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February 28, 2007
New "Lost" highlight of the season
Hey there,
Just want to alert you all to watch tonight's episode of "Lost," which may be the best all season. Actually, it may be the best episode since the first season, and here's why.
There's very little talk of "The Others," or conspiracy theories. There's almost no violence. There's no murky plot twists. There's just a simple, involving, self-contained story in which Hurley (Jorge Garcia) finds an abandoned car in the jungle. Now, our favorite cursed lottery winner, his spirits at an all-time low, decides he needs a project. So he decideds to fix the car, in what ends being an exercise in hope, determination and courage.
It's all set against flashbacks about Hurley's relationship with his father, played by an impeccably cast Cheech Marin. Plus, it represents maybe the best use ever of one of my favorite songs, Three Dog Night's sweet, catchy "Shambala."
Good stuff. Don't miss it.
Posted by amanda on 7:59 AM | Comments (0)
February 27, 2007
Best "Heroes" EVER!!!!!!!!!
If last night's "Heroes" wasn't the best one all season, I'll eat my shoe. It was freakin' awesome! So glad we finally got some insight into Papa Bennett's motives, and some backstory on the Invisible Man. Now we know why he's so cynical. So, the question is, who is the Hero he was sheletering? Probably the person he tried to coach before he met Peter. But who is it? Is he/she still around?
At any rate, the best part by far was the tender, devastating moment when Mr. Bennett (known as HRG or Horn-Rimmed Glasses, to hardcore fans) sacrificed himself for Claire. So good, and so makes me anxious for more!
And, in other TV news...
"24": Well, now we know why Morris is so messed up. His sponsor used to be Bart Simpson! That'll mess with any guy's head! Yes, the woman who played Morris's former sponsor was none other than Nancy Cartwright, better known as our favorite underachiever. Overall, last night's episode was a little flat, but I liked the "explosive" ending, as well as the quasi-freakout by former Prez Logan in the bathroom. Gregory Itzin (who plays Logan) is awesome. Someone get him his own show, now.
Posted by amanda on 8:29 AM | Comments (0)
February 26, 2007
"Donnellys" derivative, but entertaining
It's hard to know how to review the new NBC drama "The Black Donnellys." On the one hand, the series, which follows four Irish brothers embroiled in a life of crime, is ambitious for a network drama. One of its main characters is a drug addict who shows no signs of getting clean. And its protagonist, Tommy Donnelly (Jonathan Tucker) goes from good-guy aspiring artist to avenging killer within the space of the show's pilot. Plus, it's fairly entertaining, with lots of action and even some witty dialogue.
But, and this is a huge but, it's so deriative that it's impossible to watch "Donnellys" without thinking of other, better entries in the "gangster drama" genre.
For instance, Tommy is a good boy and upstanding citizen dragged into a life of crime by his family, drawing an obvious parallel to the classic film "The Godfather." It also features characters with colorful nicknames, like Louie Downtown and Joey Ice Cream (hints of "The Sopranos" and "Goodfellas"). In fact, the show borrows from "Goodfellas" most of all, with a chatty narrator, pop songs that provide dramatic accompaniment to the moments of violence, and stylish editing.
Yet, the show is all surface, and has hardly any of the depth of these works that inspired it. The show is co-created by Paul Haggis, who brought us the Oscar-winning movie "Crash," a solid, but overrated film that made its points about racism a little too easily.
"Donnellys" also feels a little too easy, with its reliance on our affection for mob movies and TV shows.
Yet, I can't completely dismiss it. There are moments that are genuinely affecting, such as Tommy's ill-fated love affair with nice girl Jenny (Olivia Wilde), who loves Tommy, but can't quite stomach his descent into crime. Also, the always-reliable Kate Mulgrew is on hand as the Donnellys protective mama who at least seems like a semi-original creation, rather than a Livia Soprano clone.
"Donnellys" is worth a look if you don't mind its constant borrowing from superior works, or if you've never seen a Scorcese film or a single episode of "The Sopranos."
"The Black Donnellys" premieres 10 p.m. tonight on NBC.
Posted by amanda on 8:07 AM | Comments (0)
February 21, 2007
Thoughts on Tuesday
Amanda, here, with my thoughts on Tuesday's TV offerings...
Gilmore Girls: Um, so, what was up with all the "Seinfeld" references? A low talker? "Soup is not a meal"? Has GG sunk so far that it's actually ripping off other shows? Actually, last night's ep wasn't so bad. I loved Lorelai and Emily bonding over Quicken and booze. There's been too little Emily this season, but the past two episodes have done much to rectify that (loved Em's meltdown at the hospital last week, too).
Veronica Mars: Ding Dong the Lamb is dead! Is it wrong that I'm a tad overjoyed at the passing of Sherriff Lamb? Though Keith's ascent to the post was awfully quick, wasn't it? I'm assuming he's just an interim sherriff, and will still have to run for the office in the next election. Hmm. Is it possible that I'm overthinking "VM"? Nahhhh.
Dirt: "I hate dancing in the dark." Who got an unintentional chuckle out of that line, besides me? I mean, we all know "Dirt" star Courtney Cox got her start in the Bruce Springsteen video for the song "Dancing in the Dark." I'm imagining that line wasn't an accident, but a wry inside joke. Or maybe I'm overthinking "Dirt," too. Anyway, I'm excited about next week's ep, in which Vincent Gallo plays a former child star who invades the "DirtNow" offices and takes Lucy hostage. Oh, Lucy, were you making fun of "The Brown Bunny" again? You know Vincent doesn't like that!
Posted by amanda on 8:09 AM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2007
"Lost" fun fact
Did you know that Fionnula Flanagan, who played the bossy ring store clerk on last night's episode of "Lost" was also in a 2001 Nicole Kidman movie called..."The Others"? Ooooooh. Spooky!
Posted by amanda on 7:39 AM | Comments (0)
