Comedian Louie CK’s recently-aired 6 part episode of his critically-acclaimed TV series Louie entitled Elevator is probably one of the most interesting films I’ve seen recently (although admittedly, I don’t get out that much!) and features amazing supporting character roles by film veterans Ellen Burstyn and Charles Grodin, actress Susan Kelechi Watson (as Louie’s ex) and 80s indie icon Eszter Balint, star of Jim Jarmusch’s 1984 classic Stranger than Paradise. The episode subsequent to Elevator, Pamela Part 1 has raised much virulent critical commentary for its treatment of (the character) Louie’s attempt to physically overpower (the character) Pamela (played by actress/producer Pamela Adlon). Louie CK takes a lot of risks with his show and the moral ambiguity and everyday conflicts shot in an eloquent cinematic language make the program both rare and riveting. It’s probably a testament again to the power of the televisual medium that people are questioning whether CK (the artist) has gone a step too far with Louie (the character). One of the most interesting critical responses by Lili Loofbourow was recently posted at the terrific website Los Angeles Review of Books and you can read it here.
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