JAW's Thoughts From the Recliner

The Descendants

2013-01-07T06:36:00.000-08:00

Occasionally a movie is released that you really want to see. For whatever reasons, you just don’t find time to make it to the theater until it is too late. This happens to me about four or five times a year. This is the case with The Descendants. To be truthful, I don’t even remember when it was out and I definitely don’t remember seeing show times for it at the theater. Somehow, I just missed it. Lucky for me, there is cable television.

At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much to The Descendants. It is just a nice little movie with George Clooney set in a beautiful Hawaiian locale. There is a sad story; Clooney’s wife was in a boating accident, is in a coma, and isn’t going to recover. Matt King (Clooney) has to deal with that reality and he has to connect with two daughters, to whom he hasn’t been much of an active parent over the years. A nice little story but nothing special.

Then WHAM!!! A twist. I don’t think I am giving anything away with this. It is part of the given premise of the film. Some may consider it a spoiler but it is actually what the whole film is about – this twist. King finds out as he is preparing for his wife’s death, from his rebellious teen age daughter no less, that his wife had been having an affair prior to her accident. King’s world falls apart. The movie then follows his journey, and that of his girls, as he tries to find the man and bring closure to the situation, for his own piece of mind.

The theme isn’t the most happy, perky story ever told but it is honest and real. There are some lighter moments and some nice humor but not so much as to be inappropriate to the overall mood of the picture. Clooney is at his best – angry, hurt, confused. He begins forming relationships with his daughters though he has little clue on how to do this. He even seeks advice from his daughter’s semi-idiotic boyfriend (or maybe just boy friend). It turns out there is more to the boy, Sid (Nick Krause) than King thinks. Shailene Woodley is terrific as the oldest daughter, Alex, whose maturity surprises her father and helps him through this tough time. There is a side story that is kind of intriguing that ties into the main plot but I will leave some mystery for those who haven’t seen the movie yet.

Sometimes the best movies are those that are just snapshots of the lives of relatively normal people - a snapshot of a crisis in their lives, maybe the only exceptionally interesting time of their lives. This is the human element of films - the dramas that each and every one of us experience in our lives at some point. The fact that the situation, the crises itself is unique, and probably doesn’t resemble specific in our own lives, doesn’t matter. It is the recognition that the people on the screen are dealing with a crises in their lives, just like we all do. That is the connection we make with the movie.

The Descendants is a terrific drama. It won some shiny awards for writing and acting and they were well deserved. There aren’t any car chases and nothing blows up but that was all right. This movie flew by for me. I fell into the story that easily. It is not appropriate for all audiences as there is some adult language and sensitive children could be bothered by the prevailing premise. If you see this film pop up on your favorite cable movie channel, or Net Flix, to yourself a favor and watch it. If you like dramas, you will love this film.

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Wedding Band

2012-12-27T06:34:00.001-08:00

WEDDING BAND (Saturdays on TBS)

Seldom am I just pleasantly surprised by a television program. I am often disappointed that a new show on TV is much worse than I expected but it is not very often a show exceeds my expectations. My wife convinced me to give this new show a try and I finally displayed the good sense to listen to her and I gave Wedding Band a try. My expectations were very low and I was in for one of those rare pleasant surprises.

Wedding Band will never win any cool, gold prizes but it matters not. This program is funny without being mean. At times, it is silly but it doesn’t fall into stupid or idiotic. It is a fun, carefree program which never tries to be more than what it is.

The premise is a simple one. Four friends have a wedding band called “Mother of the Bride”. They are scratching out an existence playing gigs at cheap hotels. They lucked out when an old girlfriend talks her corporate event planner into hiring “Mother of the Bride” for the ex-girlfriends wedding and they become the planner’s go to band. There is no rocket science here - just fun and laughs.

The hi-jinks are good natured and the characters are likeable. The laughs are fast and smart. The dialogue isn’t dumbed down here. The actors are having a blast and it shows in every scene. Some of the scenarios developed through the weekly plots verge on the silly but somehow the program never sinks into the easy, cheap jokes lesser television shows rely on. It would be quick and easy for Wedding Band to sink the icky level so many sit coms have relied on in the past but this show likes to use actual wit and intelligence to harvest the laughs. I find myself laughing out loud several times each episode.

And this isn’t just a sit com. It is an hour long and while it is seldom serious, the characters are good hearted and always end up helping someone with something. No, it is not deep thinking. As the title would hint at, music plays a big part but not so much that is it just about the music. The band knows just about every song in the history of music and is willing to perform in tune with whatever the theme of any particular event may have. As with the rest of the program, the music is upbeat and boisterous with plenty of sing along moments – like playing “Don’t You Forget About Me” at a funeral. That’s good stuff.

The cast is terrific, led by 90210 vet Brian Austin Green (has trouble pulling off ballads but is good on the up tempo stuff – the producers seem to be aware of this), Harold Perrineau (Lost and Sons of Anarchy), Peter Cambor (NCIS:LA), the hilarious Melora Hardin (The Office and Monk), and Jenny Wade (personal favorite The Good Guys and Reaper). The cast has great chemistry and are obviously having a great time. The guys in the band are believable and you never doubt they love what they do. There is a great mix of background for the characters and their personal lives provide plenty of fodder for show plots without grinding out the same old situations we’ve seen a thousand times.

As I mentioned earlier, Wedding Band is not any great Shakespearean work of art that will dominate any award show but it is good enough, and smart enough to be more than a guilty pleasure. I highly recommend giving this program a look. It is on TBS so you should be able to watch all episodes On Demand on most cable carriers. The first episode is simply called “Pilot” and all the rest have song titles as episode titles. I must warn everyone that some of the comedy is adult comedy and there is a tad bit of language, so it is not appropriate for all ages. Watch and enjoy.

Catch my thoughts on various sports topics at jawssportsandstuff.blogspot.com and follow me on twitter @jawsrecliner. Thanks for reading.

The Hobbit

2012-12-17T06:22:00.002-08:00

Let me get one thing clear right from the start. For what he did with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, I think Peter Jackson is a genius. I was disappointed when I first learned he was not going to be involved in the making of the prequel The Hobbit and I was elated when he was brought aboard. The love he has for the original material was obvious in the mastery of how the book (s) translated to the big screen. He left out exactly the right things and expanded the events and characters that needed extra time. Therefore, I will give him the benefit of the doubt this time around.

For one thing, in many ways, making The Hobbit offered difficulties the first movies didn’t have to deal with. The Lord of the Rings was a deeply thought out, patient book with its own developed history. The Hobbit was part of that history. Publishers had already broken the original The Lord of the Rings up into three relatively equal parts and it was easy to break those down into three movies. The book The Hobbit is not only a much smaller book, it was also written in a much simpliar prose. Tolkien wrote it for his young pre-teen son and thusly it is much easier to read. I am not sure Tolkien ever intended to have any of his works even published. He was wrote this epic for himself.

The fact the studio and producers decided to break The Hobbit into three movies is flat out a money grab on their part. They know we will go see all of them. The fact remains though; there isn’t enough material to stretch this epic into nearly nine hours. Fortunately for us, Peter Jackson is in charge.

Just as Jackson knew exactly what to add and subtract in the first three installments, it appears he has not lost his touch. One big issue with breaking The Hobbit into three parts is that there is no real villain for most of the book. Jackson had to come up with one for the first film in this series. He delved into the Tolkien penned histories and came up with one. Azog is mentioned in the book but has no part in it. Jackson developed this character into the story’s early villain, using Azog to stretch the story and the action. He does it so well, if you have not read the book, or haven’t read it recently, you might not even be aware this part of the story is all Jackson. It fits. It is almost as if Jackson channeled Tolkien to find out what would be the best character from the histories that would fit into the film. Rather than distracting from the overall story, this plot line only adds to the finished product, expanding the action and drama.

At first, I was disappointed in the added villain but on further contemplation, I think it was necessary (as long as they were going to stretch this into three films). I wouldn’t want anyone other than Peter Jackson even attempting this. His love for the books is obvious and I trust him completely not to change anything that will take away from the whole experience of these films. The villain did add much to this installment and I am just going to trust that Jackson will push the right buttons.

Another issue Jackson had to deal with is one he didn’t handle as well in this early movie. There are just too many characters. As opposed to the seven Middle Earth folk who take on the quest of the ring, twice as many head out on this quest. Unlike the first trilogy, where the characters are parted and have stories of their own, all the characters stay together for the most part in The Hobbit. The result is that there are just too many characters to develop properly. Although we already know two of the characters pretty well, that leaves twelve undeveloped. Even though the film runs nearly three hours, it isn’t enough time to get to know everyone. Really, Jackson only scratches the surface on no more than four of these newly introduced characters, all dwarves, by the way. It has been a while since I have read the book but it is my guess that even in the book, many of these characters were not developed very thoroughly. If my memory serves me though, all will have a part to play in the story as it unfolds.

One other small issue I had was at times the dwarves and Gollum are hard to understand when they speak. Part of it is the accents but some of the dialogue just isn’t clear. This is not a major issue and it was only during a couple of scenes so don’t discount the film on these rare instances.

Speaking of Gollum, we finally learn (if you haven’t read the book) how Bilbo acquires the ring. This is the key development which directly leads to the events that unfold in the Lord of the Rings. It has little to do with this story in and of itself but one should never forget that The Hobbit takes place sixty years before Frodo begins his adventures. It does have a part to play in this story, but its importance is as history in Tolkien’s larger story.

The book is also lighter hearted than the books on which the first trilogy was based. Again, it was written for a younger audience. This picture isn’t as dark and forlorn as the first three and some of the lighter scenes are included but there is still plenty of violence. Like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, is not human on human violence but dwarf on goblin, or dwarf on orc violence, if that matters. There are some battle scenes that will not be appropriate for younger audiences. All in all, this is still a must see picture, not only as part of the larger story but as incredible movie making. Peter Jackson’s status as a genius is solidified in my opinion.

Follow me on twitter and get updates @jawsrecliner and catch my sports blog at jawssportsandstuff.blogspot.com. Thanks for reading.

My All Time Favorite TV Dramas

2012-12-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I posted my list of my all time favorite TV comedies. Now I am going to offer up my all favorite TV dramas. This list was actually harder than the first. Dramas, as a television genre, have changed so much over the decades. With the emergence of cable and premium cable, the creators of dramas have so much more leeway in what they can get away with. Raw, gritty, sometimes brutal, realism is the norm as opposed to the campy, dated dramas of the past.

Dramas also are more difficult to follow than comedies. Unlike their funny counterparts, dramas don’t sell as well on DVDs, especially the older programs. It is not near as easy to go back and watch episodes of older dramas in syndication. The options are slimmer.

One more consideration – my age. I just don’t remember many dramas prior to 1980. I was too young to stay up and watch the 9 p.m. (Central Time) programs. I remember my parents watching detective shows like Mannix, Columbo, and Kojak, but remember few specifics. Programs like The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie were about as dramatic as I got as a young child. Also, I was in high school and college for the whole decade of the1980s and watched very little television during that time, except for some very specific shows. Unlike comedies, some of those older dramas weren’t being shown on late night TV for me to see and enjoy for the first time. Therefore, almost all of my entries are post-1990. I also believe modern dramas are just better, especially those on cable and premium cable. They have a sense of realism that just hasn’t been copied as well on network television.

With all of these things in mind, here is my baker’s dozen.

Honorable Mention – Hill Street Blues – I only watched a few episodes of this pioneer drama but everyone knew at the time that this show was changing network television. It was gritty and realistic and proved that TV dramas could be more than cheesy and campy. I wish I could have seen more episodes.

13) Magnum, P.I. – One of the few shows in the 80s I hated to miss. Who couldn’t love the charming Thomas Magnum who lived for free in a Hawaiian mansion’s awesome guest house and got to drive a Ferrari? There was some camp value for sure, but there was also a lot of heart, fun, and action. A great locale, good cast chemistry, and a terrific hero played with aplomb by Tom Selleck made this one of my early favorites. Plus, who can forget the iconic theme song?

12) Parenthood – The poignant family dramas follows the joys and tribulations of three generations of one family. Brilliant veteran actors meld with talented young actors to portray issues that many of us are familiar with on a day to day basis. The writers on this provide believable storylines we can all relate to. Issues such as unemployment, adoption, cancer, young love, Asperger’s, alcoholism, and the plight of veterans are just a few topics this program has tackled over its four year run. This is as realistic of a family show as has ever been aired and it continues to get better and better. Viewers can truly believe these people are all part of the family as they fight and love just like all real families I’ve ever known. This one is a gem.

11) Justified – Despite Timothy Oliphant’s quiet, subtle portrayal of the “hillbilly whisperer”, he is not the reason this currant drama ranks so high. That reason is a series of truly villainous villains. Each season has been filled with intelligent, evil, bad guys for Olyphant’s Raylan Givens to battle, not just physically, but intellectually as well. Who knew the rural hills of Kentucky was filled with such shenanigans. I can’t wait for the next batch villains to emerge in season four. Kudos as well to the one continuous nemesis, Boyd Crowder, played to perfection by Walter Goggins.

10) ER – I was a late comer to ER. I am not sure why I waited so long to add it to my viewing list. It wasn’t until I was laid up after rupturing my Achilles tendon in 2000 that I started watching reruns and became addicted to the life in this Chicago emergency room. Brilliant writing was the rule, overcoming several complete cast turnovers, without seeming to miss a beat. ER helped launch numerous careers and made stars out of such actors as George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, and Noah Wylie. There was always a great mixture of work and personal storylines and the character development was superb. I still miss my weekly trips to the ER.

9) NYPD Blue – To me, the program’s essential and continual theme was the growth of a single character, Andy Sipowicz. This is one of my favorite television characters of all time, played with genius by Dennis Franz. Sipowicz was a hard nosed detective whose attitude about the people and the world around him was out dated with prejudice and racism. The program was a twelve year journey of self realization and growth for Sipowicz. Franz’s portrayal of Sipowicz was magnificent; this was not an easy role. As hateful and backward Sipowicz was at times, deep down in his heart, he knew he was wrong and he had to change and overcome a lifetime of behavior. The show had warts though – the bad guys always seemed to confess under questioning and never requested lawyers. I always felt the weekly investigations wrapped up too nicely but this was Sipowicz’s story and the police work was just the back drop.

8) Rescue Me – This is one program that will probably won’t not be on many radars. There was always something that clicked with me about this Denis Leary vehicle. I loved Leary’s incredibly flawed and weak hero, firefighter Tommy Gavin. There were few vices in which he did not indulge. Despite this, viewers always hoped he would finally do the rights things but he seldom did. I also really liked the firehouse scenes. I have read many critiques of Rescue Me over the years and the biggest complaint about it was the barbaric and childish language and behavior of the firefighters. I always felt these were some of the most realistic scenes. Believe or not, for better or worse, a lot of men, in groups of other men, behave in this manner. Gavin’s life was tragic, insane, dangerous and heroic all at the same time. It was a good mix.

7) Mad Men – Who knew the 1960’s were so fun? John Hamm is incredible as the dour Don Draper, a creative genius ad agent in New York City. Another flawed hero, Draper is brilliant at work but a mess personally. He lives his daily life with one heck of a secret and most of his personal troubles are due to his wondering eye for the ladies. This program finds ways to draw out drama from innocuous situations, often making them intense and uncomfortable. The audience is drawn into their world of high stakes, high stress advertising. Viewers find themselves rooting for their relatively small ad agency to find success and to compete with the bigger boys. In their private lives, we wait to see if they will straighten out their lives outside of work and if the characters will do the right things. They seldom do. Draper, in particular, never seems to do his best work when his home life is calm. He needs conflict to excel. Incredible writing, directing, and acting place Mad Men firmly on my list.

6) Freaks & Geeks – probably the most surprising entry. This sweet period piece only has 18 episodes, a few of them not even aired originally. There is a nostalgic reason for my love of this show. The main characters are brother and sister and the boy is entering high school as a freshman in 1980, just as I did. The pop culture references and the music that filled this program really take me back in the best possible way but it the realistic trials and tribulations of kids trying to find their way in the jungles of high school that really is where Freaks & Geeks is special. Through the eyes of kids who are not jocks or in the cool cliques, we get a look the lives of the normal, average high school student rather than the stuff portrayed on television more often. The angst is more relatable because more of us fit into these niches than the normal Hollywood version of high school. This program is funny, sweet, nostalgic, realistic, and brilliant, from the home lives to the issues of every day life in high school. It also features one of the most brilliant casts of all time. This show launched the careers of James Franco, Seth Rogen, Busy Phillips, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daly, Ben Foster, Johanna Garcia Swisher, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr, and others. It also put writers Judd Apatow and Mike White on the fast track to success as well. If you get the chance, get the series on DVD and enjoy. I often wonder if NBC ever regrets canceling this show so quickly. I doubt they knew what a treasure they had.

5) The Shield – There are a few programs I think have changed the history of television in that they changed what programming was aired. The Shield was one of these programs. It was a pioneer as to how far an envelop could be pushed on basic cable as far as language and violence were concerned. This program, along with my #3 entry, really set the bar for the flawed, not-so-good hero. Michael Chiklis was sublime as the vicious Detective Vic Mackey. Mackey was very good at what he did – get scum bags off the street – but his methods were brutal and corrupt. Murder, theft, intimidation, assault, and blackmail were just a few of Mackey and his Strike Team’s tactics to accomplish their goals. The Shield was an intense action drama that left viewers on edge during the show and anxious with anticipation for the next episode as soon as the ending credits popped onto the screen. For seven terrific seasons, Mackey crushed the law and the constitution, as well as many a criminal, as various fellow cops and detectives worked to bring him and his Strike Team down. CCH Pounder and Jay Karnes each played fellow detectives who worked to bring Mackey to justice. Walter Goggins, a Justified staple, got his start as Mackey’s loose cannon and right hand. Forest Whitaker had an awesome turn for a season as an Internal Affairs officer driven to the brink in his effort to bring Mackey down. Chiklis’ portrayal of Mackey was absolutely spot on. He was as bad a guy as any criminal he ever pursued, yet the viewers never wanted him brought down. This also featured one of my favorite series finales of all time. F/X has done a great job coming up with these popular shows anchored by the anti-hero and this was just the first (see # 11, 8, & 4).

4) Sons of Anarchy – Sons owes its success to my previous entry. The criminal hero (anti-hero?) is in center stage in this magnificent story of a California motorcycle club that makes its money traditionally by running guns. The main character, a modern day Hamlet with a little Godfather sprinkled in for good measure, is Jax Teller, played in a subtle and down to earth manner by Charlie Hunnam. Jax wants his club to return to its days as a profitable entity based on more legitimate, socially acceptable means of business, as per his murdered father’s dreams. Unfortunately, Jax’s world is filled with greed and violence. Jax battles rival gangs, determined law enforcement officials, fellow club comrades, family members, and international drug and gun dealers. In its fifth season, Sons continue to pile up a shocking body count, both series regulars and brief guests. Jax ultimate goals are to extract his club from its dangerous business dealings and he wants to get his family away by riding off with them safe and sound. Protect his family and friends – that’s it. The violent world around him keeps him ensnared and he is forced to retaliate with brutality for brutality. Unlike Vic Mackey in The Shield, I don’t get a sense that Jax is evil – he is just willing to do what is necessary. Ultimately, he just wants what is best for his family and his club. Creator, director, producer, writer, and occasional guest star Kurt Sutter is an absolute (and unapologetic) genius. Everything about this show hits the perfect note, even down do to an incredible sound track week in and week out. Sutter likes to do things his own way and seems to battle Hollywood executive types. My advise to them it get the heck out of his way and let him just do what he does. I would be remiss in not mentioning Sutter’s real life wife, the former Peg Bundy, Katey Sagal. Her mantle should be filled with golden trinkets for her work on this program, week in and week out, every single season. The fact she is not even getting nominations is utterly ridiculous.

3) The Sopranos – the showed that made mobsters cool again. This HBO classic is the pioneer of the modern genre of violent anti-hero’s we love but shouldn’t. What is more original than a mob boss with an anxiety disorder and suffers anxiety attacks. What a brilliant premise! When it began, this series’ violence and storylines probably could have only been aired on premium cable but soon cable networks, mainly F/X, were following HBO’s lead, as did the other premium movie networks. Now, these programs are prevalent. The Sopranos started it all, and luckily, they did it the right way to set the example. Great writing and direction, coupled with terrific acting, is the formula still used to produce these programs today, 13 years later. James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, and Michael Imperioli were the stalwarts on a great cast but this show always had great acting throughout the seven seasons. Unlike mob movies, where we just get a 2-to-3 hour glimpse of mafia operations, in this series, we get to see the mundane, every day life of our mobsters. We see that no matter where their violent lifestyles may lead them, these bad guy bosses have many of the same issues in life as the rest of the population. Factitious wives, troublesome children, crazy relatives, and incompetent employees are just a few of the every day issues Tony Soprano had to deal with, plus there was always the threat of being wacked – no wonder Tony had some anxiety. I loved this show and I believe it started the whole cable genre of the anti-hero.

2) Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU - I’ve cheated here. I have put these two together even though they are really two completely different shows with somewhat different premises. L&O classic spent half of each episode dealing with the criminal investigations and the other half on the prosecutions. It was a very successful formula as the program ran for twenty seasons (should have been more). It wasted little time on the personal lives of the characters, leaving more time for the storylines. This also made it easier to market the show in syndication because it has few continuous storylines, unusual for dramas. The original suffered through many cast turnovers but that never affected the quality. The show also focused on relevant social issues and showed both sides of the story. I often found myself on one side of an issue but realized I was on the other side by the end of the program. SVU didn’t split up their episodes near as clearly as the original and didn’t have as much “Order”. It focused more on the “Law” part of the equation, more and more so as the series has gone on. This spin off focused more on the sexual crimes rather than homicides. SVU also avoided continuous storylines. Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jerry Orbach, Chris Merloni, and Mariska Hargitay are just a few stellar performers from these series. There are many, many more. These series are also well known for their incredible guest star performances and nearly every non-superstar has made an appearance on one of these shows. These two programs have also been on television a combined 34 years and there are darn few bad episodes. They easily could be 1-2 on people’s list with little argument. I combined them to save time.

And finally…

1) Friday Night Lights – I don’t think there was a single bad episode in the 5-season, 76-episode run. That is not to say there weren’t a couple of storylines I didn’t think were very good or dragged on a bit too long, but the writers seem to know what wasn’t working and ended those quickly. I also think this program had the most realistic characters and relationships in television history. Coach Taylor and his wife Tami, played flawlessly by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, could have been married. Their interaction was so real and believable and relatable. Coach’s relationship with his players struck true and played a key part in the success of this show. FNL was never a ratings horse. I always thought that too many people associated the show with the movie. The movie was a football movie. The TV show used football merely as a backdrop to the lives in a small Texas town. In fact, after the first season, very little screen time was allotted to football. We got some brief glimpses of games and practices but the focus was on the characters themselves. Some outstanding performances were put in by Zach Gilford, Michael B. Jordan, Taylor Kitsch, in addition to the Chandler and Britton. I think this was a heartfelt, realistic, touching look at life in a small town. There has been nothing like it on television – ever. There were few just outright villains. For most of us, life is complicated enough without villains and FNL writers got this. I loved this show and wish it was still on. I miss it and the characters. Go back and watch season one and you will be hooked. You do not have to be a sports fan to enjoy it. If you are a fan human drama, this is the series for you.

There you have it. I know this got quite long and I apologize. Keep in my mind this is my personal list. I know my brother loves NCIS but I never watched it. I got tired of CSI and hated the spin offs. Grey’s Anatomy is too soapy, though I like it. There are several cable shows I could have included – Shameless, Broadwalk Empire, Trieme, The Walking Dead, Homeland, Game of Thrones, and Suits are some of my favorites and all are very good. At another time, any of those could make my list.

I had a lot of fun writing this and I thank you for reading.

Lincoln

2012-11-19T07:39:00.000-08:00

When you have one of the most accomplished directors in cinema history directing arguably the greatest actor of our generation who is portraying the United States’ greatest President, you expect great things. You can also expect an abundance of hardware over the next three months as well.

Lincoln doesn’t disappoint. Daniel Day-Lewis is the greatest of character actors; he completely immerses himself in his roles. This one is no different. As an amateur historian, I have done more than my fair share of study on our sixteenth president and Day-Lewis is as an accurate portrayal as any I’ve seen, and there have been many good ones. The mannerisms such as his gangly, slightly hunched, lurching gait to his slow, and back-woodsy story telling, in his high pitched voice, are believable in every sense. This IS Abraham Lincoln. Day-Lewis is entrancing in the role, so much so that as the modern day viewer, you get to be the proverbial fly on the wall.

Another great performance in Lincoln is Tommy Lee Jones as radical Republican leader Thaddeus Stevens. For me, Jones has a career littered with as many poor, disinterested performances as great ones. He was at his best in this film. Stevens was a fierce abolitionist who had a reputation for supporting minorities and the downtrodden his whole career. Historically, he is blamed for the strict Reconstruction enforced upon the South after the war. The film briefly touches on the difference of opinion about Reconstruction between Stevens and Lincoln, who favored a much gentler, forgiving stance than did Stevens and the radicals. Lincoln’s death took away Stevens’ biggest obstacle in his wish to punish the South. John Wilkes Booth did as big a disservice to the South as any man in the Post-Civil War era. Lincoln would have promoted a forgiving Reconstruction and instead, Stevens got his way and the rest is, well, history, and led to a century of hatred and misundersting between the two geographical factions.

A few more names need to be mentioned for their performances in this picture. James Spader was delightful as W.N. Bilbo, who was what we might categorize as an early lobbyist of sorts. Sally Field as the mentally unstable Mary Todd Lincoln and Lee Pace as Representative Fernando Wood also stood to me.

Historically, Lincoln was very accurate. Spielberg encompassed as much of the President’s story as he could within the restraints of only one month’s time of his presidency. Lincoln suffered from melancholy, which today we know is depression. This was a life long malady for the President, made worse by the stress of the job, casualty figures (from both sides), and the death of his son Willie, which is dealt with in the film. The President also had to constantly deal with what we call today a high maintenance wife. Mary Todd Lincoln, while probably not outright insane, was a constant burden during his presidency. There were battles between the First Lady and Congress, which are subtly alluded to in the film, that didn’t help Lincoln at times when dealing with his political opponents. Lincoln also suffered from nightmares and premonitions. He was a darker man than is widely known by the general public. He put up a good front with his light, upbeat, unpolished mannerisms. Lincoln does a great job of giving us a true sense of his personality.

Ultimately, Abraham Lincoln was a grand manipulator and a political genius. That is why he is considered our greatest president. Every politician in Washington, from his enemies to his cabinet, all thought they were smarter than Lincoln. The President was a patient man who was willing to slowly lead people to his way of seeing things. In the case this movie focuses on, the passing of the 13^th Amendment to the Constitution, the President does not have time to be patient. Everyone knows the war is coming to an end and if the amendment isn’t passed before the war is over, it would never pass. Honest Abe was willing to bribe and cajole opponents into voting his way. There is a line in the film that was perfect. To greatly paraphrase, it went something like this – never has such a just cause been won by such corruption by such an honest of a man. You get the picture. Lincoln did what he had to insure the passing of the most important legislation to our country’s history since the Bill of Rights. If Lincoln had not pulled this rabbit out of his stove top hat, how long would it have been before it would have passed? No one knows but it would have probably been decades because the southern states would not have ratified it if it passed after they returned to the Union.

My favorite scenes are the ones that take place on the floor of the House of Representatives during the month long congressional debate over the 13^th Amendment. It was a different time and the debates were much more entertaining back then. The insults were not subtle and were made face to face, not through the media. Congressional debates were loud, almost tavern brawling affairs (Senator Charles Sumner was beaten as his desk in the Senate Chamber by Preston Brooks for an insult during a debate). The film does a great job giving us a flavor of the times through these accurately depicted scenes.

The movie wasn’t perfect. The story did drag down when it was focused on Lincoln’s oldest son Robert, who wanted to join the army against his parents’ wishes. While this was a real issue in Lincoln’s life, the film puttered along during these scenes. Also, I wish Spielberg would have done a better job informing the audience of some of the historical, satellite characters. If you don’t have a degree in History, there is a good chance you don’t know who Preston Blair was or his role in the government, yet he has a significant role in the film. Lincoln’s cabinet, maybe the President’s biggest opponents in Washington, goes largely unidentified in the movie, even though they are in a couple of major scenes. There are a couple of very minor inaccuracies in the film but they really have little to do with the momentous events which take place in the scope of the film and only the history dorks like myself will have noticed.

I highly recommend this movie. It is an incredibly important part of our nation’s history and there are lessons to be learned in the current political arena. The film deals with the importance of bipartisan cooperation on points of great bearing. Today’s politicians should take notes. The movie is rated PG-13, mainly for a bit of swearing and two brief, yet gruesome battle related images. Whether you love history, or well acted, well directed films, this is a must see and will certainly win its fair share of hardware in the coming months. The film drew significant applause during the showing I attended at it was well deserved.

Get twitter updates for both of my blogs @jawsrecliner. Thanks for reading.

Skyfall

2012-11-12T14:43:00.002-08:00

In its amazing fifty year cinematic history, the James Bond franchise has followed a tried and true formula with incredible success. Through 23 films (I count Never Say Never Again – a rogue production) and six Bonds, the suave and debonair 007 used gadgets, sexy Bond girls, and incredible action to find a favored spot in our movie going schedules. Every film featured several signature actions scenes that were just too hard to believe but we just didn’t care. Those unbelievable action sequences are part of the Bond legacy and we have come to expect them, and even look forward to them.

Skyfall deviates from that old formula. Daniel Craig’s modern, 21^st century 007 is more physical and brooding than his more suave and debonair predecessors. Skyfall is more story than action and we receive more of Bond’s personal background than in maybe all of the other films combined. Craig’s Bond isn’t as witty or outgoing as previous incarnations but there is more effort put forth in this film. Craig’s Bond is more serious and less interested in looking dapper. Daniel Craig’s Bond, after three movies, is a truly unique Bond and the franchise seems willing to go along.

The formula is truly broken in Skyfall. There is a Bond girl – sort of. The femme fatale, Severine, makes a brief, yet memorable appearance and I guess she get the title of Bond girl henceforth. Yet, she was hardly a blip on the old radar. Those signature action scenes were fewer and much more believable. Except for just a couple of small things, they were realistic even. In following with Craig’s previous Bond flicks, this builds upon the theme of a more personal story line and is central in Skyfall. Historically, the 007 franchise has kept its distance from the personal.

Finally, the villain. Silva, portrayed with creepy brilliance by Javier Bardem, is a traditional Bond villain in appearance and personality. You know what I mean, just a little weird and eccentric. It is the plot, though, that goes off the beaten Bond trail. Silva doesn’t seek anything as mundane as world domination. He isn’t working for any grand organization who wants to sell arms or state secrets. He is not trying to control the world’s oil supply, or news, or anything so grand. Silva wants but a single, simple thing – revenge. Skyfall is a story of simple, festering vengeance.

I am torn a little by the new direction the Bond franchise seems to be heading. On one hand, the story and the acting are much better than is traditionally the case. Bardem is terrifically flamboyant. Dame Judi Dench gives a performance that is worthy of a Supporting Actress nomination. Daniel Craig’s mentally and physically battered, imperfect Bond is a much deeper, realistic 007. The characters and the plot have much more flesh and depth to them than any previous entries. All in all, Skyfall teeters on the brink of being a real movie of substance.

On the other hand though, do we want Bond to take himself so seriously? One of the great attributes of the 007 franchise was its escapism. The breathtaking, impossible stunts and action scenes were a pure joy. What would they come up with this time? There was always anticipation for that fantasy aspect of each and every Bond film. Do we really want to lose that? Do we really need another dark, brooding, moody hero? This is the conundrum I have with James Bond right now. Skyfall is truly a good movie with more depth and feeling but is that what we truly want from our 007?

Lastly, for some of the reoccurring characters in the Bonds movies, this edition is clearly a transitional movie. Without going into it too much and giving too much information away, this franchise is going to grow and move forward with several of its supporting characters. I know Daniel Craig is going to do one, probably two more, Bond films, but I doubt it will be more than that. There is clearly a plan to continue the series indefinitely. I have always loved Bond, no matter what Bond incarnation (even those two Timothy Dalton disasters). I will go see each and every one, whether they are action fantasies or serious movies with action. Regardless, it is still 007 and that is enough for me.

Flight

2012-11-05T14:40:00.002-08:00

There can be little argument Denzel Washington is one of the top three or four American actors of this generation. Over the past twenty past years, he has worked prolifically as a leading man, starring in nearly fifty pictures. He has had more than his share of clunkers (The Bone Collector, The Mighty Quinn, to name a couple) to go along with his great performances. In some of the films, it is as if he knows the script is crap and he seems disconnected with the role. When he is into the role, he is very, very good. Such is the case in Flight.

I don’t know how his role as beleaguered hero, Whip Whitaker, will stack up with is other great performances in films like Glory, Training Day, and Man on Fire, but Flight should easily land in Denzel’s top ten performances. Washington always seems to be at his best when the role is multiple dimensional, when there is a definite dark side to his character. He isn’t a comedy actor and he isn’t an action star, although he can do both. He is a dramatic character actor and he shines when his characters are edgier. This the key to his best roles.

Whip Whitaker certainly qualifies. It is a tough role because Denzel is in nearly every scene in the movie except for a few briefs scenes early in the film that set up anther character on a parallel timeline. The film focuses almost completely on Whip Whitaker, the brilliant pilot and the weak, often unlikable person. Whitaker is filled with demons and flaws and he is very good at hiding them in general. He is filled with a self loathing that reveals itself in a couple of intense scenes where he is by himself.

In the theater, the audience was entranced by Washington’s performance. We wanted Whitaker to do the right thing time and time again and he let us down time and time again. Several people even applauded at one point in the movie because they thought he finally was going to conquer an evil demon. The audience has a stake in Whitaker’s personal battle. We wanted him to exorcize those demons, despite his sometimes loathsome actions. In the end, it was the whole focal point of the film. After disappointing himself, and his friends, his family, and the audience so many times, would he in the end have the strength to do the right thing? That will be for you to find out for yourselves.

There were some nice supporting performances, especially the ever terrific Don Cheadle, but this was Denzel’s spotlight. He made us care for Whip despite all of his issues. Director veteran Robert Zemeckis proved he hasn’t lost his touch over seeing a live action film. There were some fine directorial moments in this film, namely the plane scene, but there were a lot of subtle moments as well. Zemeckis did a great job giving us quiet scenes with just Denzel that showed Whitaker’s inner battle playing out on his face and in his soul. Zemeckis also knows when you work with an actor like Denzel Washington, just get out of his road and let him do is thing. It was certainly a successful combination here.

I love dramatic character studies. They may be my favorite type of movies. Flight falls squarely into this category and I wasn’t disappointed. The film was a little over two hours long but I was so entranced that it flew by. I didn’t check my watch even once. Denzel Washington was at his best and I will be shocked if he doesn’t earn another nomination for the gold statuette. He is worthy but I have a funny feeling that it is going to be tough to beat out Daniel Day-Lewis. Regardless, Denzel deserves whatever awards come his way. Flight is rated R at it fully deserved that rating. This film is not appropriate for younger audiences and I do not recommend it for pre- or young teens. Don’t let that stop you from having a date night and going to see this great movie.

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New Network Dramas

2012-10-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

I think it is getting harder and harder for the networks to produce quality dramas for their prime-time schedules. The cost is prohibitive and they are always competing with cable and premium cable, a skirmish in which the networks are at a distinct disadvantage. There are four new network dramas this season that I think are pretty good.

VEGAS (Tuesdays, 9pm, CBS)

This CBS crime drama, set in Las Vegas in the 1960’s, offers up the best cast. It’s hard not like Dennis Quaid as the crusty, curmudgeonly Sheriff Ralph Lamb, and rancher/lawman, working to keep his hometown clean. His mobster counter part is Vincent Savino, played by a personal favorite Michael Chiklis. Jason Mara and Carrie Ann Moss fill out this nice cast.

The program has thus far ignored most of the glitz and glam of Vegas in the 1960’s. We are seeing only a tiny bit of the Strip. Such star power as the Rat Pack and Elvis may not have even existed if we didn’t already know they did. The show treats Las Vegas as a barely more than provincial, backwater, two-bit town, with its sheriff who rules wearing his signature cowboy hat and boots. The storylines have focused thus far on only one casino, Savino’s Savoy. This approach is all right for now but the show needs to expand its focus in the coming weeks so it doesn’t become stale. There was a lot going on in Las Vegas at this time and it would be nice to see that.

It is mostly about the characters and their battle of good versus evil. Not much is new but with two fine lead actors such as these, I am willing to give time to Vegas to improve.

NASHVILLE (Wednesdays, 9pm, ABC)

This program takes a look into the country music business while following the careers of two female singers. Connie Britton plays Rayna James, a classic country star who has fallen behind in popularity with a new, younger generation of country fans. Hayden Panettiere portrays the younger, less talented singer, Juliette Barnes, who is supplanting Rayna as the top Nashville star (Reva vs. Taylor???). Britton is perfect as her industry’s reigning matron, who just can’t believe she is being seriously challenged by the youngster – and she is losing. Panettiere has been terrific as the up and comer who can’t wait to knock the Queen of County from her pedestal. Panettiere flashes between flirty vixen to hateful villain, seamlessly without effort. She flashes a beautiful smile one minute and a fearsome frown the next.

Both characters have skeletons in their closets and a myriad of family problems. Rayna comes from a wealthy family but is struggling financially. Juliette comes from nothing is always trying to put her past, and her drug addicted mother, behind her.

Solid acting and good writing gives Nashville a legitimate chance of success. The back drop of country music gives this show a current feel and I am enjoying it thus far.

REVOLUTION (Mondays, 9pm NBC)

The premise behind this program is a bit apocryphal. Something happens in the present that shut down all electricity all over the world and, of course, chaos reigns. The program is set fifteen years in the future and we get the past through brief flashbacks. The fall out is that during the chaos, militias arise and take over the county, by force in most cases. The leaders of these militias become warlords and eventually whittle themselves down to one. Of course, the one wants to rule everyone and everything with an iron hand.

The underlying plot here, though, is that some electricity exists. A small number of mysterious pendants seem to control a limited amount of electricity and our friendly local warlord, Sebastian Monroe (David Lyons) wants to find out where the electricity comes from and wants to control it. He spends all his resources tracking down and cajoling a scientist Rachel Matheson (Elizabeth Mitchell) into showing him how it all works. He kidnaps her son and kills her estranged husbands to get her to obey. Billy Burke is Monroe’s former right hand, now gone rogue, and brother to Matheson’s dead husband, and is trying to rescue his nephew.

Convoluted enough for you? It’s really not that bad. The program has its moments of intensity and action, and is seldom boring. Two actors have been especially terrific. Veteran actor Giancarlo Esposito and fresh face Tracy Spiridakos both just chew up the scenes they are in, easily out shining their co-actors in vastly different ways.

Revolution has any number of plot lines it can explore over any number of seasons and I look forward to a long run for this program.

CHICAGO FIRE (Wednesdays, 9pm, CBS)

Fire and mayhem always make for good entertainment fodder. Good looking actors in high drama, high intensity situations is always a fun way to spend an hour. This program is no different. Since this is a Dick Wolfe production, I am looking for controversial storylines with not always expected outcomes. So far, that has not been the case. While there are several likable characters and the action is been fine, the story lines have been canned, unimaginative, rehashed plots we have seen dozens of times. Because of Wolfe’s history of on the edge programming (the Law & Order franchise), I am willing to give Chicago Fire sometime to find its artist legs. The actors are, for the most part, little known or flat out no names but they are playing intriguing characters with some possibilities. The fires and intense situations are enough to keep this show alive for a while. I would like to see more meaty storylines though.

There you go. Four network dramas that worth watching and all have a really nice upside. All could be improved but I am willing to allow them some time for that improvement. I think they could be worth it.

On another note completely, I would like too thank all of my loyal readers. I have gone past the 5000 mark for page views for my two blogs – jawsrecliner.blogspot.com and jawssportsandstuff.blogspot.com. I know not all of those hits are from people seeking to read my thoughts specifically but I do know many of you do read these blogs on a regular basis and I thank you for reading. I have received a lot of support and positive feedback on my writing over the past year and a half and I want you all to know how much that means to me. Thanks for reading.

Argo

2012-10-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

When I first saw the trailer for Argo, I found the topic intriguing. I also wondered what kind of audience it would draw. I doubted this film would draw the audience that should go see it. As I sat in the theater, I couldn’t help but notice that nearly every person at this particular screening was older than I am. That was unfortunate because younger people are going to not only miss a taunt, explosive thriller but also a very important chapter in recent American history.

As I sat through the opening half an hour or so, my mind began to refresh itself on the events from over thirty years ago that made up the subject matter of this film. In 1979, I was thirteen years old. I was old enough to remember the events but not old enough to comprehend what led to them. I remember the images of these events and the anguish that accompanied them. I can easily recall the news reports and the yellow ribbons tied around trees, fence posts, and telephone poles. As I have gotten older, I have learned more about the chain of events that led to the fall of the Shah of Iran and I believe it to be important and relevant to current world events. Unfortunately, I doubt as many of our country’s youth will find this movie interesting enough to go see.

It is my opinion that Ben Affleck has become a much better director than he ever was an actor. In Argo, he was adequate in the lead role but was brilliant as the director. He did a great job capturing the mood and the images. His attention to detail was incredible. He was passable as an actor because this wasn’t role that required greatness. It wasn’t about the individual characters but the events themselves. Affleck kept the pace brisk and the drama constant. He was patient in not only telling the story but educating the audience on the cause and the background. He maintained the edge-of-your-seat intensity right up to the end, drawing out the drama and excitement with dragging it out too far.

I am all for going to the movies for entertainment purposes. I am also thrilled when I can thoroughly enjoy and movie and also learn some things too. It was great to see what really happened during a historical event from my lifetime and getting a peak at how they unfolded. I look for Ben Affleck to get an Oscar nod for his direction of this film and it will be well deserved. I am gaining more and more respect for him as a film maker and it appears he is building his niche in Hollywood.

Whether you are old enough to remember these events or not, do yourself a favor and go see this film. As I mentioned, it is relevant to current world events and it a terrific true story thriller. Encourage any younger people you may know to see Argo. No one will be disappointed.

Thank you for reading…

My All-Time Favorite TV Comedies

2012-08-28T08:55:00.002-07:00

The first thing I need to admit to is that I love television and the second thing is that I watch way, way too much of it. I decided a few weeks ago to do a short series on my favorite television programs of all time. The more I thought about it, the more clear it became to me that I needed to split up the list a little and make multiple lists. This first post is dedication to my all time favorite TV comedies.

To make the list, there were a couple of criteria. First and foremost, I had to like the show and it had to make me laugh. I know, I know, a no-brainer. Secondly, and this one wasn’t a requirement, but it helped when I was divided. I considered over twenty-five situation comedies for this list. I had to put some thought into it. I had to not only recall I much I enjoyed the programs originally and how well that comedy held up over time. It was also hard for shows from the mid to late 1980s to make the list because at that time I was in college and didn’t watch very much television. I just didn’t watch Cheers or The Cosby Show all that often. I have watched them in syndication and while I enjoy them both, I just couldn’t put them on the list. Some of the programs on the list are from the 1970s. I am not old enough to remember much about their original runs but I have seen them in syndication or on DVD. I just found them better than those I left off the list.

One more note – I found ranking the top four was a very easy task. Ranking the others was very difficult, even after I decided which programs were even going to make the list.

Here goes…

10) Barney Miller/The Jeffersons – I cheated by ranking these two shows predominantly from the 1970s together. Both were not only hilarious but they were socially important. Barney Miller was a cop show that featured a widely diverse ethnic cast interacting in a squad room. Characters came from many backgrounds including African American, Polish, Asian American, Puerto Rican, Jewish, and Asian American. The squad also included a woman and an elderly cop (who can forget “Fish”). While some jokes played off their differences, the writers worked hard to avoid blatant, short sighted stereotyping. In fact, Barney Miller often exploited stereotypes as a way to make fun of those who believed them. The Jeffersons featured television’s first interracial couple and gave America an African American character that was born poor and raised himself and his family up to a life of comfort through hard work. George Jefferson was a strutting loud mouth with a heart of gold, buried deep within his egotistical façade. Both of these shows deserved to make this list, for both their quality and social importance.

9) Scrubs – This show was certainly not for everyone. It was definitively out there at times. People either loved it or hated. Most who hated, just didn’t get it. It was wacky, charming, zany, and most assuredly, an acquired taste. Its delightful cast was led by the lovable Zach Braff and gruff veteran John C. McGinley. The program enjoyed a long run on NBC but then switched to ABC for its final two seasons. The last season in particular, without the stellar cast that that carried the show before, was a disaster. Do not let this keep you from enjoying the first seven seasons filled with laughs, love, crazy antics, and sexual tensions aplenty. This original Bill Lawrence creation was just crazy enough to keep me laughing for a long time.

8) The Big Bang Theory – What could be more lovable than a group of shy, socially awkward science geeks? Well, not much. This modern, instant classic has perfectly blended charming nerds dealing with work and women, with hilarious results. The program has done a terrific job adding girls to the mix in a believable manner. Jim Parsons as the socially inept super genius is especially brilliant and the Kaley Cuoco as the beautiful, intellectually average foil to her braniac neighbors are this CBS comedy’s strongest performers but there are no weak leaks in this fun, sweet offering. There is no end sight as of yet and I am thrilled.

7) Everyone Loves Raymond – This is one of the best network adaptations of a stand up routine into a series. Ray Romano headed this classic cast of comedic veterans with his trademark monotone and blandness. This doesn’t sound as funny as it was, mainly because Romano learned to deliver with great timing and he surrounded himself with the likes of Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle as his meddling parents – that lived right across the street. Patricia Heaton and Brad Garrett were perfect as the put upon wife and brother, never good enough for Ray’s mom. These actors were brilliant at delivering their lines and actions with perfect timing, and the results kept me in stitches for years.

6) That 70’s Show – Who knew? A cast of mostly inexperienced, unknown teenagers set in the late 1970s, with all that unique culture had to be a hard sell. At the time, I think only Fox would have considered this premise but it lead to a great eight year run. Those unknown teenagers grew to be superstars and all have had continued success post-70s. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis in particular have enjoyed terrific careers. This program mixed teenage antics with hilarious parents. There was love and hilarity throughout the series and maintained strong episodes late in their run, even with a few cast defections. There wasn’t a single regular that didn’t pull their comic weight and the cast grew together with terrific classic comedic timing. This original deserves it place on my list and while many may consider this and Scrubs as doubtful entries, they were both among my all time favorites and therefore on my list.

5) Modern Family – Did this program make this list at such a high position because it is on every week and fresh on my mind. Maybe but Modern Family makes me laugh out loud each and every week. The extremely large ensemble cast is truly funny from the youngest “Lilly” to the oldest “Jay”. Each actor has found their niche within the comedic family and they all show their talent. As with such classics in their own time, like The Cosby Show and Roseanne, this program displays modern family values in its own unique manner. It is aptly titled and if you are not watching it, you should be.

4) All in the Family – Does any actor in sit-com history deserve more credit than Carroll O’Connor for his work as the bigoted Archie Bunker? I doubt it. O’Connor played Bunker with surprising heart. Bunker was a horrible racist who knew, deep down, that his old time views of the world, of people themselves, was wrong but he just wasn’t equipped to change. This program took place during the tumultuous early 1970s, when America had yet to adjust to the social changes that had occurred in the previous decade. I firmly believe Archie Bunker had a hand in pushing the thought process of many Americans away from prejudice and discrimination by showing how incredibly wrong and ignorant those out dated attitudes were. Jean Stapleton and Rob Reiner were absolutely terrific in their roles and All in the Family deserves this ranking. This show also produced several quality spin-offs, including The Jeffersons. If you get a chance to catch this gem on DVD, please do so.

3) The Simpsons – Homer, Bart, and the gang just keep going. If this were a live action program, Bart would be in his thirties, little Maggie would be out of college, and Homer would probably have passed on. And it would have been cancelled long ago. Luckily for us, The Simpsons can stay young forever. The satirical masterpiece is the longest running prime time, non news show in the history of television. It continues to be strong, and more importantly, funny. They continue to take tongue-in-cheek shots at everything from pop culture, the entertainment stars, to society in general. Their antics continue to amuse and, in its silly little way, teach us a little about ourselves and the world around us. Many people would not include a cartoon on this list but The Simpsons have always made me laugh and their history speaks for itself. This show is without a doubt, one of the greatest TV comedies of all time.

2) Friends – This program enjoyed probably the greatest cast chemistry of all time. Six very good actors worked together to produce six of the greatest and most beloved characters on television. Each and every character was funny and unique in their own way. The episodes when all six are together for most of the scenes were always the best because they were so great together. These people became our friends. We cared what became of them. We didn’t want them to go away. It has been more than eight years since the last episode aired but fortunately for us, they live on in syndication and DVD. There are very few programs that I would like to see a reunion movie but I would love to see for Friends, done correctly, of course. I want to see how their lives turned out. Are they still close or have they floated apart as so often happens in real life as people move around and their families grow. Food for thought…

Some programs that were considered but not included were Seinfeld, Two and a Half Men, Cheers, The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Home Improvement, Happy Days, The Dick Van Dyke Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, South Park, and The Office.

1) M*A*S*H – The show was developed from a slap stick movie by the same name. It started its run in the early 1970s and it also started out as a slap stick anti-war program set during the Korean War. After about fifteen episodes though, the creators and writers realized they could do so much more. M*A*S*H endured terrible first season rankings to become one of the most watched programs, in percentage of television sets, in history. The last episode in 1983 is still one of the most watched non sporting events all time. This show produced one of the greatest single TV characters of all time in Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce. Alda’s many layered Hawkeye was funny, smart, good looking, good hearted, and deeply troubled. Usually his true soul, tortured by the blood and death round him, was hidden by his brilliant sense of humor. Hawkeye always stood up for the downtrodden and protected those who struggled to protect themselves and was a television hero in every sense. An absolutely brilliant, talented ensemble cast surrounded Alda, often changing season to season. The writers were brilliant in making sure the replacement characters were nothing like the departed characters, keeping the comedy and situations fresh year to year. Watch this show on DVD, with the laugh track turned off (a terrific feature on these DVDs, by the way), and enjoy the joy and experience the horror endured by these doctors and nurses in a military hospital in a combat zone. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

I hope you enjoyed this list. I had a blast compiling writing it. Until next time…thanks for reading.

The Amazing Spider-Man

2012-07-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

I can’t deny I liked Tobey Maguire as Spiderman. I enjoyed the previous three films, especially the first two. Much like the Christopher Nolan/Christian Bale Batman pictures, you mustn’t spend much time comparing The Amazing Spider-Man with the previously released efforts with other actors and directors. This film stands just fine on its own merits.

Still, it is inevitable not to make some comparisons, especially when it comes to the lead characters. Maguire was nerdier than Andrew Garfield and really wore his angst on his sleeve. Maguire was the right choice at the time of the first film ten years ago. Andrew Garfield is a better hero for these times. He has the hair and the look. He oozes sensitivity and intellect. I enjoyed Maguire a decade ago but Garfield is a modern upgrade and is immensely likable and easily gains our sympathy.

Marc Webb put his own spin on the spidey story, mainly by switching our hero’s love interest from Mary Jane to Gwen Stacy. While I had no issues with Kirsten Dunst, Emma Stone is a much better fit with lead Garfield. Stone is comfortable and accessible as an actress and infuses a joy in her work. She loves what she does and it shows. Stone and Garfield displayed little chemistry early on but it improved as the movie progressed. At the end, you wanted them together.

As for the story itself, little new ground was broken. As with some other Spiderman villains, there is a degree of sympathy for the motives of the villain. Dr. Conner’s’ behavior derives from a desire to do good and then of course, things goes horribly awry. The film’s villainous Lizard wasn’t the best CGI effort ever put on the big screen and some of the special effects were a little rough. The action scenes, though few, were well choreographed. This movie is actually more character driven than action driven but there is plenty of both aspects for everyone. In this version, we catch more glimpses of Peter Parker’s family situation and history than other in previous installments and it gives Garfield a little more material to flesh out. We still have some shadowy questions left unanswered about Parker’s father and the mentioned but unseen (in this movie) founder of OsCorp, Norman Osborn.

Hollywood veterans Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Denis Leary, and Rhys Ifans add valuable talent to the cast. As expected, these four excelled in their support roles and only added positives to the film.

And of course, there is a nice set up for another movie. I don’t have a problem with that. Summer blockbusters are part of our culture and superhero films are a major ingredient in our movie going experience. These movies are fun and entertaining and should be savored as such. The violence is not violent and only but the youngest of children can go see this film. There are a couple of deaths scenes that could cause trauma for more sensitive children and it may be to slow and intellectual for younger, squirmy kids. Otherwise, The Amazing Spider-Man is a fun theater experience for the whole family.

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Rock of Ages

2012-06-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

What defines good music is so personal and subjective. So much is based upon what we listened to as youngsters. I grew up in the 80’s. I started high school in 1980 and graduated college in 1989. I think the greatest music was produced in that decade. In those ten years, my tastes evolved from Country Western, to pop music, and finally, to good old Rock and Roll. I ended up loving what we called at the time Heavy Metal. Now it is termed derogatorily as the Hair Bands.

While I am not a fan of musicals, I have been anticipating the film Rock of Ages for several months now. Even the trailers gave me goose bumps. Despite the poor box office showing in its opening week, I was excited to go today. I was rewarded with a clever, whimsical celebration of the music and culture of the 1980’s.

I am of the opinion that music in general has been in a creative coma since about 1994. That isn’t to say there hasn’t been some exceptional, original acts in the past two decades. There certainly has been some terrific music made in the past several years – just not very much. The stodgy editors at Rolling Stone magazine seem to think very little great music has been produced since about 1977, according to their recent, ridiculous list of the top 500 albums of all time.

People seem embarrassed by their love of 80’s music. They seem to not want to admit they ever listened to the radio or bought a record. I just don’t get this attitude. Some of the biggest selling records all time were made in that era. For years, MTV (when they still actually showed videos all day) had a daily program where they counted down top 10 most requested videos of the day. For years, that list was consistently filled with Heavy Metal bands, or if you prefer, Hair Bands. In the last six years of so of that decade, rock and roll ruled. Then, of course, the quality did a nose dive and it became more about the image than the music, and the writing was on the wall.

Rock and roll answered back to all of the glam, color, and hair of the 1980’s with the grungy look and sound of Alternative Rock in the early 90’s. After four or five years of incredible, creative, destructive music and behavior, rock and roll just kind of faded away and has been on life support ever since. It’s like rock and roll still hasn’t recovered from the death of Kurt Cobain. Sure, there have been many, many rock stars who have died young and tragically over the past sixty years but Cobain’s death seems to have been the final straw.

I also think the musicianship and song writing of the 80’s is vastly underrated. There were no “singer, song writer” types like in the two previous music generations. There were not great causes or cultural changes to rally around. It was about looks and excess but sometimes the quality is overlooked. There is no decade that has produced more terrific sing along songs; songs that make everyone who hears them feel good - the type of music you want to turn up when it comes on the radio. Even though there were some talentless hacks that were in famous bands and acts in the 80’s, there were also plenty of incredible musicians.

Enough of my pontificating. Let’s get to the actual film. I had a blast. I was the weird guy tapping his toes and singing along with every single song. That was the music I loved. I knew the words to every tune. The two lead characters, played adequately by Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta, were likeable and believable. I must say though, that Catherine Zeta-Jones stole every scene she was in, portraying a Tipper Gore-type harridan. The always stellar Paul Giamatti was appropriately sleazy as the self serving talent agent. Additionally, Tom Cruise was surprisingly believable as the over-the-top, self centered, quirky rock and roll god. Cruise acquitted himself quite well vocally. Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand provided the humor, and in the process, forever changed how I will remember REO Speedwagon’s classic “Can’t Fight This Feeling”( I think I even spotted Kevin Cronin in a crowd scene). The ever sexy Malin Ackerman, the brilliant Bryan Cranston, and the vocally versatile Mary J. Blige fill out a deep and talented cast.

The story was a parody on a popular 80’s theme and the music was absolutely stellar. I am astounded the reaction to this film hasn’t been more positive. It is a titillating smorgasbord for the music lover of any generation. As a parody, it cannot be taken too seriously. As someone who grew up in the 80’s and read Circus magazine (much less stuffy than Rolling Stone) religiously, the story was based on a real theme of the decade but it really is just about the music and the rock culture. Do yourself a favor. Go see this film. Show Hollywood that we get it and we get tired of the same old crap week in and week out. Treat yourself!

I also want to take this opportunity to thank those who follow my blogs, read my opinions, and give their support. I have not been writing quite as much over the past month but I still have over 4000 hits since I first started posting sixteen months ago. I will try to do a better job getting more posts up. Please be patient with me and keep reading. Thanks for all your support.

Fond Reflections on Friends

2012-06-14T18:30:00.001-07:00

Friends debuted in the fall of 1994, nearly eighteen years ago. Eighteen years – that’s pretty hard to believe, isn’t it? It just can’t have been that long since Ross, Chandler, Joey, Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe entered our living rooms and our hearts.

I have been watching the show from the beginning on DVD. What a great innovation it was to put our television favorites on DVD so we could enjoy them years later. What is even better is when the re-watching is so much fun. Friends is still holding up well after all these years. I still laugh at the antics and I find myself anticipating the future episodes and storylines. One would think knowing what is going to happen would damper the enthusiasm of watching this show multiple times. That just isn’t the case for me. I find that I am eagerly waiting for the great things to come yet still reveling in each episode.

Seldom has television had the stars align so perfectly for a program. Everything worked. The cast was brilliant and had incredible chemistry right from the beginning. The writing was terrific and allowed each actor to grown into the unique quirkiness of their individual characters. The dialogue was never strained or forced. When things didn’t work, like Marcel the monkey (my least favorite storyline of the whole ten year run) in the first season, the writers quickly realized the error of their ways and fixed the situation. The powers that ran the show also did a great job with their big name stunt casting (a NBC staple in their heyday). Superstars like Julia Roberts, Tom Selleck, Brad Pitt, and Bruce Willis were among featured guest stars. This show even had a near perfect theme song in the Rembrandt’s “I’ll Be There for You.”

Of course, the cast all became stars with varied degrees of success outside of Friends. David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, Coutrney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow are all still working. In hindsight, sometimes it is hard to believe David Schwimmer was the first star of the show. There is an old story that when their contract negotiations first came up, the powers were willing to pay Schwimmer more than his co-stars. Schwimmer, in a very unselfish and farsighted move, insisted his cast mates all be paid the same and they negotiated as a group. This probably gave us at least two more seasons than we may have enjoyed otherwise. This eventually gave the group of six the power in the end.

I am almost finished with the second season. It is about midway through this season that the show really hits its genius stride with incredibly creativity and hilarious plot lines and the rest is history. The show is funny, touching, and charming. The characters really become our friends and we as viewers come to care for these people in a way that shouldn’t be considered totally sane. I just don’t know if we will ever see a television program that will ever capture our collective hearts in quite the same way.

If you ever get the chance, revisit Friends. Time and distance (from the characters) have not tarnished this gem in any way. If you loved the show the first time around, these Friends will still be there for you.

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Snow White and the Huntsman

2012-06-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

I have no idea how many incarnations of the fairy tale featuring Snow White there are in literature, television, and film. Some are modern takes of the old story, some offer an old setting for the old tale, and some like ABC’s Once Upon a Time serve up an intriguing combination of both. Snow White and the Huntsman is definitely an expanded adaptation of the old medieval tale.

This version may be the darkest portrayal yet. There is nothing cute or cuddly here. It is dark and brooding with very little comic relief. The filmmakers take the familiar characters and events of other beloved versions and fleshes those characters and events out. Evil Queen, the dwarfs, and the huntsman are much, much more than animated caricatures. These characters in particular are given soul and depth.

Charlize Theron really played Ravenna the Evil Queen to the hilt, her taunt face flashing back and forth from a stunning beauty to an aging crone as she sucks the youth and vitality out of the people that stumble into her path and her dark soul blackens the landscape. There is no humor in Theron’s Ravenna, only dark, selfish evil and she makes you believe. Chris Hemsworth (Thor and The Avengers) is subtly scarred and haunted as the Huntsman and further advances his hero persona. I have a feeling we will be seeing Hemsworth more and more in the future.

Ironically, the biggest void in the film was from the title character and our leading lady, Snow White. Kristen Stewart was her normal morose heroine that she has perfected as Bella. She seems to be stuck in that brooding, unsmiling, dolorous rut and I have seen little from her that tells me she can play anything else. Only toward the end, when she donned the shiny armor, did she breathe much life into the all important role of Snow White. If all director Rupert Sanders was shooting for was a dark, lifeless version of the lead character, then his casting choice of Stewart was perfect. She certainly fit into the mood of the film well enough. I just didn’t see any depth there.

All in all, though, I enjoyed this haunting adaptation. Most of the characters were much more realistic and fleshed out than past versions. My whole family liked the film and it was appropriate for most audiences over ten years old. There were some dark and disturbing scenes that might upset more sensitive younger viewers but there was little graphic violence. The movie as a whole was pretty good, with only a slight downgrade for Snow herself.

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Dark Shadows

2012-05-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

I saw an interview some time back where Johnny Depp admitted whenever Tim Burton calls with an idea, he doesn’t need even need to hear it. He just agrees. Burton is a one of a kind director with a taste for the macabre and the quirky. If Depp is in fact his muse, Depp is a willing one who can match Burton quirk for quirk.

Dark Shadows is a perfect forum for these two brilliant but weird talents to collaborate on for the eighth time. Depp is a terrific actor whose sometimes gets lost in his idiosyncratic characters. Sometimes we can forget that he isn’t actually Captain Jack Sparrow or Willy Wonka. I have a feeling Barnabus Collins may just join that pantheon of eccentric characters. I think Burton revels in producing roles in which his muse can shine. The weirder the better seems to be his motto. I don’t personally like everything these guys make together but I admire their originality and their dedication to the strange and unusual.

Depp is at his witty best in Dark Shadows. As Barnabus Collins, a two century old vampire on a quest to restore his family’s reputation and fortune, Depp’s clever fish-out-of-water observations are numerous and chuckle worthy. Depp often takes his characters over the top but he reins Barnabus in, doling out the humor in just the right dosage. A young star on the rise, Chloe Grace Moretz steals most of her scenes. Displaying a barely stifled intolerance of the adults around her, Moretz portrays the perfectly melancholy teen. Her attitude toward Barnabus seems natural and realistic. Eva Green continues to build her resume with evil villainesses as the witch who curses Barnabus to his shadowy existence. It is always nice to see Michelle Pheiffer grace the big screen, even if here character was under written. Burton’s secondary muse, wife Helen Bonham Carter, rounds out the entertaining cast.

To be honest, Dark Shadows isn’t an award winning effort. The story falters and lulls about in a couple of places but if you enjoy the Burton/Depp tandem, then you will enjoy this movie. It is a chuckle fest with a dark side (pun intended) and is set up for a sequel. A number of the better lines are already delivered in the myriad of trailers used to promote this film. Still, I enjoyed the picture and chortled throughout. The film is also appropriate for all but younger children. The violence is insinuated and the monsters for more funny than scary.

Unless you are a huge Burton/Depp, you could probably wait to see the picture on DVD if there are other movies (Avengers, Battleship) on which you would rather spend your theater dollars. It is an entertaining couple of hours but probably can be enjoyed in your living room as much as the big screen.

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Girls

2012-05-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

GIRLS (HBO, Sundays, 9:30pm, Eastern)

This wasn’t a program I was prepared to actually like. I was pleasantly surprised with this seemingly real show about four young women in their early to mid twenties. It is sort of on the opposite end of the social spectrum portrayed by Sex in the City.

This is the struggle of these four young women dealing with the day to day grind of living life in New York City. Paying rent, finding jobs, searching not just for love, but for solid, comfortable relationships, are all themes that transcend not only life in the big city but the life of many college graduates around the country in an economy that isn’t quite healthy.

Girls is served up on a platter of acerbic wit, piled high with realism and topped off with just the right amount of satire. Most of the work is due to the real life observations of one talented person – Lena Dunham. This young gal is a busy person. She created this gem and writes, directs, produces, as well as holds down the lead role. HBO and co-producer Judd Apatow have shown great faith in Denham and as far as I’m concerned, she has delivered.

The writing takes into the lives of the four friends played by Dunham, Allison Williams (Brian Williams’ daughter), Jemima Kirke, and Zosia Mamet. Dunham and Williams as best friends and long time roommates show great chemistry. The ultra talented Mamet, who played a worldly Bohemian in Mad Men, goes completely opposite here as the innocent, naïve virgin. Kirke’s character (Jessa) was my least favorite right from the beginning but she may actually be the most complex character as the series moves along.

Girls is funny and bawdy without relying on cheap laughs. The humor and wit is seldom laugh out loud funny but I chuckle throughout each episode. It is subtle, sexy and smart, and at times, sweet and innocent without even trying. It is a premium cable program and therefore is not appropriate for all audiences. I can tell you that I can’t wait for the next episode.

Check out my thoughts on sports at jawssportsandstuff.blogspot.com and bigbrotherbaseballproject.blogspot.com and follow me on twitter @jawsrecliner

My All Time Favorite Movie Scenes

2012-04-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

The following is actually a copy of my most popular post ever on jawssportsandstuff.blogspot.com before I started this blog dedicated to movie and television. If you have already read, I apologize but enjoy it if you haven't. Thanks for reading!

While I think Hollywood has been churning out a whole lot of crap over the past two or three years, I haven’t always believed that was true. I have been a huge fan of the movies since I first started going to theaters on a regular basis in the early 1980s. Before having a child, and before other life activities curtailed the opportunities, I went to the movies almost every single weekend, sometimes 2 or 3 times a weekend. I know, that is a lot of popcorn. Let’s just say I love movies. Most of the movies on the list are since 1980. These are the movies I am most familiar with. I am sure there are many great moments I have left off. As it is, I have already extended the list from 10 to 15 because I couldn’t narrow it down.

When someone makes a list of their favorite anything, it is purely subjective. This list is no different. In compiling a list of my favorite movie moments, I did not consider the greatness of the movies themselves. Some of the scenes on this list are long, some are short. Some are the climatic scenes, some aren’t. Some are based on the emotions they stirred up in me, and some are just brilliantly conceived and/or executed. In all cases, I feel the movie makers hit on just the right formula to capture their audiences.

A couple more notes before I get to the list. I must give a general spoiler alert. If you haven’t seen any particular film, you may want to just skip that entry and move on to the next one, and let it be enough that the movie was on the list. In some cases, in due course of explaining my reasons for including a movie, I may reveal some key plot information. If I ruin anything for anyone, I apologize beforehand. Also, the names I have given for the scenes are unofficial. I have tagged them as I have for my own purposes. Here goes:

15. Brian’s Song – “Brian Dies” – This is the first tear jerker I ever remember seeing. It requires very little explanation as to why it is on my list. If the life and death of Brian Piccolo doesn’t bring you to tears, you have to question your own humanity.

14. Saving Private Ryan – “D-Day” – The opening sequence of this terrific World War II film is absolutely brilliant. It takes a very strong stomach to watch it because it is brutal and graphic, gruesome and realistic. I can’t imagine any other film capturing the horror of the Allied landing in Normandy any better. It may portray as much realism as can be watched by the average person but it was filmed with the respect necessary to honor those who fell on those bloody beaches that day.

13. Ferris Buehler’s Day Off – “Twist and Shout” – This is by far the most frivolous entry on my list and I make no apologies. Who had more fun than Ferris Buehler and when did he have more fun than when he thrust himself onto a parade float to karaoke “Danke Shoen” and “Twist and Shout”? The crowd choreography is a little silly but that's part of the fun of this sweet scene. Who didn’t want to sing along with Ferris in this comedy classic?

12. A Few Good Men – “You Can’t Handle the Truth” – With the long history of parodies of this scene, you only need to go back and watch this powerful scene again to appreciate the tension and drama of this terrific movie. It is maybe Jack Nicholson’s most famous scene as his arrogant Colonel Jessup explodes under Tom Cruise’s Lieutenant Kaffee pressuring questions in this taunt military courtroom drama. Kaffee has little courtroom experience, little confidence, and little respect. Jessup really loathes Kaffee but the lawyer prods the volatile colonel into a very dramatic confession. This movie has a terrific cast and is an underrated film. Keep an eye on Wolfgang Bodison as Lance Corporal Dawson. Bodison was unknown at the time but gives an awesome performance.

11. The Cowboys – “The Duke is Dead?” – The best John Wayne westerns were always those that got away from the cookie cutter formulas. This movie qualifies. Wayne seldom died in his films, you know, because he was the Duke. In this western, Wayne hits the trail to take a herd of cattle to market, with only teens and pre-teens as cowhands. Far fetched premise you say? It is but it doesn’t matter. Wayne pushes and prods the youngsters kicking and screaming into manhood and as the end of the trail approaches, cattle rustlers, led by a charmingly evil Bruce Dern, attack the youngsters and their bovine charges. The young cowherds fight off the bad guys but lose their fearless leader. It was such a shock because the Duke just doesn’t go out like that. It is one of my favorite John Wayne movies and its unexpected twist provides reason enough.

10. Good Will Hunting – “No Goodbye” – I think the subtle but touching ending to this movie is ultimately the reason why it won Damon and Affleck the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. It was fore shadowed earlier in the film when Affleck’s Chuckie quietly rails on Damon’s Will for not taking advantage of his opportunities. Chuckie tells Will he would love to show up at Will’s house some morning to pick him up for work and just find Will gone. No goodbyes. In the end, Will does just that, to the wry satisfaction of his best buddy. I love this movie and this ending is the whip cream and cherry on top.

9. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – “The Battle for Helm’s Deep” – This is my favorite battle scene of all time. I don’t care it was mostly CGI. Back then, this type of special effects was still relatively new and wasn’t being overused by every hack film maker. Peter Jackson is a genius and nowhere is it more obvious in this incredibly detailed battle. It is climatic scene in the second installment in this legendary trilogy and Jackson is patient with it, drawing out beautifully. Big fan of the books, the films, and this scene.

8. Big – “Chopsticks” – Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia playing “Chopsticks” with their feet on a giant keyboard on the floor of a toy store – just imagine. A terrific scene in a movie that showed off Hanks at his sweetest and most innocent as a young teen trapped in the body of an adult. Sometimes we forget, because of all of his dramatic work over the past twenty years, Hanks goofy, comedic beginnings. This is the best of Hanks’ pre-Forrest Gump efforts and well worth a revisit.

7. Million Dollar Baby – “Mo Cuishle” – Make sure the tissue box is close at hand for this deathbed scene. Maggie Fitzgerald (played by the gutsy Hilary Swank) convinces hardened trainer, Frankie (Clint Eastwood), to become her boxing mentor. The always brilliant Morgan Freeman rounds out this top notch cast. The character development is steady and patient and it pays off. Fitzgerald works her way into Frankie’s heart, leading to the tragic, soul wrenching key scene. No exaggeration – I cried for several minutes after the film ended. It is a scene I will never forget.

6. Glory – “The Whipping” – This is the Civil War movie that made Denzel Washington a star and the scene that thrust him into super stardom. Who will ever forget Private Trip stoically, yet rebelliously, glaring over his shoulder as he is whipped on order of Matthew Brodrick’s Colonel Robert Gould Shaw for an army indiscretion? The sight of Trip’s old scars on his back, from the way of life from which he escaped and was fighting against, is gut wrenching. The irony of the punishment commanded by Colonel Shaw is not subtle but Washington and Broderick handle the scene beautifully. Morgan Freeman, Adrian Braugher, and Cary Elwes add their considerable talents to this terrific film about the 54^th Massachusetts, the first black regiment recruited in the north during the Civil War.

5. Apocalypse Now – “I Love the Smell of Napalm” – Robert Duvall’s brief, yet memorable, scene is incredible. Blaring Wagner’s “Flight of the Valkyries” from speakers mounted on helicopters, Duvall’s not quite sane Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore leads an aerial attack on a riverside Vietnamese village. After the attack, Kilgore strides across a smoldering, body strewn battleground, oblivious to any danger. He squats, waxing philosophically. He utters the famous, and much parodied line “I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells like…victory.” In the course of a film over two and a half hours long, this brief appearance garnered Duvall a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination and it is most deserving. Duvall played the not-quite-right Kilgore just right.

4. The Empire Strikes Back – “I Am Your Father” – I have always felt this is the most overrated of the six-episode Stars Wars saga. Most people think I’m crazy because it is also the most favored. Sit down and watch it sometime. The story line is barely advanced. If it weren’t for one of the biggest, if not the biggest, reveals in Hollywood history, I wonder if it would still be the favorite of so many. Villainous Darth Vadar’s shocking revelation that he is hero Luke Skywater’s father saves this film. It has nearly nonstop action and fun but until this incredible scene unfolds, the plot nearly fails. I’m sure George Lucas set it up that way. I remember, as a youth, when I first watched the movie, I was like, “No way!” upon seeing this cinematic shocker.

3. Dead Poet’s Society – “Captain, My Captain” – This is my favorite Robin Williams movie. I know, it is sappy and slow but the last half hour is dramatic and terrific. When Williams’ John Keating is made the scapegoat for a tragedy that is in no way his fault and he forced to resign his teaching position at a private school, shy, reserved student Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) pays homage to his fallen mentor. In a touching reference to an earlier scene in which Keating pushes Anderson to emerge from his shell, Anderson strides to the top of his desk to honor his teacher by quoting Walt Whitman. His “Captain, my captain” stops Keating at the door. Classmates join Anderson on their desktops, repeating the phrase as the school dean tries to restrain them. I have watched this movie a dozen times. I know what is coming. I tear up in anticipation of the upcoming moment every time. I’m so attached to this scene, my wife knew it was going to be included on this list.

2. A Time To Kill – “Now Imagine…” – This is a great adaptation of John Grisham’s first, and best, novel. Matthew McConaughey’s Jake Brigance is hired to defend Carl Lee Haley (Samuel L. Jackson), who, in front of a dozen witnesses, killed the two white men who raped and beat his young daughter. During the public murder, Haley also shoots and cripples a police officer by accident. The facts of the case are undisputed, yet Haley pleads with Brigance to get him off. Set in Mississippi, in a volatile area where the Ku Klux Klan is still active, Brigance must convince a jury of Haley’s white “peers” that a black man was justified in killing two white men in cold blood. Brigance’s closing argument, which was even more dramatic on film than in print, is shocking, breathtaking, and right on. This all star cast includes Kevin Spacey, Sandra Bullock, both Sutherlands, Chris Cooper, Oliver Platt, Brenda Fricker, Charles S. Dutton, and Ashley Judd. I love this movie and I love this powerful scene. Jackson has the best moment of the movie as he realizes what Brigance’s argument is. Now that is how an actor shows surprise!

1. The Godfather, Part I – “Do You Renounce Satan” – This scene is so powerful and so perfect. What a way to end one of the greatest movies ever made. As Michael Corleone stands in a Catholic church, before an alter, before his God, and swears to renounce Satan, his minions are taking out his enemies throughout New York City. The scene bounces back and forth from the church, where his family has gathered for his son’s baptism, to the various bloodbaths. Corleone swears another oath and another rival criminal dies. The music hauntingly crescendos as the scene builds and builds as more oaths are sworn and more people die. It is brilliant in all of its violent glory. I don’t know if another scene will ever be shot to match this one’s absolute brilliance and power.

I hope everyone enjoys reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Feel free to blast away at my choices and feel free to submit your own in the comment section. Thanks for staying with me. I know it’s a long one.

Catch my sports blogs at jawssportsandstuff.blogspot.com and bigbrotherbaseballproject.blogspot.com and follow me on twitter @jawsrecliner

Magic City

2012-04-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

Magic City (Fridays, 9pm Eastern, Starz)

A beautiful locale, an exciting time, and a fascinating theme should all add up to a very intriguing television program. Unfortunately, Magic City comes up just a bit short on the intrigue and has an I-think-I’ve-seen-this-before vibe.

This Starz effort looks stunning in its 1959 Miami setting. The story revolves around Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), owner and proprietor of a new beach front luxury hotel. Evans’ biggest problem is that to get his hotel built, he had to take on a partner, namely Ben “The Butcher” Diamond (Danny Huston). With a nickname like The Butcher, are there any guesses on what kind of guy Diamond is? You got it – a mobster.

In the background, Cuba is falling to a young rebel leader named Fidel Castro. Diamond’s Cuban business interests, as was all of the mafia’s Cuban interests, are under duress. Diamond has moved to Miami, looking for a way to cover his expected losses, hence his desire for a bigger piece of Evans’ hotel. Diamond does not stray far from the gangster stereotype – he is a violent, entitled killer.

Although Huston’s portrayal of Diamond is chilling and realistic, the character and storyline are unimaginative, right down to the union leader anchored to the bottom of a quarry lake. Huston dominates each scene he is in. I just wish he had better material to work with.

Morgan is fine in the lead role and is believable but again, I feel he was little meat to gnaw on. He saunters through his scene in a nice suit and the iconic fifties cigarette smoldering between his lips. Evan rushes around trying to figure out a way to escape Diamond’s domineering and threatening shadow. Evans has two grown sons and these characters have yet to find footing with any interesting storylines. Evans does have a sexy, younger wife played by Bond girl, Olga Kurylenko. Just like his sons, Kurylenko’s Vera has made no established contribution as yet.

Magic City could certainly improve as more episodes unfold. The writing has got to improve if this show has even a chance of success. Starz is a premium cable movie network, so maybe it can give the show a little more rope in hope of getting better. They need to take advantage of the characters already in place and the built-in storylines. The Mafia is a big part of this time and place but I would like to see more depth in the writing here. Please give us more than the surface story and superficial characters. The idea has merit but the execution has been poor thus far.

Check out jawssportsandstuff.blogspot.com and bigbrotherbaseballproject.blogspot.com for some opinions on the sporting world. Follow me on twitter @jawsrecliner

American Reunion

2012-04-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Aaahhh, the nostalgia. Sometimes we connect with characters and movies for no apparent reason. That was the case in the late 1990’s with the American Pie movies. They were filled with crude language and images that were shocking. They were also loaded with touching, familiar characters and situations. Those images were as funny as they were shocking and these movies clicked with teens of the day and with no-so-teens like me. I’ve always thought those movies channeled the vulgar ghost of John Hughes (even though Hughes still lived when the first 3 films were made).

American Reunion brought nothing new to the big screen, yet it didn’t disappoint. I think many of us wanted to know if Jim and Michelle were still together. We wanted to know if Stifler was still a childish jerk. We wanted to know if Finch still had a thing for Stifler’s mom. We all wanted to see Jim’s dad again. It didn’t really matter what the situation would be. We just wanted to see our old favorites again. Reunion came through.

The movie was filled with the expected crazy, lewd hijinks that were the calling card of the original trilogy. I wondered if I would still find this stuff as funny as I did more than a decade ago. I don’t know what it says about me, but I did. And judging by the loud laughter from the audience in the theater, so did everyone else. It didn’t even matter that we could see some of the scenes unfolding before the movie actually got there. The characters, especially Jim, take innocent situations and have them fall apart to their most base aspects in quick fashion.

This film, just as in the originals, went deeper than the cheap, lewd and crude funny business. All of these pictures could have easily been nothing more than boorish and course yet they didn’t. There was real depth to the characters and that is why we connected with them. We liked them, and behind the vulgarity, there were real issues of insecurity and the pathos of modern teenagers. American Reunion followed the same pattern, revealing familiar uncertainties about marriage and parenthood. Sometimes relationships can become comfortable but also lack the excitement that sparked it in the first place. We as adults often look back at the decisions of our life and question our decisions. This film puts our beloved characters in the same kind of situations and reveals the growth we have all experienced in life.

I don’t want to suggest that this movie is golden statuette worthy. Of course it isn’t. It follows the original formula too much. It is funny and crude but it is also touching and familiar. If you liked the first 3 movies then you are going to enjoy seeing these characters ten years later. If you didn’t like the originals, don’t bother with this one either. The acting is mediocre at best, except for maybe Jason Biggs (Jim), Eugene Levy (Jim’s dad), and Sean William Scott (hilarious as Stifler), but that really isn’t the point. It is about the imperfections of friendship and life. Of course, this is not a movie for children in any way, shape, or form. Enjoy this movie for what it is and be happy catching up with old favorites. It was good to see them again.

Checks out these blogs – jawssportsandstuff.com and bigbrotherbaseballproject.com and follow me on twitter @jawsrecliner.com

Game of Thrones

2012-04-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

GAME OF THRONES (HBO, Sundays, 8pm CST)

Over the years, many books have been made into movies. Most pale in comparison because the movie versions lack the details that provide most of the meat in the literary form. The film maker is forces to pick choose what details and even whole scenes are important enough for their picture. Often, these inevitable cuts end up watering down the book as a whole. Figure in the often inexplicable changes the film maker decides to go with for whatever purpose, and the movie is sometimes barely recognizable in comparison.

There are film makers who work very hard to remain as true to the books as possible. The biggest hurdle to this is that it is very difficult to trim an 800-page book into two or three hours. Typically, one page of a screenplay roughly equals one minute of film. The math is simple; there is too much content that has to be eliminated. That is why the movie is seldom better the book.

What would be the result if a film maker had ten hours to work with? This is an intriguing question and one that HBO and creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss had an answer for. The result is brilliant. Benioff and Weiss took a best selling fantasy classic and made it into an HBO series.

The book A Game of Thrones is actually the first book in an expected 7-volume fantasy series called A Song of Fire and Ice by George R. R. Martin, but the creators wisely ditched the unwieldy series name and went with the more popular designation, Game of Thrones. Benioff and Weiss decided to make that first book into 10 season one episodes. Armed with the luxury of time, they produced a visually stunning, brilliantly filmed, superbly acted, true-to- the-book masterpiece.

The HBO series took its time telling this rich story of political intrigue, friendships, betrayals, villains, heroes, sex, and violence in stunning detail. The television version follows the book faithfully, with only a few scenes invented. Most of these are not so much invented as maybe extended or expanded. Most are to highlight a fact merely hinted at in the book. As with most popular science fiction or fantasy books, this series has its far share of “fanboys” who jump all over any details changed from the books. I imagine that even the most rabid fanboys have to be thrilled with this series.

The first season was incredible and I have watched it a couple of times already. I have been impatiently anticipating the second season, based on the second book Clash of Kings, which picks up right where the first book and season leave off. The second book is longer and even more textured, layered, and detailed than the first, with more battles and more intrigue than the first book. The scope is wider and more intense as well. The creators have their work cut out for them to use their editing power as precisely as a surgeon wielding a scalpel. At this point, I have complete trust they will get it right as they show as much love and dedication to the books as Peter Jackson did with The Lord of the Rings.

Game of Thrones is filled with knights and kings, battles and wars, sibling rivalry, lies and truths, life and death, and dragons. These are all key ingredients to the classic fantasy genre and this is one of the best written series of all time. George R.R. Martin is a brilliant author whose imagination is without limits. His eye for detail is precise and there are never dull or slow parts of his books. The one annoying flaw Martin has is that he is an unforgivably slow writer. It took him 11 years to write the 3^rd and 4^th books, and they take place simultaneously and cover a myriad of characters and places. While I sincerely hope HBO is able to continue this undoubtedly expensive project through to the end, I harbor major doubts that Martin can keep up. I am hoping that the production of the show will quicken his writing.

If you get HBO, the series is must viewing. If you don’t, at some point, buy the DVD set. It is worth the money. It has everything anyone could want in entertainment – action, drama, horror, comedy, sex, blood – on top of perfect acting, writing, and production. As can be expected of an HBO series, it is not for children and would carry an R rating in the theater. As a fan of the books, I couldn’t be happier with the results of the program. Season two started just this last week and I am eager for the next episode. You can catch up On Demand. This is must watch TV if ever there was such a thing.

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The Hunger Games

2012-03-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

Just like that – a little over two hours is all it takes sometimes. A great book, a blockbuster movie, a terrific character, and a whole lot of talent - that’s all it takes to make a star. Sure, she already has a few golden statuette and shiny globe nominations under her belt for a film no one saw. It’s not like no one knows who she is. Now, everyone is going to know who Jennifer Lawrence is and unless I miss my guess, we are going to get to enjoy her work for a very long time.

Make no mistake about it. Jennifer Lawrence is the star of The Hunger Games. She is absolutely brilliant as Katniss Everdeen, the stalwart heroine of Suzanne Collins’ beloved Hunger Games series. It is almost as if the part was written for her. She combines a fierce toughness with gut wrenching vulnerability that is the essential key to the role. Her dialogue is never strained and she can convey even the most minuscule trace of emotion with her facial expressions and body language. Her performance entrances the theater audience, just like the character from the books. She dominates that big screen and draws the eye to her every movement. Her actions are never rushed or forced, from the faint smile that seems lurk behind her brooding features to the way she calming pulls the string of her bow. I’m telling you folks; Jennifer Lawrence has what it takes to be a superstar. If I were a director, she would always be my first phone call when casting a lead actress from now on.

Of course, she had beautiful material in which to inspire her. Collins had a big role in the screenplay and I am sure that’s why the transition from the page to the big screen went so well. The movie follows the book carefully in all of the right places. The biggest divergence from the novels is that the books are all from one viewpoint - from Katniss’ view. There just isn’t enough time for the film to allow us to learn everything we need to learn through Katniss. The film gives us a look at things from a few other points of view, just to keep the story moving along at the correct pace. It does not distract and it fills in necessary holes here and there. The biggest difference between picture and novel is that we lose a lot of the background development and characters, mainly from Katniss’ home, District 12. The movie was a long one and there just wasn’t enough time for the depth the book offered.

Some of the satellite characters were expanded. Wes Bentley’s Seneca Crane and Stanley Tucci’s Caesar Flickerman both have more screen time than in the book. I felt Woody Harrelson’s Haymitch Abernathy’s was actually a tad underplayed, if possible, and I was intrigued by Lenny Kravitz as Cinna, Katniss’ wardrobe supervisor. Amandla Stenberg was terrific as Rue; I just wish her role had been slightly bigger. I only recognized Elizabeth Banks because I already knew she played Effie. The make-up job was terrific. Donald Sutherland is President Snow and while he makes a subtle few appearances, his biggest moments will come in the later films.

The final key to this film is Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. While I felt he fell short early on in the movie and lacked chemistry with Lawrence, he slowly built up believability as the film progressed, much like in the book. He grows on us, as intended, and by the end, we welcome the twist we all know is coming. It will be interesting to see how the dynamic with Liam Hemsworth as Gale will play out in the second and third movies when Gale’s is greatly expanded.

The story, of course, is about a futuristic world divided into twelve districts, controlled by the Capitol. The districts are poor and the Capitol is rich. The people in the districts are kept down so there is not revolt. A 13^th district existed but revolted 74 years ago. As a remembrance (penalty), each district has to provide 2 tributes each year, a teenage male and female, to participate in an arena. Only one of the 24 is allowed to walk out alive and is showered with riches the rest of his/her life. What a happy world! Thus the need for a heroine, our Katniss. The movie focuses most of its time on the action in the arena as children fight for their lives against each other and the game master (Bentley’s Crane). The arena is loaded with dangers controlled by the game master as he manipulates the game play, and sometimes, who survives and who dies.

The Hunger Games has few faults. What few that exist are washed away by Jennifer Lawrence’s screen presence. When the camera goes off her, all we want is for it to return to her. It is hard to focus on the film’s weaknesses. The arena scenes of death are watered down so they are friendlier to younger viewers. The violence is shown in a jerky, blurring fashion, hiding the worst of the violence from the audience. We see the aftermath. Keep in mind, the premise is a dark one to begin with. Young children may be disturbed by the very fact of children trying to kill each other. We all should, and that is part of the point of the movie.

I obviously loved the movie and Jennifer Lawrence. Take the time and go see it. Enjoy the action and the acting. You won’t be disappointed.

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GCB

2012-03-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

GCB (ABC, Sundays, 9pm CST)

I have always been a fan of satirical humor on television. It is one of the reasons The Simpsons has been a personal favorite of mine for more than 20 years. It is also why I find myself chuckling throughout each episode of ABC’s newest silly hour long, guilty pleasure comedy, GCB.

There is nothing of importance about this program revolving around Amanda (Leslie Bibb), a mother of two and former high school mean girl. The fact is Amanda was the queen of the mean girls and she ruled the social aspects of her high school, treating others she deemed beneath her as only a teen age mean girl could.

Life has not been kind to Amada of late. Her husband operated a national, Texas-sized ponzi scheme and just as he was about to get caught, he absconded with millions of dollars of ill gotten cash and Amanda’s best friend. Then dies in a fiery car crash. Amanda, penniless and in disgrace, has to crawl back to Texas to live with her mother (the always hilarious Annie Potts). The thing is, Amanda is not the same person as she was 20 years ago.

Unfortunately for Amanda, all of the girls she treated disdainfully in high school have turned their lives into something positive. They were all rich to begin with and they all marred more money. They have (surgically, in some cases) fixed whatever flaws held them back in high school and now are the social queen bees of Amanda’s world. And they want revenge for all of the ill treatment they suffered through at Amanda’s hand 20 years ago.

The cast is terrific, featuring the always perky Kristin Chenowith as Carlene, Amanda’s most tortured target from the past. Carlene went from ugly duckling to swan but she’s mean as a snake and she remembers every past transgression. Jennifer Aspen, Miriam Shor, and Marisol Nichols complete the cast of former classmates.

Each woman lives behind a hypocritical façade, especially Carlene. She hides a malicious soul behind a Christian, Bible-quoting persona. She makes every situation a religious lesson but does so with the most unchristian of intentions. The humor comes from the fact she isn’t even aware of it. She thinks she is the most devoted of people and that her Christianity is her driving force. Her close friends and partner’s in crime seem to know this about her but are willing to go along with her plans because of their long fostered hatred for Amanda.

The show is silly and really holds little redeeming value – except it makes me laugh. The irony of Carlene’s behavior being so crossways with her supposed beliefs are what lends the most humor. While I know many people of stout and true religious belief, I also know several hypocrites who can reconcile their actions Monday through Saturday because they attend church every Sunday. The hypocrisy is exaggerated for sure and so it becomes satirical in nature.

The actors relish their roles and play them to the hilt. While Bibb’s reformed Amanda is the central character, it is Potts and Chenowith who steal the show, making it a truly funny break from all the medical and law dramas that fill the network airwaves. ABC wants GCB to replace the (finally) ending Desperate Housewives. For my money, GCB is a much funnier program. Watch (and enjoy) it for it is and don’t try to make it more.

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John Carter

2012-03-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

It is a big surprise to me that Hollywood waited so long to roll out a big production about the Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic character, John Carter. Maybe it is because science and technology have already laid waste to the central background of Burroughs’ story – Mars. Considering some of the retreads the Hollywood filmmakers have churned out in the past few years, I would have thought someone could have green lit this project well before now.

John Carter is a good old fashioned, science fiction, swashbuckling tale of good and evil. It is remarkable that Burroughs wrote these characters and stories a century ago. Along with Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs is a science fiction literary pioneer, displaying an imagination that was well before his time. I have not read much Burroughs but he is moving to the top of my read list. I am curious to know how much of the movie’s storyline follows Burroughs’ work.

Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins from one of my all time favorite television programs, Friday Night Lights) holds his own as the title character. Combine this with his lead role in the upcoming blockbuster, Battleship, Kitsch is making a play at becoming our next big action star. While he isn’t the smoothest actor in the world at delivering his lines, he is far ahead of Sly and the Governor at similar stages in their careers. He hasn’t displayed the key sense of humor shown by Will Smith and Mel Gibson, either. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have some talent. I found him quite believable as John Carter and he pulled of the action sequences with aplomb.

Lynn Collins plays Dejah Thoris, the princess of Mars and she should thank the costume designers. She was stunning in her not quite revealing wardrobe. She looked at home as the heroine counterpart to Carter’s hero. Mark Strong was sufficiently evil as the villainous Matai Shang. Dominic West, Willem Defoe, and Thomas Haden Church add their talents to the film in various roles.

The storyline and action flow evenly and almost constantly throughout the film. The special effects were, for the most part, excellent. If I have one complaint, the scenes with Carter jumping were not as good as the other effects throughout the film. The fight scenes were action packed and the plot was easy to follow.

This film is appropriate for all but the youngest viewers. There is no nudity, cursing, or spurting blood. While younger children might be bored by the opening scenes, as the film provides the necessary background, but once Carter reaches Mars, the action and alien creatures will keep all viewers interested to the end.

I really enjoyed John Carter and I look forward to possible sequels. I tip my hand to Burroughs’ imagination and vision. If you like science fiction action flicks, you won’t be disappointed in this film. I think it was long overdue.

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The Lorax

2012-03-10T11:55:00.002-08:00

The Lorax is a nice little movie with an important message. Children will love the film and they won’t be able to help but grasp the theme. There is enough fun stuff in this movie that most adults will be able to enjoy itas well, for the most part. That’s the good.

Now for the bad. I felt the movie’s deliverance of the central environmental theme was heavy handed and politically driven. There was absolutely no subtlety. While I enjoyed the characters, especially the forest creatures, by the end, I was pretty tired of being bombarded by propaganda. I get it – let’s save the trees.

I am not particularly thrilled about this new trend I am seeing in Hollywood – that of delivery of political propaganda via children’s movies. Our kids get enough stuff thrown at them in everyday life. Do they really need to be brainwashed so thoroughly in the theater?

Don’t get me wrong. The message is a vital one. We need to curtail our destruction of the rain forests and of all trees in general. Yes, we do need to find a way to get away from packaging everything in environmentally damaging plastics. Yes, we need to find a way to get closer to nature and away from the concrete jungles. Our children do need to be exposed to the knowledge we are slowly destroying our planet. I just wish the message could be delivered in a manner not so overwhelmingly blunt.

I can’t believe this movie was released in 3D form at all. There was very little in the film that would have been greatly enhanced by 3D. It is just another way for them to dip their greedy little hands deeper into our shallow pockets. Did the people in charge even consider the irony of handing out plastic glasses for a film that so strongly preaches about the environment? Nope, they didn’t. Either that or they just don’t care really. We did not watch in 3D and there was reason to either. My recommendation is to wait for the DVD.

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Southland

2012-02-27T16:20:00.001-08:00

Southland (TNT, Tuesdays, 9pm, CST)

In the spring of 2009, NBC unveiled Southland as a spring replacement series. This gritty, tough, well written, and well acted gem performed well enough for NBC to renew it for at least 13 episodes on their fall schedule. NBC had the program slated to air in late September of 2009 but in August, pushed back the premier to late October. A week into October, NBC announced it had decided to cancel Southland and not air any more episodes. This is a typical decision from a network that wouldn’t know a good show if one bit the peacock’s beak.

A month later, TNT bought the show and aired the episodes already shot in January of 2010. They continued the program in 2011 and renewed it for 2012, with a reduction of the budget and cast. Thus, we have been lucky enough to get more episodes of this remarkable show.

Southland is a remarkable look into what goes on in the day-to-day life of a Los Angles police officer. The first two season split time between patrol officers and detectives. This format started to lean more away from the detective story lines in the third season as the budget cuts took affect. In the present season four, it has really been stripped down to one detective and two teams of patrol officers. I don’t mind the more focused story lines and it has not weakened the intensity or overall quality of the show.

The main characters are well penned and brilliantly portrayed. Regina King is Detective Lydia Adams, who is a person fighting to maintain her feminism without forsaking her tough, no nonsense but fair, position as a cop. She has worked hard for her position, earning her place as a detective but she has sacrificed the part of herself that was a normal woman. We get a glimpse of that harsh reality as she grows older and as she tries to find that part of her she has pushed aside over the years.

Michael Cudlitz is always terrific as a veteran, career patrolman who loves his job and understands that the personal sacrifices he has made will go unappreciated when his career is over. He only cares about being a good cop and he tries to be professional at all times. He carries his own secrets and when he injures his back on the job, he becomes addicted to pain pills because he doesn’t want to leave the streets. He is what one can imagine is a cop’s cop. The work Cudlitz does as John Cooper is subtle but powerful and he needs some shiny hardware as reward for such stellar performance week in and week out.

Cooper’s partner is season four is Lucy Liu. She is growing into her part each week and I am excited to see where it goes. Already, her Officer Jessica Tang, is building a strong professional relationship with Cooper and they work together and get used to each other’s habits and methods.

Ben McKenzie and Shawn Hatosy are partners, Ben and Sam, and they are now the other featured pairing. They are younger than Cooper and Tang and they have different ways of approaching their jobs. Ben (Cooper was his training officer in the first three seasons) is an idealist and sees in only black and white and Sam has had some things go against him on the job. He had been a detective but had resigned and returned to patrol.

The story lines are taunt and intense. The cops are doing the best they can and it is not always by the book. They are doing what they can in a general atmosphere of distrust and disrespect from the people they are paid to protect. They are in constant danger and sometimes do what they can to survive, even when it blurs into a gray area of right and wrong. Southland does not make saints out of these characters, nor are they villains. They are men and women who are doing a very tough job to the best of their ability and sometimes they do not handle every situation as they should.

I never feel the plot lines are sensationalized and they seem real to me. The characters are fleshed out slowly, and in depth. These are not caricatures or canned scenarios. The gritty feel to the program rings true to me, as do the characters themselves. I often find myself on the edge of my seat as I hope each officer handles themselves correctly in very intense situations. Sometimes they do, other times, maybe not as much. You never get the feeling though, that these people don’t care. They understand they have a tough job and do what they can to do it right.

Violence, language, and content matter keep the show for adults only. It is brilliantly shot and the plot lines and active seldom lag. I always look forward to watching it (it is always one of the first shows to come off my DVR) and I am always ready for next week as soon as it is over. This program needs viewers so we can enjoy it in upcoming seasons.

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