Andrew Cooper, a multi-millionaire hedge fund CEO, loses both his high-flying job and his adulterous wife in quick succession. Determined to sustain his lavish new single life, he turns to stealing from those around him, triggering an addictive high as the consequences close in from all sides.
Created by Jonathan Tropper, Your Friends & Neighbors, is a glossy crime drama study on the biggest highs of living in ultra rich Westchester County, suburb of NYC, but more importantly the deepest lows of stealing from those around you. Streaming in 4K through Apple TV+, we are the envious flies on the perfect gold encrusted marble walls of the entitled; richest 1% of America. Whose unguarded rolls of banknotes are strewn in a drawer alongside their $250k Patek Philippe watches which are bought then all too quickly forgotten about.
Starring John Hamm, as our grand centre of this show; to which all the other stars have gravitated towards, rose to fame in Mad Men, which ran for 7 successful seasons and gained multiple writer and actor awards. John Hamm’s own relative 1950’s style, appearance and charm adds a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to a frighteningly addictive premise. Released in comparatively short series runs of just 6 episodes, each of which is around 55 minutes, there is a need as it should be to want the next fix. And here we have such a rare case.
Andrew ‘Coop’ Cooper, is the primary shark in the precarious waters of NYC hedge funds. Seeking out the richest of the rich to ‘borrow’ their money with the ruse of handing it back in the near future with massive gains. He loses this role overnight from an apparently bad decision over a female and returns home to witness his wife also has company. Finding himself back to square one in the property game though still paying for his families’ Ivy League lifestyle; he aims to keep up with delusions of his own multi-millionaire lifestyle that still looms large. To do this he uses his inner wisdom with his own seductive narration, himself in a godlike overseer, to guide us through his next plan to find out how he can take from the richest of the rich but this time never give back. Co-starring Amanda Peet as Mel Cooper, the Ex, and Olivia Munn as Smantha ‘Sam’ Levitt, the girlfriend, we are in for a series that grabs you by the proverbial and ceases to let go. Also, look forward to James Marsden (Enchanted) in the second series who takes dark to another charming level.
Filmed in and around NYC and Long Island, for the glorious multi million dollar backdrop estates, Your Friends & Neighbors is not a glam slam of the rich and powerful but more of a reality check illustrating that those with all the monetary wealth in the world are still deep down, emotionally empty. Keeping up with the proverbial Kardashian’s creates a void that becomes even more expensive and soul destroying to fill, with certain lifestyles emptying their own bank accounts faster than fuel from a petrol powered McLaren 750s.
What should be beautiful yet empty is made glorious and full with Hamm’s charisma guiding us through his narrative thoughts as he simply glides into the next unlocked property taking single items of massive value to be sold on the black market. Alongside Hamm, Peet and Munn, we are delivered a stellar cast who are by no means A Listers yet bring not only weight but brevity to their individual characters as they fight for or against the not so struggling Coop. Yet this is not simply a one trick pony, more an intriguing dive into their heated lives and pools with a very early messy death that quickly rushes up to mess with our cat burglar anti hero. Drowning themselves with Macallan 40-year-old whisky in every other scene takes us on the ride that is so far – in the best way – more the journey than the destination.
The filmic presentation of the episodes make the runtime whizz by and leave you wanting more each time. Only on very few occasions have I had this glorious need previously. The recent first with an also captivating The Morning Show, funnily enough also starring Hamm, are superbly written as the end of one episode effortlessly melts in the next. With the second season currently airing and a third in the making, Your Friends & Neighbors, will continue to captivate us as we witness his scintillating demise, possibly for our chisel jawed hero to rise towards the end. Though at the time of writing, his destination may be more than just his neighbours, chilled wine cellar and more of a cold cell.
Author: Piers, Maidstone Store
