Finally, The Shield is back. It gives new meaning to my Tuesday nights. If you haven't been watching this show, then you're missing out on quite possibly the best drama on TV. The writing is fantastic, and the acting is precise.
With this new season, Glenn Close joins the cast as the new captain. And I gotta say, I think that they are using her carefully, and perfectly...for now. The talent of the writers and Shawn Ryan, the show's creator, is evidenced in how this season has reinvented the show without having to rely upon gimmicks or outlandish storylines (a la The OC and the lesbian affair, which was fun to watch, but ridiculous nonetheless).
So, this season, the Strike Team is no more, and Vic and Ronnie are the only two left at The Barn. David is on his way to City Council, and Dutch and Claudette have been black-listed by the DA's office because of Claudette's self-righteous campaign that has led to an overturn of dozens of cases by the DA's office. This season also brings Anthony Andersen as a philathropic drug dealer who is going head to head with Vic. Shane is now working vice, and is getting dirtier and dirtier as he gets deeper in bed with Anthony Andersen's character. What's great is to watch Vic deal with this, as Shane is much like a son to him. And Shane learned a lot of his tricks from Vic.
I really feel that they have gone to new level with this season, and I hope they continue with it. The best re-inventions are subtle yet powerful: and this has the potential to be great. Let's hope they don't screw it up.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Dummy
Ok, so I went to go see Hostage last weekend, and although it was entertaining, it just furthered my distaste for the cookie-cutter blockbuster that Hollywood feeds us.
However, I did happen to catch a very good flick on Showtime called Dummy, starring Adrien Brody as a socially awkward 30-year-old wannabe ventriloquist, who still lives at home with his looney parents and antagonistic sister. Brody shows here the precision in his acting, as his subtle humor permeates his scenes, not to mention the fact that he does all of his own ventriloquist stunts.
At the start of the movie, writer/director Greg Pritikin delves us into Steven's ambitionless life, with a great and idiosyncratic cast of supporting characters. Milla Jovovich ('Fifth Element', and all around beautiful woman) does an outstanding job of playing, Fangora, the tough-on-the-surface chick friend of Steven's. Jovovich is excellent in being just annoying enough but also endearing in her stubbornness to give us a reason to understand why the introvert Steven is friends with such a different person.
Steven's parents, played by Jessica Walter (the mom on 'Arrested Development') and Ron Liebman (Rachel's dad from 'Friends') are superb. They are cliched characters as parents, but they aren't overacted, which is consistent with the rest of the movie. Rounding out Steven's family is his sister, Heidi (played by Ileana Douglas, a wonderful character actress, but I best remember her as Wendy Ward in the Jay Mohr series 'Action'). She is a wannabe singer, with some talent, that never got the support from her mother that she deserved. Heidi has just broken off her engagement and is now planning a Jewish wedding. What a great world Pritikin throws us into!
The catalyst for Steven's change in this movie comes when he gets fired from his office job, where he is an obvious derelict. Steven goes to see an employment specialist, single mom Lorena (played by Vera Forminga, '15 Minutes'). Steven actually confides in her that he really wants to be a ventriloquist, and after swallowing some laughter, she says that she will try to help him find an agent.
Steven begins to come out of his shell, and he buys a dummy to start practicing. The shy introverts now has a voice for the thoughts that never left his head. The dummy serves as Steven's expressive side, and his character begins to really flourish. The best part about Brody's performance here is that again, he doesn't overdo it. A great credit to the direction of Pritikin. Meanwhile, Fangora and her band struggle to morph into a Yiddish band to play at the wedding that Heidi is planning. Steven's father continues to build model ships in his retirement, his mother continues to try and feed everyone, and Steven struggles with love, life and his crazy friend.
So, instead of stars, thumbs up and all that other crap that others use to recommend movies, here's my own system:
However, I did happen to catch a very good flick on Showtime called Dummy, starring Adrien Brody as a socially awkward 30-year-old wannabe ventriloquist, who still lives at home with his looney parents and antagonistic sister. Brody shows here the precision in his acting, as his subtle humor permeates his scenes, not to mention the fact that he does all of his own ventriloquist stunts.
At the start of the movie, writer/director Greg Pritikin delves us into Steven's ambitionless life, with a great and idiosyncratic cast of supporting characters. Milla Jovovich ('Fifth Element', and all around beautiful woman) does an outstanding job of playing, Fangora, the tough-on-the-surface chick friend of Steven's. Jovovich is excellent in being just annoying enough but also endearing in her stubbornness to give us a reason to understand why the introvert Steven is friends with such a different person.
Steven's parents, played by Jessica Walter (the mom on 'Arrested Development') and Ron Liebman (Rachel's dad from 'Friends') are superb. They are cliched characters as parents, but they aren't overacted, which is consistent with the rest of the movie. Rounding out Steven's family is his sister, Heidi (played by Ileana Douglas, a wonderful character actress, but I best remember her as Wendy Ward in the Jay Mohr series 'Action'). She is a wannabe singer, with some talent, that never got the support from her mother that she deserved. Heidi has just broken off her engagement and is now planning a Jewish wedding. What a great world Pritikin throws us into!
The catalyst for Steven's change in this movie comes when he gets fired from his office job, where he is an obvious derelict. Steven goes to see an employment specialist, single mom Lorena (played by Vera Forminga, '15 Minutes'). Steven actually confides in her that he really wants to be a ventriloquist, and after swallowing some laughter, she says that she will try to help him find an agent.
Steven begins to come out of his shell, and he buys a dummy to start practicing. The shy introverts now has a voice for the thoughts that never left his head. The dummy serves as Steven's expressive side, and his character begins to really flourish. The best part about Brody's performance here is that again, he doesn't overdo it. A great credit to the direction of Pritikin. Meanwhile, Fangora and her band struggle to morph into a Yiddish band to play at the wedding that Heidi is planning. Steven's father continues to build model ships in his retirement, his mother continues to try and feed everyone, and Steven struggles with love, life and his crazy friend.
So, instead of stars, thumbs up and all that other crap that others use to recommend movies, here's my own system:
- Sucks a doochie: Means that there is at least 90 minutes of my life that I'll never get back and that I am probably dumber for having seen this movie.
- Great Escape: Well, I'm not getting my money back, but at least there were lots of explosions, hot chicks some funny lines/scenes.
- Potential: Now, this has the potential to be great, but is not, so wait for video. Of course, this could also mean, this could potential cause seizures and severe cramping so watch at your own risk.
- Tasty Treat: Good movie, worth the money and time, giving you the viewer something to think about, feel, excite or just numb the mind in a good way. Still, not quite climactic.
- Rocks My Grandma: 'Nuff said.
Now, for Dummy I gotta go with Tasty Treat on this one. There were a couple of scenes that could have been used to really dial up the tension more, especially between Lorena and Steven. But overall, a great flick.
Friday, March 04, 2005
Greatest Show in the History of Television???
Now, I am still not sure if it was a joke or not, but the ad claiming that since last week's OC was so amazing they just had to show it again, was a bit much. Now, I have been watching this show from the very beginning. I was a huge fan. But lately, Mr. Schwartz, the show's creator, and his team of writers, have gotten lazy, stupid, and cliched.
Last week's episode was one of the worst I have ever seen. The Marissa/Alex relationship, although it sparks steamy mental images, is forced. One day Marissa decides that she digs Alex so she decides to see what playing for the other team is like. But, the sudden decision to move in with her was brash, precipitous and drew the viewer out of the story even more.
Now, onto Ryan and Lindsay. First, it's great to see Ryan come out of his shell, and Benjamin Mackenzie is doing a great job of still playing the character close to form. But this whole thing with Lindsay being Caleb's daughter and the whole go between from Ryan to Caleb is the cream filling of daytime TV. I realize of course that The OC wasn't reaching for any sort of benchmark, but there's a reason why the majority of The OC's audience is male. It started with great characterization and dialogue. Of course the indulgence of gorgeous women helps tremendously. But it seems that Mr. Schwartz does not have the creative staying power to keep The OC up to the standard that he set with the first few episodes.
The worst of all of this goulash of characters is Seth. How many hours of incessant whining, pining, whimpering, pansy-ass fluff can we take from this kid? Seth was hilarious when the show first started. Now, I want to beat him like a red-headed step child. Is he supposed to be the Ross to Summer's Rachel? How much more cookie cutter can they get? When Summer first moved on with Zach, I was optimistic that they were going to move on. And they destroyed my hopes. The mere notion that Summer would go back to that whining, pathetic excuse for a man is seriously ridiculous! And I know that it was supposed to be some sort of joke, tongue in cheek, type of thing when Summer shows up at the end to kiss Seth a la Spiderman, but COME ON!!! That scene sucked ass in Spiderman. You are the lowest form of creative hack when you rip off someone's story or scene idea. But you have the creative power of rat feces when you steal a horrible idea.
There is sun coming through the clouds, however. Peter Gallagher and Kelly Rowan continue to give great performances, but the scenes given them and the dialogue between their characters is growing weak, stale and monotonous.
There are some great, memorable characters here. But TV characters are like plants, you need to give them the proper dosage of sunlight (story lines), water (good, solid writing) and that special plant food mixture (sound direction) in order for them to really bring forth good fruits.
And right now, the once promising characters of The OC are unfortunately fast shrivelling into brown weeds.
Last week's episode was one of the worst I have ever seen. The Marissa/Alex relationship, although it sparks steamy mental images, is forced. One day Marissa decides that she digs Alex so she decides to see what playing for the other team is like. But, the sudden decision to move in with her was brash, precipitous and drew the viewer out of the story even more.
Now, onto Ryan and Lindsay. First, it's great to see Ryan come out of his shell, and Benjamin Mackenzie is doing a great job of still playing the character close to form. But this whole thing with Lindsay being Caleb's daughter and the whole go between from Ryan to Caleb is the cream filling of daytime TV. I realize of course that The OC wasn't reaching for any sort of benchmark, but there's a reason why the majority of The OC's audience is male. It started with great characterization and dialogue. Of course the indulgence of gorgeous women helps tremendously. But it seems that Mr. Schwartz does not have the creative staying power to keep The OC up to the standard that he set with the first few episodes.
The worst of all of this goulash of characters is Seth. How many hours of incessant whining, pining, whimpering, pansy-ass fluff can we take from this kid? Seth was hilarious when the show first started. Now, I want to beat him like a red-headed step child. Is he supposed to be the Ross to Summer's Rachel? How much more cookie cutter can they get? When Summer first moved on with Zach, I was optimistic that they were going to move on. And they destroyed my hopes. The mere notion that Summer would go back to that whining, pathetic excuse for a man is seriously ridiculous! And I know that it was supposed to be some sort of joke, tongue in cheek, type of thing when Summer shows up at the end to kiss Seth a la Spiderman, but COME ON!!! That scene sucked ass in Spiderman. You are the lowest form of creative hack when you rip off someone's story or scene idea. But you have the creative power of rat feces when you steal a horrible idea.
There is sun coming through the clouds, however. Peter Gallagher and Kelly Rowan continue to give great performances, but the scenes given them and the dialogue between their characters is growing weak, stale and monotonous.
There are some great, memorable characters here. But TV characters are like plants, you need to give them the proper dosage of sunlight (story lines), water (good, solid writing) and that special plant food mixture (sound direction) in order for them to really bring forth good fruits.
And right now, the once promising characters of The OC are unfortunately fast shrivelling into brown weeds.
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