Steven Soderbergh’s latest crime miniseries “Full Circle” should appeal to viewers of “Big Little Lies”/”Sharp Objects”.
It is a tense, star-studded thriller that seems to return from an era before HBO developed a broad arm for streaming.
Premiering July 13 on Max – and written by Ed Solomon (“Full Circle”) – “Full Circle” follows several sets of characters and plots that appear unrelated at first but eventually intertwine.
There’s a wealthy couple Derek (Timothy Olyphant) and Sam Browne (Claire Danes) and their teenage son Jared (Ethan Stoddard), who has a habit of losing his possessions (including his phone).
He also strikes up an internet relationship with one other boy his age, Nicky (Lucian Zanes), whom his parents don’t find out about.
Sam’s father, Chef Jeff (Dennis Quaid – dons a shocking ponytail) is a celeb chef. Sam and Derek spend most of their time managing his international empire and types.
Elsewhere is Guyanese mob boss Mrs. Mahabir (CCH Pounder, who oversees a kidnapping plot for karmic justice reasons. She also has a hot-tempered nephew, Akeda (Jharrel Jerome, “When They See Us”).
Then there’s Harmony (Zazie Beetz, “Atlanta”), a rogue U.S. Postal Inspection Service agent with many personal problems. Its boss is Manny Broward (comedian Jim Gaffigan, directly playing a dramatic role).
The plot of “Full Circle” sounds chaotic – with too many names and plot threads – and it’s quite a lot of information thrown at you abruptly. (The crux of the story doesn’t crystallize until the top of the primary hour-long episode.)
But because the series progresses, things come together soon – and even come full circle – all of those characters come together through a failed try to kidnap Jared spearheaded by Aked as Jared’s parents and grandfather panic.
From there, the spiral of events.
“Full Circle” creates a richly varied tapestry, deftly intertwining the lives of the wealthy and famous, street hustlers and criminals, and its bustling Latest York setting feels authentic (not something filmed in Vancouver as an understudy).
It’s well written and never too serious, with a balanced tone that just isn’t afraid to incorporate recklessness. The A-list solid delivers the performances you’d expect, and every character is intriguing – and never just your typical ‘type’.
“Full Circle” just isn’t an ideal thriller and it’s convoluted and meandering at times. It could shave off a few of the copious side characters and subplots and, while fluid and fast-paced, can feel a bit chaotic.
Nevertheless it’s engaging, with constant suspense and a mature story that trusts its audience. In only six episodes, he just isn’t very welcome.
The brand new era of “Max” made everyone wonder if we would not have already got the sort of HBO series that feel distinctive and directed, versus the broader, more average sort of fare you’d find on the common network.
A minimum of Full Circle seems like an actual, old-fashioned HBO crime drama.