tdepp-2 Reviews

A River Runs Through It (1992)

A great American film

[10/10 · 5 May 2003]

After reading some of the comments, I can't believe some viewers do not see the inherent truth and beauty of this masterpiece. This is not a Hollywood blockbuster. It is the antithesis of that. It is a quiet, thoughtful, moving, and beautiful film that looks at the complicated love among and between family members. Particularly for men, we relate through our activities. The Maclean brothers and their father relate through fly fishing. The fact that we don't see Paul's brains beaten out of him is powerful because we know that he is going to meet an untimely death and there is nothing we--or Norman, or his father, or anyone else--can do about it, no matter how much we care. It is hard to beat the genius of author Norman Maclean combined with Robert Redford's sensitivity and flare for each scene looking as perfect as a photograph. This film is a '10'.

Boomtown (2002–2003)

Best non-HBO drama series on TV

[10 March 2003]

"Boomtown" is one of the few truly creative non-HBO drama series on "regular" TV. Most of the time, when a TV series departs from linear story telling, it is impossible to follow. Here, however, because of outstanding writing and directing, the multiple view story telling works and works well. It is seamless. The 3/9/03 episode of the gang banger on death row who's arranged for the kidnapping and murder of a young police officer while the banger is be executed in prison was one of the most gripping hours of TV I've seen in a long time. Neal McDonough as the tightly wound, moral, yet flawed Deputy D.A. David McNorris is one of the best character portrayals on "regular" TV drama. He has the same spark that George Clooney had in the glory days of "E.R." (This guy is going to be a big star--you heard it here first.) Mykelti Williamson as Detective 'Fearless' Bobby Smith is another intriguing character. Give this show a couple of viewings and you will find that it grows on you just like "6 Feet Under" or "The Sopranos."

I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (2003– )

Nice guys can finish first

[7 March 2003]

In the sad genre that is "reality" television, this show at least had a modicum of humanity to it. While several of the celebrities were the prima donnas you might expect, others seemed like genuinely good people. The three finalists, John Melendez, Melissa Rivers, and winner Chris Judd were not only liked by the voting public but also by their castaway peers. What set this show apart was that the program fostered cooperation among the participants and not guile. The living conditions did appear to be difficult because of the constant rain. The "Bushtucker" challenges were somewhat creative and not too far over the top. Further, if a celebrity was a jerk, the viewers could reward those who behaved with class and indirectly get rid of the whiner.

One issue I did have with the program was the depiction of smoking. Apparently to be a celebrity you also have to be a smoker. (Or perhaps the stress of celebrity-hood drives people to smoke?) However, if this was indeed what the celebrities did in their "down" time, I guess it was a part of the verite. One wonders if the tobacco companies had any placement rights. It's just odd to see smoking on US TV anymore.

Nonetheless, it was a harmless, escapist show with a number of charities receiving nice-sized checks in behalf of the celebrities. I would probably watch a second season.

Kingpin (2003)

"Kingpin": "The Sopranos Lite"

[5/10 · 27 February 2003]

I watched nearly all of Kingpin and found it OK. Not great, not terrible, just OK. Comparing anything on TV to The Sopranos is like comparing my daughter's 7th grade themes to John Steinbeck or E.B. White. Migi and Marelene could be interesting character ala Tony and Carmela. There is built in tension with their Mexican and American ethnicity, their lust for power but desire to be "respectable," etc. But these character lack the depth and humanity that the bad guys (and girls) have on The Sopranos. Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos is a thug but an interesting and funny sort of thug who has mother issues. Chato Cadena is just a thug. That, in my opinion, is the biggest difference in the shows.