This morning, HBO Now became available, allowing viewers to watch HBO shows and movies via streaming video — without a cable contract.
So, if you're planning to subscribe and have already caught up on Game of Thrones, what should you watch? There's a lot to choose from, especially for music fans: HBO is known for its commitment to music coverage and shows with superb scores. Here's a quick list of some material to add to your queue.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
The new documentary from Alex Gibney made waves at this year's Sundance Film Festival and premiered recently on HBO. With a terrific score provided by Will Bates of Fall On Your Sword, it proves that documentaries can do as much experimentation with sound and music as any great fiction film. Bates told me about creating the immersive score — which incorporates music by Tchaikovsky, Chopin, and Ravel.
Sinatra: All or Nothing
If you haven't had enough new work from documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, he has a four-part series on Sinatra that premiered this past weekend. Like Ol' Blue Eyes, Gibney seems to always be working.
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
Up to its stunning conclusion — which coincided with the arrest of its subject — this six-part miniseries gripped audiences from start to finish and drew easy comparisons to another recent true crime power-house, the podcast Serial. (Read my interviews with Serial composers Nick Thorburn and Mark Henry Phillips.) With a formula not too dissimilar to Errol Morris's best moments, it's a testament to quality documentary filmmaking and how truth can be stranger than fiction. The score for The Jinx is by West Dylan Thordson (mastermind of Whisper In The Noise who also contributed to Foxcatcher last year) with some additional music by John Kusiak (who has worked with Errol Morris on Tabloid).
The Normal Heart
A terrific film from last year, The Normal Heart chronicles the rise of HIV/AIDS in New York between the years of 1981 and 1984. If you have never seen the film — an adaptation of a 1985 play by noted activist Larry Kramer — it's worth catching up on now. The film's score was composed by Cliff Martinez (Drive, Solaris, Traffic).
Sonic Highways
The brainchild of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, who is quickly becoming a very good documentary filmmaker, this series chronicles the development of the most recent Foo Fighters record in notable music venues across the United States. The excellent score is by Bryan Lee Brown.
Olive Kitteridge
A brilliant four-part series from Frances McDormand (your favorite cop from Fargo), adapted from Elizabeth Strout's Pulitzer-winning novel. It's a testament to the value of longer-form storytelling and quality performances being given space to tell a full narrative. In this new golden age of television we're starting to see more miniseries being made, and this is representative of why that is a really good thing. The series score was composed by Carter Burwell, who also scored Fargo.
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
This will not be available until May 4, but it's one to put on the calendar. The only official documentary about one of the most important rock musicians of the 90s (if not of all time) has received quite a significant amount of positive buzz and will now be released in theaters prior to its screening on HBO, so as to be eligible for Oscar consideration. In addition to Nirvana's music, a score has been written by Jeff Danna — a busy composer in his own right who also happens to be the younger brother of Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna (Life of Pi).
True Detective
If you missed season one, now's your chance to see what all the fuss was about prior to the premiere of season two this summer. Though it's a completely new cast and new storyline that will supposedly disconnected from the first season, it's worth getting to know the flavor and rhythm of the narrative. It's also worth getting to know T-Bone Burnett, the genius who oversees the show's music.
Veep
Season four of this brilliant show premieres April 12. Chronicling the evolution of Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in the role of Vice President (later President), the show has steadily become highly acclaimed for its high quality and extensive laughs. So, start binging now and get in the loop on what's become a solid series. The show's music is by Rupert Gregson-Williams (Hotel Rwanda) and Christopher Willis. A true polymath, Willis not only writes scores for films and TV shows ranging from Veep to The Twilight Saga, he's also a musicologist who's an expert in Domenico Scarlatti.
Tales of the Grimm Sleeper
Another serial killer documentary, set to premiere April 27. This has been garnering much attention through festival screenings; it tells the story of Lonnie Franklin Jr. who was arrested in July of 2010 "after a 25-year killing spree in which it is thought he could have killed over a 100 victims, potentially making him the most prolific serial killer in history." The music for this chilling tale is by composer H. Scott Salinas.
Garrett Tiedemann is a writer, filmmaker and composer who owns the multimedia lab CyNar Pictures and its record label American Residue Records.
Love the music?
Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.
Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.
YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.
