has become the highest-grossing Spanish film in Spain of the year so far with a 6.5 mil. $ gross there (24.5 % of the gross to date), its biggest market yet. The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets have been France with 5.8 mil. $ (21.9 %) and Italy with 3.5 mil. $ (13.2 %). The film has yet to open in North America: It is scheduled to open in 8 more markets in September and October: Netherlands, Hong Kong, Sweden, Norway, USA, Indonesia, Singapore and Canada. The film may well end up the filmmaker's highest-grossing since his last major hit Volver (2006), which made 85.5 mil. $. If made on a realistic 10 mil. $ budget, it would already rank as a box office success. It was screened in competition in Cannes, where it won Banderas the Best Actor prize, losing the Palme d'Or to Bong Joon-ho's Parasite. The film has also been chosen as Spain's entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar this year. Almodóvar does not have an announced next project. Banderas returned in El Hormiguero: Vacaciones en el Titanic (2019, short) and in Netflix's The Laundromat (2019); Cruz also in El Hormiguero: Vacaciones en el Titanic and theatrically in Wasp Network (2019). Pain and Glory is certified fresh at 95 % with an 8.27/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Pain and Glory?

Shrek the Third (2007) - Declined quality but still loads of fun to be had with third Shrek

♥♥♥♥

Shrek returns in royal, uncomfortable getup, flanked by his beloved co-characters, on this colorful poster for Raman Hui and Chris Miller's Shrek the Third

When the king of Far Far Away passes away, Shrek and Fiona are the heirs, but the duties don't suit Shrek, who journey out to find the next in line to the throne; teenager Artie. - Meanwhile Prince Charming makes a last attempt at claiming the kingdom for himself.

Shrek the Third is written by Jeffrey Price (Johnny Bago (1993, TV-series)), Peter S. Seaman (Doc Hollywood (1991)), Aron Warner (Antz (1998, producer)) and Chris Miller (Shrek (2001, additional dialog)), with Andrew Adamson (Shrek 2 (2004)) supplying story elements, and directed by Miller and Raman Hui (Monster Hunt (2015)).
Shrek returns for his second sequel, which is still full of funny moments; now with Justin Timberlake (Trolls (2016)) as the new not quite ready heir to the throne heir Artie. The story is less gripping and more raggedy than the ones in Shrek and Shrek 2. And the humor and many of Shrek the Third's long row of jokes are aimed at its adult audiences. It gets by all the same, simply because it is a lot of fun.

Related post:

Shrek franchise: Shrek 2 (2004) - Fun and adventure reign in tremendous family animation romp

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 160 mil. $
Box office: 798.9 mil. $
= Big hit (returned 4.99 times its cost)
[Shrek the Third premiered 6 May (Westwood, California) and runs 92 minutes. Following the massive success of Shrek 2, a third, fourth and possibly a fifth film were announced. The salaries for the film's 3 main stars were not reported this time around. The film opened #1 to a 121.6 mil. $ first weekend in North America, - the biggest opening for an animated film in the market until Finding Dory (2016), - spending another 3 weeks in the top 5 (#2-#3-#5), grossing 322.7 mil. $ (40.3 % of the total gross). It was the 2nd highest-grossing film of the year in North America, selling approximately 46.9 mil. tickets. The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 78.1 mil. $ (9.8 %) and France with 44.2 mil. $ (5.5 %). It was the 4th highest-grossing movie of the year globally. It was nominated for a BAFTA. Roger Ebert gave it a 2.5/4 star review, translating to a notch harder than this review. The film made in excess of 176.7 mil. $ on home video sales in North America from around 11.8 mil. units, which, if added into the equation, would change the film's status to that of 'huge hit'. The franchise returned with Shrek Forever After (2010) and spin-off Puss in Boots (2011), and a reboot may presently be in the works. Hui returned with 4 short efforts before a theatrical release with Monster Hunt (2015); Miller returned with Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots (2011). Mike Myers (The Cat in the Hat (2003)) returned in Shrek the Halls (2007, short) and theatrically in The Love Guru (2008); Eddie Murphy (Harlem Nights (1989)) in Shrek the Halls and theatrically in Meet Dave (2008); Cameron Diaz (Gangs of New York (2002)) in Shrek the Halls and theatrically in What Happens in Vegas (2008). Shrek the Third is rotten at 41 % with a 5.44/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Shrek the Third?

Six Feet Under - season 4 (2004) - Transgressive bite and lots of drama characterize great S4

♥♥♥♥♥

+ Best Continuing TV-series of the Year

The Fishers caught in a mid-air moment of lightness on this poster for the fourth season of Alan Ball's Six Feet Under

The following review of creator Alan Ball's (True Blood (2008-14)) seminal drama series, which revolves around the funeral home-running Fisher family in Los Angeles, contains SPOILERS.

The season's first death, (every episode opens with a death, - usually a person that will subsequently pass through the funeral home in the course of the episode), is an LSD-trip, which ends in a fatal free-fall; an appropriate anti-drug message from a show with lead characters that don't shy away from drug experiences themselves. 
The season kicks off right where season 3 ended: Nathaniel's (Peter Krause (Cybill (1995-97))) wife Lisa has been found dead after going missing, and Nate and his brother David (Michael C. Hall (The Trouble with Bliss (2011))) drive north to claim her remains. Nate overhears Lisa's family's requests and instead buries his late wife in nature, as she had wished it. He experiences problems working in the funeral home subsequently and takes a temporary leave to readjust himself while working as a dog-walker.
Long-time employee and now also a partner in the business, embalmer and restorative artist Rico (Freddy Rodríguez (Bull (2016-19))) starts a demanding relationship on the sly with a stripper, which his wife Vanessa (Justina Machado (The Call (2013))) discovers: She consequently trashes the woman's car and throws Rico out of their home in a bout of fury.
Nate and David's mother Ruth's (Frances Conroy (Angela (1995))) new husband (following the sudden death of their father and her husband through decades, Nathaniel, at the first season's outset) aloof George (James Cromwell (Babe (1995))) gets turd sent in the mail, which plants a doubt about him. Strange employee Arthur (Rainn Wilson (Uncanny (2015))) gets wrongfully fired as a result, before George comes clean about its being his alienated son Kyle, who is sending the unenviable mail.
David's long-time boyfriend Keith (Matthew St. Patrick (Alien Raiders (2008))) goes on a tour as security for young pop-star Celeste, whom he has sex with - and gets fired by. 
David goes through the worst day of his life (episode 5: That's My Dog): A sickening episode in which a psychopathic hitchhiker tortures and threatens David for hours through LA.
Nate and David's younger sister, live-at-home art student Claire (Lauren Ambrose (Swimming (2000))) experiments with her sexuality with power-dyke co-ed Edie (Mena Suvari (American Beauty (1999))) and gets to put up an art show. Ill-equipped to handle the pressure and attention, on the big night she is pompous and coked out. She later enjoys her first orgasm, given to her by Peter Facinelli (The Lather Effect (2006))).
Nate reconnects with past girlfriend and long-time affair Brenda (Rachel Griffiths (Hacksaw Ridge (2016))), who is taking classes to become a therapist.
The season wraps up with intense drama on several fronts: Though Nate has just started connecting a bit with difficult George, he and Ruth's paths stray, as she gets into tantra following a liberating Mexico trip with her wild spirit friend Bettina (Kathy Bates (Valentine's Day (2010))), and he moves into his bomb-shelter in their basement, increasingly paranoid, needing attention from his daughter Maggie (Tina Holmes (Buoy (2012))). David suffers greatly in the aftermath of his attack; he sees the attacker in prison, but this does not change his wounds. - Meanwhile he and Keith plow on in planning to start a rainbow family with surrogacy and adoption.
At an ash-ceremony in Lisa's native Idaho, Nate is attacked by her family for his disposal of her body, but he also learns through a photograph in a book the awful truth behind her mysterious lapse: Her sister's husband was behind her death on a run-away trip as part of a longer affair between the two. As this is revealed, the man, Hoyt, takes his life in front of his family.

Season 4 is packed, at times volatile, and transgressive. It holds each character's dramatic journey authentic and believable, with powerhouse performances across the board, and remains a must-see.

Best episodes:

Episode 5: That's My Dog - Written by Scott Buck (Rome (2007, TV-series)); directed by Alan Poul (The Newsroom (2012-14))
David's life is shaken to its core, as he only just escapes a devastating encounter with random violence and cruelty, taken prisoner by a psychopath hitchhiker one day.

Episode 6: Terror Starts at Home - Written by Kate Robin (One Mississippi (2016-17)); directed by Miguel Arteta (Youth in Revolt (2009))
An incredibly strong and jam-packed episode: Ruth and George's deteriorating relationship worsens; David is falling apart, and Brenda feels claustrophobia in her increasingly serious relationship with her neighbor Joe (Justin Theroux (Bumblebee (2018))).

Related posts:

Alan Ball: 2004 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Six Feet Under - season 3 (2003) - The Fishers endure to meet a new profound loss in spectacular drama
American Beauty (1999) or, Escape by Death 

Watch a promo for season 4 here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: None - TV-series
= Uncertain
[Six Feet Under - season 4 was originally broadcast from 13 June - 12 September at HBO and runs 12 x 55 minute episodes, totaling approximately 660 minutes. Shooting took place in California, including Los Angeles. The season averaged 3.7 mil. viewers in the US, a million down from the previous season; probably instrumental in its being decided that the 5th season would be the show's last. Besides the ratings the show has enjoyed a solid afterlife on home video and now streaming platforms, generating more - regrettably unpublicized - revenue. The season was nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys and 3 Creative Emmys. The show sits at #89 on IMDb's user-generated Top 250 for TV, between Dark (2017-) and South Park (1997-). The show returned on 5 June 2005 with the concluding season 5. Ball returned with something different with Towelhead (2007), which he adapted, produced and directed. Krause returned in Civic Duty (2006); Hall in Bereft (2004); Conroy in Catwoman (2004), and Ambrose in Admissions (2004). Six Feet Under - season 4 has been given a 4.4/5 rating by audiences at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Six Feet Under - season 4?