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Scene from "Mr.
Corman «: The drama of one's own mediocrity
Photo: Apple TV +
Things haven't been going smoothly for him for a long time. He does his job as a teacher well, but without passion. And he spends most of his free time on the sofa, dozing. In the new series of the same name on Apple TV +, Mr. Corman (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) trots through everyday life as if two sacks of flour were hanging from his legs. Everything was different: Corman wanted to become a musician and pursued this dream with a lot of verve. But at some point life ate up his dream. And Corman digested with him.
Since then his existence has been without happiness, even the prospect of it seems illusory to him.
When the man in his mid-thirties becomes aware of this, soul-shakingly, fear comes: At first it disguises itself as nervousness, then it turns into a racing heart, finally breaking through as a panic attack.
And then don't want to go away again.
If inner emptiness was his problem before, the opposite is now the case.
In Corman the drums are incessant.
Barrage of fear
The complex and lovingly detailed series »Mr.
Corman «lets the spectators take part in this barrage of fear, the rhythm of which suddenly determines Corman's life: percussions herald the fear that slowly creeps up on him like an animal, and with the beating of the drum louder and louder he is overwhelmed by it.
Of course, Corman tries first to ignore the problem. Then he tries pills. At some point he ends up with breathing therapy. Even that doesn't seem to have any effect on the cynical cynic. Until an old woman starts sobbing on the yoga mat next to him. Corman can catch her breath again to the rhythm of her tear-streaked gasp. When he reaches out his hand to her, which she finally grabs, and the two now struggle for oxygen together, the burden of loneliness becomes lighter. Gordon-Levitt, who not only plays the leading role, but also designed and directs the series, manages to stage such moments tenderly and carefully.
Now you could "Mr.
Corman «for the classic American ascension story: Those who believe in themselves firmly enough will not only be successful, but also happy - carpe diem!
Fortunately, the series is turning into the opposite.
Because you can't pick the day with panic.
The ten-part series tells touchingly and with strange, real dialogues what it feels like to fail in a society that has made the fulfillment of dreams an absolute maxim.
And what becomes of a person who cannot forgive himself and the world for this "failure".
Sometimes overloaded
After a longer absence from the screen (and only minor supporting roles), Gordon-Levitt returns to the wider public with the lavishly produced series. Maybe that's why you sometimes have the feeling that the scriptwriter, director, showrunner, actor absolutely wants to show what he's capable of. Sometimes this makes the series seem a bit overloaded (there are musical and fantasy insertions), but most of the time you like to follow it.
This is also due to the finely designed secondary characters: Arturo Castro plays Corman's very lovable roommate Victor, Debra Winger his only real caregiver, of course, the not exactly uncomplicated mother. Gordon-Levitt also succeeds in doing something pretty good with his protagonist: You sympathize with him without liking him too much. Because he is not playing a classic underdog whom you - finally - wish success. Rather, he gives those who are ill with his own averageity, sometimes with such empty facial expressions that you take him in your arms, sometimes with so much disinterest in the interests of his fellow human beings that you want to pinch him. But this Corman doesn't feel much anymore anyway.
The fear that life will fall short of his expectations, that nothing more will come for him, just being-just-okay-has rolled everything else flat.
When his mother asks him what exactly is bothering him, Corman replies: "Everything."
“Mr.
Corman «: from 6.8.
on Apple TV +