Movies

Smoke: A Subpar Arson Thriller with Star-Studded Cast

BBG News

The Apple TV+ thriller Smoke kicks off with a tiresome beginning, filled with overused procedural tropes. It follows an unlikely law-enforcement team, comprised of arson investigator Dave Gudsen (portrayed by Taron Egerton) and detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett), who are on the trail of two notorious fire-starters. Dave is a closed-off individual with a rebellious stepson and literary aspirations, while Michelle, an ex-Marine, secretly dates her superior. As they initially clash, their relationship eventually softens over shared drunken moments. The show’s pretentious artistic choices seem to amplify the lackluster premise. Each episode begins with title cards displaying dictionary definitions of words like transmogrification and fury. Scenes show dramatic images of raging fires, while a melancholic Thom Yorke song plays during the credits. Through voiceover narration, Dave discusses the destructive force of fire in a simplistic manner.

Following two long and tedious segments, a surprising event shifts the direction of the show, reducing some of its most excessive aspects and providing explanations for others. The show becomes more enjoyable to watch. However, in its attempt to avoid one overused trope, it adopts others that, while less grating, are still quite predictable. A growing criticism about aggrieved white masculinity appears, largely, as a superficial trendy topic.

Similar to numerous Apple TV+ productions, such as Nicole Kidman’s “Roar” and Billy Crystal’s “Before,” this series seems to prioritize big-name stars over ensuring quality. Developed by renowned author Dennis Lehane, known for works like “Shutter Island” and “Mystic River,” the show draws inspiration from the true crime podcast “Firebug.” The cast features John Leguizamo, Greg Kinnear, and Anna Chlumsky, while Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, who shone in “The Chi” and “Treme,” lends a raw authenticity to his complex and crucial role as an unstable fast-food worker.

However, the performers are not fully supported by the script. Kinnear appears mismatched as the detectives’ laid-back, content boss. Leguizamo’s portrayal is excessively sleazy, while Chlumsky’s is too bland. The main character, Michelle, embodies a stereotypical Strong Female Character that feels outdated, with an overly sentimental backstory of trauma. Egerton, in his dual role as producer and actor, has assumed a role that is incredibly flexible and seemingly crafted to generate nine episodes’ worth of suspenseful plot twists, leaving it on the brink of collapse.

In the world of Smoke, we find characters who are emotionally disturbed men and women with a penchant for pain, all set against a backdrop of escalating, dramatic scenes. However, the film struggles to harmonize its dark, cynical atmosphere with its intentions for social critique. Though it attempts to challenge norms, Lehane’s creation ultimately resembles a conventional—lengthy, filled with stereotypes, easy on the eyes yet forgettable—streaming crime series.

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2025-06-27 15:06

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