God Save Texas is a 2024 American documentary series, directed by Richard Linklater, Alex Stapleton, and Iliana Sosa. It is inspired by the book God Save Texas: A Journey Into the Soul of the Lone Star State by Lawrence Wright.[1] The series explores the past, present, and future of Texas.
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| Music by | Graham Reynolds |
| Country of origin | United States |
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| No. of episodes | 3 |
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| Network | HBO |
| Release | February 27 – February 28, 2024 |
It had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2024.[2] It premiered February 27, 2024, on HBO.[3]
Premise
editChronicling the past, present, and future of Texas, from the perspective of three directors. Following the prison industrial complex in Huntsville,[4][5] the energy industry in Houston, and the humanity and healing following the 2019 El Paso shooting in El Paso.[6]
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Hometown Prison" | Richard Linklater | February 27, 2024 |
| 2 | "The Price of Oil" | Alex Stapleton | February 28, 2024 |
| 3 | "La Frontera" | Iliana Sosa | February 28, 2024 |
Production
editIn June 2014, it was announced God Save Texas was in development at HBO, with Lawrence Wright set to write, based upon his play Sonny’s Last Shot, and Lauren Shuler Donner set to executive produce.[7][8]
In March 2022, it was announced the project was instead a documentary-series with Richard Linklater set to direct an episode, with Wright still attached as executive producer, and Alex Gibney set to executive produce.[9] While directing the episode, Linklater went on a process of search and discovery, determining an excessive amount of his high school football teammates ended up incarcerated by the prison industrial complex in Texas.[10]
Reception
editThe review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 100% approval rating based on 5 critic reviews.[11] On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[12]
References
edit- ^ Carey, Matthew (February 16, 2024). "Watch Trailer For 'God Save Texas,' HBO Documentary Trilogy From Filmmakers Richard Linklater, Alex Stapleton, and Iliana Sosa". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 6, 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "What's New On Max This February". Warner Bros. Discovery. January 23, 2024. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "God Save Texas: Hometown Prison". Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Goldstein, Gregg (January 20, 2024). "Sundance: High-Profile Filmmakers Take Aim at U.S. Criminal 'Justice' System". Variety. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "God Save Texas: The Price of Oil & La Frontera". Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 6, 2014). "HBO Developing Texas Politics Drama From Lawrence Wright And Lauren Shuler Donner". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Whittaker, Richard (June 17, 2014). "HBO Going Under the Dome for 'God Save Texas'". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Barfield, Charles (March 18, 2022). "Richard Linklater Says He's Part Of A 3-Part "Texas Ills" Doc With Alex Gibney Coming To HBO This Summer". The Playlist. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Gomez, Dessi (January 23, 2024). "Richard Linklater Discovered 'Inordinate Amount' of High School Peers in Prison While Filming Hometown Doc 'God Save Texas'". The Wrap. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "God Save Texas: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "God Save Texas". Metacritic. Retrieved March 1, 2024.