Into the fire: A crime reporter is drawn home in ‘Sharp Objects’
In recent years, we’ve seen a real renaissance of the television miniseries. These limited series dominated the ‘70s and ‘80s, with such heavy hitters as “Rich Man, Poor Man,” “Roots,” “Shogun” and “North and South” winning numerous awards and drawing viewers by the millions.
The format fell out of favor in the ‘90s, however. It was nearly revived in the new millennium with “Band of Brothers,” “Angels in America” and others, but its real comeback arguably wasn’t until 2012, with History’s mega hit “Hatfields & Mccoys” ruling the airwaves. Since then, we’ve seen many quality limited series, and on Sunday, July 8, HBO’S “Sharp Objects” looks to join this prestigious group.
Since breaking onto the scene with her debut novel “Sharp Objects” in 2006, bestselling author Gillian Flynn has been a force to be reckoned with.
Her sophomore novel,
“Gone Girl,” was adapted for the big screen in 2014 by Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher to great acclaim from critics and audiences alike. The adaptation was a smash success and turned Flynn into a household name.
The following year, her third and most recent novel, “Dark Places,” was successfully adapted into a feature film starring Academy Award winner Charlize Theron (“Atomic Blonde,” 2017). It was just a matter of time before Flynn’s only unadapted novel was given the big screen — or in this case, small screen — treatment.
The eight-episode series follows St. Louis-based journalist Camille Preaker (Amy Adams, “Arrival,” 2016), who returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, Mo., to investigate the grisly murder of two young girls. This is her first assignment after a stint in a psychiatric hospital as a result of years of self-harming, and the homecoming isn’t all roses. Although some elements of this story sound a tad familiar, like all of Flynn’s works there’s much more to it.
While authorities are still trying to solve the heinous crime, a new body is discovered, and Preaker finds herself identifying with the victims a bit too closely. Her return home has forced her to confront some personal demons.