One can’t help wondering whether a mini series about his relationship with Liza Minnelli (who refused to talk ill of her friend in the 2019 documentary and clearly loved him as much – or more – than any of her husbands) would have been a far more moving and emotional TV drama than this fun but forgettable Halston turns out to be.
Despite telling the kind of tormented-creative-genius story we’ve seen in many a Hollywood biopic, complete with crass moralising about the dangers of an indulgent lifestyle, this latest Ryan Murphy concoction eventually manages to get under the skin.
Watching McGregor spew this exquisite venom like a deranged rattlesnake is entertaining enough, and he gets great support from the rest of the cast—particularly the amazing Krysta Rodriguez (Smash), who captures the manic energy of early Halston advocate Liza Minnelli as if she were born into it. But most of the credit has to producer Murphy, who has an unparalleled ability to carve compelling narratives out of tangled, throbbing messes of characters and subplots.
"Halston" doesn't merit the kind of adulation that its namesake craved, but strictly in terms of garnering attention, combining a marquee star with juicy material is one of those things that never goes out of style.
Perhaps as things go along, we’ll see more development from these characters. But it may also be that Halston is the only one we see any kind of depth from. And that feels like a missed opportunity. ... McGregor’s performance ties together the flatter characters that are depicted in Halston’s orbit. Despite the broad strokes, five episodes sounds just about right for this series.
This compelling epic about ego that embeds you in his world of brilliant designs and self-sabotage. It doesn’t hurt that it has a career-best performance from Ewan McGregor as its center.
What makes the whole thing work, start to finish, is McGregor’s huge, bizarre, involved, and inspired turn as Halston. ... Halston is easily Murphy’s best show for Netflix to date.
Like one of its titular character’s own designs, Halston is clean, sleek and beautiful to look at – but you might find yourself wishing it was a little messier around the edges.
The show is trashy fun, but it could have been so much more. White and Murphy could have gone deeper into Halston’s psyche, but all we get are a couple of brief flashbacks to his unhappy childhood.
It argues that Halston’s name was sullied by just how much stuff he put his name to – but it comes at the cost of characterisation. This is only five episodes long, but it takes time to earn viewers’ sympathy for the main character, and it isn’t until the last two episodes that it really gets under his skin.
good [ adjective, bet·ter, best. ] satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree: a good teacher; good health.
At this point I will continue to say that Ryan Murphy scammed Netflix with his millionaire contract. Everything that he has produced for them has been nothing more than his style covering his extensive narrative deficiencies. Here I understand that he was only an executive producer, but whoever was in control of the production, left Ewan McGregor helpless, so that he would do his best to rescue a story that they never manage to bring to life. And I say this, because he did his job, but that wasn't enough to make this better.
Not great as it could have been but good. Ryan Murphy finally comes up with something worth watching. A missed opportunity, if you can't make Halston fabulous what can you do?
Amazing TV show! Very beautiful, brilliantly made, outstanding performances! All in a high level. 10/10
Very well done and excellent acting. First I had ever heard of David Pittu, who disappeared into the role. Born in 1975 I don’t remember having even heard the name.
This miniseries about the revolutionary fashion designer covers the highlights of his life and career. His unique story is beautifully brought to life by Ewan McGregor’s exceptional creation. The character wouldn’t be remotely likeable if it weren’t for McGregor’s ability to capture the designer’s haughty style and notable flaws with aplomb and gravity. Other strong performances come from Krysta Rodriguez as close friend Liza Minnelli and Gian Franco Rodriguez as his lover Victor Hugo. Interestingly, before Joel Schumacher became a famous film director, he spent his early career with Halston (played with depth by Rory Culkin). Since Ryan Murphy heads the writer/producer team, we’re rewarded with fabulous visuals, scandalous excess and emotional hardship. It’s also fun to look back at the glory days of Studio 54 and the New York scene from the period. The series certainly revels in the sensational aspects of Halston’s trajectory, and even if the personal aspects are less developed, McGregor’s performance is the series’ strongest asset. (Five one-hour episodes)
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