Brothers & Sisters

Brothers & Sisters is the kind of drama that’s watchable because it’s so well made. The dysfunctional family set-up is more laboured than shocking, and the script is standard at best. And yet, viewers find themselves tuning in… and staying.

The secret to Brothers & Sisters‘ success lies with the attention to detail. Authenticity has obviously been important to creators, with every scene looking Hollywood-perfect. Cupboards are opened to reveal matching crockery and draws are pulled out to reveal intricate silverware. The small touches are attended to and the viewers appreciate it.

Just about every episode contains some sort of family showdown that quickly escalates to full-scale pandemonium. The Walkers might just be the most irritating people on Earth, and that’s the point, really. That’s what families are. They’re not pretty and they’re certainly never what you expect or want them to be.

The family brawls seem almost contrived, they’re so petty. But amid the awkwardness there’s a ring of truth. Familial disputes are always sort of embarrassing. That the Walkers duking it out makes you want to turn away is a sort of credit to them for capturing that overwhelming discomfort.

Minh Nguyen | Written for TVFIX | Syndicated to CitySearch

Tags: Balthazar Getty, Brothers & Sisters, Calista Flockhart, Dave Annable, Drama, Emily VanCamp, Matthew Rhys, Rachel Griffiths, Review, Rob Lowe, Ron Rifkin, Sally Field, TV

Shameless

Penned by acclaimed writer Paul Abbott – whose past credits include Reckless and State of Play – Shameless is fast-paced, clever and endearingly off-beat. The series tracks the trials and tribulations of the Gallagher family, who reside on a Manchester council estate, and the antics that ensue are both wildly unpredictable and hilariously madcap.

The ensemble cast are all equally impressive, imbuing their characters with just the right amount of eccentricity. David Threlfal as the perpetually inebriated patriarch is a particular standout, managing to steal the scene every time he appears.

Though plot and character situations are often farfetched, verging on the ludicrous, Shameless refrains from being farcical. The comedy offers genuine truths and insight into human failings. Long-time admirers will continue to find reasons to stay loyal to this engaging charmer. Viewers new to the frenzied chaos may find proceedings confusing and overwhelming at first, but discerning watchers will no doubt become converted enthusiasts.

Minh Nguyen | Written for TVFIX | Syndicated to CitySearch

Tags: David Threlfal, Dean Lennox Kelly, Elliott Tittensor, Gerard Kearns, Jody Latham, Paul Abbott, Rebecca Ryan, Reckless, Review, Shameless, State of Play, TV

State of Play

David Morrissey and John Simm in State of Play (2003)

The mystery surrounding the death of a prominent politician’s research assistant fill the obsessions of the characters in this British thriller. None are more vested in the search for truth than reporter Cal McCaffrey (John Simm). Pushed on by both professional and personal compulsions, Cal zealously delves into the lives that Sonia (Shauna Macdonald) touched before she died.

Mysterious deaths of citizens do not usually inspire full-scale investigations by newspapers, but Sonia had the dubious fortune of being in employment under prominent politician Stephen Collins (David Morrissey). Smelling scandal and conspiracy, Cal and his colleagues dig for clues to the young assistant’s untimely demise.

In the superficial world of politics and media the landscape isn’t all glitz and gloss. Beneath the genial exteriors there lie double-dealings, unsavoury characters, shady situations and cut-throat ruthlessness. There’s no doubt the seasoned cast members are fully capable of bringing this sort of material to life. The camerawork is fast-paced and slick, generating a sense of urgency that heightens the moody atmosphere.

Bill Nighy, as experienced editor Cameron Foster, brings his usual sleazy charm, imbuing his character with a pervading callousness that is perpetually menacing. Simm is respectable as the brooding journalist, but it is Kelly MacDonald as fellow reporter Della who really captivates.

Minh Nguyen | Written for TVFIX | Syndicated to CitySearch

Tags: BBC, Ben Affleck, Bill Nighy, British, David Morrissey, James McAvoy, John Simm, Kelly Macdonald, Political, Review, Russell Crowe, Series, State of Play, Thriller, TV

Gossip Girl

Season 2, Episode 17 – Carnal Knowledge

Another week, another episode choc-full of catty fights, underhanded dealings, and just general malevolent behaviour perpetrated – and perpetuated – by Manhattan’s elite. The best days of your life never seemed so bad – or looked so good.

Blair (Leighton Meester), still smarting from Ms Carr’s (Laura Breckenridge) tattling to Headmistress Queller (Linda Emond), schemes to take the new Shakespeare teacher down. Mud gets slung and reputations get shredded as Queen B launches an all-out war.

Meester’s Blair is icy, high-strung and ridiculously over-the-top. It’s a difficult line to walk but the young actress manages to pitch the character just right, rendering her sympathetic rather than cold. The rest of the cast do a good job distracting as they partake in the usual decadent shenanigans.

Tags: Cecily Von Ziegesar, Gossip Girl, Josh Schwartz, Laura Breckenridge, Leigton Meester, Linda Emond, Review, Teen Dramax, TV

The Spirit

Hero cop Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht) returns from the beyond to watch over Central City. While combating the usual forces of evil “The Spirit”, as he likes people to call him, also has to duke it out with his arch-nemesis (every superhero’s gotta have one), The Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson). With a God complex in tow The Octopus is your typical mad scientist villain hell bent on world domination.

Taking its visual cues from Frank Miller’s earlier work, Sin City, The Spirit unfortunately doesn’t match the former’s style – or substance. Miller’s direction is uninspiring and his decisions confounding. Filled with hammy one-liners and tired exposition, the film is campy one minute and straitlaced the next.

Amongst the confusion, the actors do their best with what they’re given. Scarlett Johansson delivers her lines with bored abandon while Jackson’s super villain is ridiculously maniacal. Eva Mendes manages to smolder despite being saddled with thin material and a dubious name.

Leading man Gabriel Macht is nothing to write home about. By turns goofy and mannered, Macht’s hero is more lame than affecting – which pretty much sums up the movie.

Tags: Action, Comic Book, Eva Mendes, Film, Frank Miller, Gabriel Macht, Graphic Novel, Review, Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Sin City, The Spirit, Will Eisner

Yes Man

Middle-aged Carl Allen (Jim Carrey) has quit on life. Choosing to refuse any and all invitations and alienating the few friends he has left, Carl opts instead for quality time on the couch.

Pushed into attending a motivational seminar by former work colleague Nick (John Michael Higgins), Carl enters into a “yes” covenant requiring him to answer yes – to everything. As the detached Carl begins recklessly saying yes to every proposition presented, he finds his life invaded by strangers and even stranger situations.

Though Yes Man‘s theme is unashamedly life-affirming, it’s not cloying. Carrey, on his best behaviour here, is suitably restrained – even subtle – as the carping lead. Zooey Deschanel delights as usual, playing a familiar quirky love interest. Though the chemistry between the leads is a little strained, with Carrey looking altogether too old for Deschanel, it’s only mildly distracting.

It might be all cliché, but thanks to likeable actors and a script that doesn’t go for too much, the message gets through anyway.

Tags: Bradley Cooper, Comedy, Jim Carrey, John Michael Higgins, Molly Sims, Movie, Review, Rhys Darby, Yes Man, Zooey Deschanel

Henry Rollins Interview

Henry Rollins on music, politics, and growing old.

It’s mid-morning and as we’re ushered along the halls, herded towards where our interviewee awaits, there’s a certain amount of trepidation. You see, the person that’s sitting beyond that hotel room door isn’t your typical celebrity. He’s Henry Rollins – a man famous (and frequently infamous) for his outspoken career in the spotlight.

First gaining notoriety within the punk music scene, singing in cult bands such as State of Alert (S. O. A.) and Black Flag, Rollins’s spoken word performances have brought him the most coverage in recent years.

The intimate – and direct – mode of expression fits the self-professed “angry man” like a glove, providing a springboard for Rollins to air his views. From the war on Iraq, to music piracy to personal freedom, Rollins extols (and attacks) with a barefaced honesty rarely seen – or sanctioned – in interviews. When quizzed on his thoughts about music piracy Rollins doesn’t hesitate, “I’d rather be heard than paid,” he says. Though he doesn’t partake in the illegal activities, preferring to support artists, he understands why the average person might – and doesn’t hold it against them.

An outspoken critic of the Bush administration, Rollins jokingly dubs his spoken word tours his “Axis of Evil Tour”. Fearing nothing but boredom, Rollins is intent on performing in every one of the countries belonging to the “axis”. He lists places like Iran, Syria, and Iraq without batting an eye. Reportedly plans to tour North Korea – a country that typically denies entry to Americans – could be on the cards.

Of his music career, it seems those days might well be behind him. Having not toured musically since 2006, Rollins doesn’t have any plans to return to the road in that capacity. “It’s like when you’re at college. You do your four years, and that’s okay. But then you hang around for a fifth year…” Now in his late 40s, Rollins identifies his spoken word tours as the most effective and rewarding outlet for his passions. And he’s not going to let anything – whether it be conservative governments or iron-fisted dictatorships – get in his way.

Minh Nguyen | Written for TVFIX | Syndicated to CitySearch

Tags: Activist, Actor, Black Flag, Henry Rollins, Interview, Music, Spoken Word