House of Cards

House of Cards (2013)
Directed by: David Fincher (Pilot)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: n/a

My blog is dedicated to the reviewing of films however I feel that I must discuss House of Cards. The main reason for this is because the pilot felt like a movie. High production values, premium talent, tight and interesting writing, and a supremely engaging plot make this show worth talking about. I am only going to discuss the pilot for two reasons: one, it is the only episode I have watched (as of now) and two, I do not want to spoil anything for myself or anyone else. For those reasons I will review based on what can be inferred from episode one only.

House of Cards centers around South Carolina Congressman Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his ploy to oust the newly elected President from office. Underwood is bitter after the promise of the seat of Secretary of State is abruptly taken away by the new Cabinet. His bitterness is justified however because without Underwood's support, Garret Walker (Michael Gill) would never have been elected. Underwood's plan is to start tearing down everyone involved with the new administration; starting with the newly elected Secretary of State, Michael Kern (Kevin Kilner). He plans to do so with the help of his wife, trusted aids, and a driven reporter at the Washington Herald, Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara).

House of Cards does so much right that I cannot see anything wrong. Kevin Spacey is terrific in his role as Frank Underwood. The line between antagonist and protagonist is blurred to the point you'd believe is the the villan and the victim in this story. Underwood routinely breaks the fourth wall to let the audience in on his thoughts. In this trailer, you can get a brief example of how fluidly Spacey delivers his aside.

House of Lies is another show that employs the same tactic. It is used for the same reason but is done in a more flamboyant style. Again, this is an example and can be understood more if you see the whole episode.

Adding to the terrific casting (Robin Wright does her best role in years) the cinematography is spot on for a Fincher film. If you view them carefully, you will see similarities in all of Fincher's movies. The Social Network, Fight Club, Se7en, Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc all utilize a specific color palette. There is a great article hereif you want to know more. Essentially, Fincher utilizes a number of different greens and blues to get the feel of his movies just right. When you discuss the colors within the parameters of their given films, their significance is striking. Fight Club is grimy and bloody. The sickly greens and muted blues that he uses add to the dirty feeling you get as you watch it. Pay attention to the actual fight scenes in this clip. Notice how they feel different than the others.


Coloration is such an important aspect of film but it is rarely discussed in detail outside of film classes. House of Cards employs a lot of blues. This, I feel, adds coldness to the scenes. You get sold on the fact that D.C. is not a nice place. It's not warm; it's not friendly; it's hostile. I cannot wait to watch the rest of the season!

No BS
House of Cards is a tightly written, wonderfully acted, and brilliantly shot political thriller. If you've enjoyed the numerous John Grisham adaptations then you will easily sink right into the world that has been crafted. There are plenty of blogs out there to binge watching the whole season. Keep in mind there are thirteen episodes, each one is an hour, and it came out five days ago. That's how addicting this show is.

My Score: 9.5/10