A MAN IN FULL -- Excellent Cast, Dialogue, Direction in Mamet-esque Business Satire

Review by Sean Boelman

Jeff Daniels as Charlie Croker in episode 101 of A Man in Full. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024.

David E. Kelley has become one of today's most prolific television creators, creating some of the best mysteries, legal dramas, and satires that have been on TV and streaming for the past three decades. His latest project, A Man in Full, combines all those genres and more, allowing it to be a fun, provocative satire.

Based on the novel by Tom Wolfe, the series follows an Atlanta real estate mogul who must fight to protect his empire from collapse as he faces sudden bankruptcy and a series of opponents who seek to take advantage of his wake. As far as business satires go, it’s refreshing to see something so accessible as A Man in Full, which is far less interested in the logistics of what’s happening than their implications on the characters and broader society.

The best part of A Man in Full, without any question, is its dialogue. David E. Kelley has created some of the most Mamet-esque dialogue that isn’t written by Mamet himself — with the series having the same foul-mouth, quick-tongued quality. This lends itself incredibly well to a satire that’s both entertaining and provocative.

Thanks to the quick pacing of the dialogue, the show breezes by. It’s only six episodes, each around 45 minutes long, making it much shorter than the average prestige miniseries. However, another part of what makes this series stand out is its many subplots — including a court case involving a wrongly imprisoned Black man, a Black mayoral candidate’s campaign, and a hostile takeover of the protagonist’s empire.

Jeff Daniels as Charlie Croker in episode 103 of A Man in Full. Credit: Mark Hill/Netflix © 2024.

Yet, while the show bites off a lot in terms of story, it feels impressively rich in a thematic sense. Part of this may be as much thanks to the work of the directors, Regina King and Thomas Schlamme, as it is to the work of Kelley as a writer. For a show by a white screenwriter, A Man in Full does a surprisingly good job of exploring the topic of race.

Similar to other satires set in the upper echelons of American capitalism, A Man in Full thrives by giving audiences characters they will love to hate. There are definitely some sympathetic characters, especially in the wrongful arrest/police brutality subplot. Still, much of the audience’s connection to this show will be from laughing at just how pitiable the protagonist’s fall from grace is.

The show is led by an incredible Jeff Daniels, whose performance perfectly blends his dramatic capabilities and comedic sensibilities. He eats up every moment of over-the-top dialogue but also thrives when the role asks him to be more vulnerable. Daniels is surrounded by a very strong supporting cast that holds their own against the central showman, including Bill Camp, Diane Lane, Tom Pelphrey, William Jackson Harper, Lucy Liu, and an astounding Aml Ameen.

A Man in Full is an incredible miniseries thanks to its excellent writing, phenomenal cast, and strong direction. Those looking for a foul-mouthed, quick-witted satire that goes down easy but is still incredibly thoughtful will undoubtedly get their fill with David E. Kelley’s latest series — another highlight on the talented screenwriter’s already impressive filmography. 

A Man in Full is now streaming on Netflix.

​Rating: 4.5/5