The series doesn't get much better than this episode. It's explosive at every turn, symbolized by the fact that a Salvadorian gang has purchased grenades in order to get back into the drug business.
The episode is outstanding at showing just how far Kavanaugh will go to get Vic - striking a deal with a convicted felon while arresting Curtis even after he's just saved Kavanaugh's life. That is pure three-dimensional writing as the conflict builds with each decision made.
This season started out slow but is hitting its heights now.
Friday, January 27, 2012
RESCUE ME - Season 4.3 - COMMITMENT
Commitment and the problems they cause and the fears that result are is explored in this episode. Franco is pulling away from his girlfriend which she doesn't understand. Tommy doesn't want to date Nona because she was able to carry him out of the burning house. The probie is torn by his commitment to his dying mother when she asks that he kill her.
The episode ends with the Chief, unable to continue on in the station because of his failing health, putting a gun under his neck. The screen goes to credits as we hear the gun go off.
That's about as dramatic as it gets. This season has just kicked into high gear.
The episode ends with the Chief, unable to continue on in the station because of his failing health, putting a gun under his neck. The screen goes to credits as we hear the gun go off.
That's about as dramatic as it gets. This season has just kicked into high gear.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
BERMUDA
Another script in the "found-footage" genre. This one's written by Nathan Brooks and Bobby Lee Darby and concerns three friends that sail into the Bermuda Triangle, recording everything as they go.
Along with an old sea Captain, the friends seek to record strange happenings. And strange it becomes. The radio goes out as well as the GPS. Lights appear in the night sky. Their video cameras catch something peering in through a porthole at them.
The Captain realizes they're soon lost. Nothing's working onboard. The sun doesn't come up when it should.
That's when a yacht appears. We realize it's the same yacht that was reported missing three weeks ago with honeymooners aboard. The Captain goes to inspect the yacht. Finds blood on the floor and sees all the clocks have stopped at 5:07.
Later a plane appears overhead. We see it's a World War II Bomber that had been reported missing from 1945.
The script has chilling moments like this throughout. However, we never learn what's watching them. The Captain goes missing with the yacht and we never learn his fate.
The friends then meet their doom one by one.
Only Zoey, the lone female, makes it out. The U.S. Coast Guard picks her up. However, she's oblivious to the fact that they look out of time and we quickly realize, they're the missing unit that disappeared in the triangle long ago.
They bring her aboard their ship and the script ends with her screaming.
All these found footage films play the same. Sure, they provide scares but they never feel like a full meal. I'm sure BERMUDA will get made and will probably make money if they keep the budget down. I liked Oren Peli's teleplay for his tv pilot THE RIVER better. That had a lot more plot to it.
Along with an old sea Captain, the friends seek to record strange happenings. And strange it becomes. The radio goes out as well as the GPS. Lights appear in the night sky. Their video cameras catch something peering in through a porthole at them.
The Captain realizes they're soon lost. Nothing's working onboard. The sun doesn't come up when it should.
That's when a yacht appears. We realize it's the same yacht that was reported missing three weeks ago with honeymooners aboard. The Captain goes to inspect the yacht. Finds blood on the floor and sees all the clocks have stopped at 5:07.
Later a plane appears overhead. We see it's a World War II Bomber that had been reported missing from 1945.
The script has chilling moments like this throughout. However, we never learn what's watching them. The Captain goes missing with the yacht and we never learn his fate.
The friends then meet their doom one by one.
Only Zoey, the lone female, makes it out. The U.S. Coast Guard picks her up. However, she's oblivious to the fact that they look out of time and we quickly realize, they're the missing unit that disappeared in the triangle long ago.
They bring her aboard their ship and the script ends with her screaming.
All these found footage films play the same. Sure, they provide scares but they never feel like a full meal. I'm sure BERMUDA will get made and will probably make money if they keep the budget down. I liked Oren Peli's teleplay for his tv pilot THE RIVER better. That had a lot more plot to it.
KICK-ASS
Finished the graphic novel by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. It makes me appreciate the film because the movie's more well-rounded.
I didn't care for Millar's WANTED. I loved his plot on THE ULTIMATES. KICK-ASS is somewhere in the middle.
I can see why the film dropped the backstory of Big Daddy carrying around mint condition, valuable comic-books which, by selling them on E-Bay, is how he finances his excursions. That was plain dumb. Also, the fact that he's really an accountant. It's better that his backstory is him being an ex-con and now going after the men responsible for the death of his wife.
Also, the film does a better job of explaining what a loser RED MIST is. However, the comic hides the fact of his identity, using its revelation as a high-point in the plot.
Story about the kid yearning for a more adventurous life resonates. And the character of Hit-Girl is amazing. I just wish the book and the film would've been better.
I didn't care for Millar's WANTED. I loved his plot on THE ULTIMATES. KICK-ASS is somewhere in the middle.
I can see why the film dropped the backstory of Big Daddy carrying around mint condition, valuable comic-books which, by selling them on E-Bay, is how he finances his excursions. That was plain dumb. Also, the fact that he's really an accountant. It's better that his backstory is him being an ex-con and now going after the men responsible for the death of his wife.
Also, the film does a better job of explaining what a loser RED MIST is. However, the comic hides the fact of his identity, using its revelation as a high-point in the plot.
Story about the kid yearning for a more adventurous life resonates. And the character of Hit-Girl is amazing. I just wish the book and the film would've been better.
RESCUE ME - Season 4.2 - TUESDAY
Tommy's still trying to piece together what happened that night of the fire. He's looking at jail or recovering two million dollars in insurance.
Tommy's uncle is released from jail. However, he skips out on his wife on his first day of freedom because she drives him nuts.
There's a subplot about the station house wanting to recruit this hotshot African-American probie so they can win the firehouse basketball league.
Show is still missing the drama that made it such a hit.
Tommy's uncle is released from jail. However, he skips out on his wife on his first day of freedom because she drives him nuts.
There's a subplot about the station house wanting to recruit this hotshot African-American probie so they can win the firehouse basketball league.
Show is still missing the drama that made it such a hit.
THE SHIELD - Season 5.7 - MAN INSIDE
Episode ends with Claudette finally getting a confession out of the serial killer but being emotionally and physically drained, she falls down the stairs. Now this is the way to end an episode. You HAVE TO come back for more. You are compelled to keep watching. You NEED to find out what happens next.
The episode really heats up by having Vic's crew doubting Vic's plan of attack and even each other. The pressure is being applied and we're starting to see cracks.
The writing is razor sharp and this episode returns the series to its former excellence.
The episode really heats up by having Vic's crew doubting Vic's plan of attack and even each other. The pressure is being applied and we're starting to see cracks.
The writing is razor sharp and this episode returns the series to its former excellence.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
THE SOPRANOS - Season 3.4 - EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Dr. Melfi takes centerstage in this episode. She gets raped in the stairwell and comes to realize she wants someone powerful in her life that can protect her. She can't help but be attracted to Tony Soprano. The episode ends with her internally fighting herself, trying to decide whether or not to tell Tony what's happened. In the end, she decides not to.
Do we really need this? I've always thought Melfi was a waste of a character. Do we care about her at all?
Janice steals her mother's caregiver's artificial leg. The Russians come after her and slap her around. Tony's upset because now he has to take some kind of action.
The show succeeds at getting inside the heads of these characters. It fails though at bringing action to the screen.
Do we really need this? I've always thought Melfi was a waste of a character. Do we care about her at all?
Janice steals her mother's caregiver's artificial leg. The Russians come after her and slap her around. Tony's upset because now he has to take some kind of action.
The show succeeds at getting inside the heads of these characters. It fails though at bringing action to the screen.
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