It's 1987 Yonkers, New York. Nick Wasicsko (Oscar Isaac) is a rookie Democratic councilman. He is the sacrificial lamb sent to run against a powerful incumbent mayor. Federal judge Sand had ruled against the city forcing it to built low income housing. This set off the electorate and Wasicsko surprises in an upset win. With the city facing bankruptcy by the judge's imposed fines, he tries to pass the housing laws enraging the voters and sending the town spiraling.
At first, I didn't realize this is a true story about real people. It would have helped. Who knew that city council could be that exciting? It overshadows the stories from the black community. It's obvious where the intersection is going to be but those stories have a slower start. They are also two different pacing. Even Wasicsko's story has two very different tones. His story in the first three episodes are thrilling and harrowing. Then the last three episodes are more deliberate and melancholy. It's not the traditional pacing of a fictional story and it would help to know its docudrama nature. The acting is amazing. Oscar Isaac shows some of his best work but is only the tip of a vast compelling cast of characters. There are compelling emotional beats throughout.
At first, I didn't realize this is a true story about real people. It would have helped. Who knew that city council could be that exciting? It overshadows the stories from the black community. It's obvious where the intersection is going to be but those stories have a slower start. They are also two different pacing. Even Wasicsko's story has two very different tones. His story in the first three episodes are thrilling and harrowing. Then the last three episodes are more deliberate and melancholy. It's not the traditional pacing of a fictional story and it would help to know its docudrama nature. The acting is amazing. Oscar Isaac shows some of his best work but is only the tip of a vast compelling cast of characters. There are compelling emotional beats throughout.