West Wing: Season Five

When I watch two or three seasons of a television series, I need to keep watching until the bitter end. I was one of those people who watched the X-Files limp over the finish line and managed to make it through the final moments of That 70’s Show. Both of these shows lost their lead character (Mulder and Eric) but the network kept trucking without them with less-than satisfying results. Watching West Wing’s fifth season, I felt the same thing happening; their lead character was MIA in season five. No, not President Bartlett, but Aaron Sorkin’s writing. You can really see Sorkin’s absence as the fifth season stumbles along. It seemed like show-runner John Wells was trying to make West Wing more like his floundering ER.

What I hated most about season five was all the yelling. Wells decided to make things more ‘dramatic’ by having all the relationships fall apart. The biggest travesty was the ‘promotion’ of Will Bailey out of the West Wing office. And while I sometimes enjoyed Toby’s bitterness, I missed seeing his passionate sparring with Josh Malina’s Will. While I didn’t mind seeing Josh in the doghouse, he was getting a little too pathetic as the season wore on. When it came to the Christmas episode, it was abundantly clear that Sorkin writes great Christmas episodes (First Season's Toby at the funeral, Second Season's Josh therapy session, last week’s fantastic Studio 60 Xmas show) and Wells does not. Who cares about Jed and the lighting of the Christmas tree or the son-in-law wanting to run for office? Boring. And finally, the war stuff kept me confused like I thought it would when I first starting watching the series. I’m hoping the last two seasons lighten up a bit.

Okay, so there were a couple great episodes found in season five, so not all was bad. I enjoyed the kidnapped Zoey storyline with John Goodman as the temporary prez, but that should be credited to Aaron Sorkin who started the story in season four. I liked the token all-CJ episode with its documentary-style format. Probably my favourite moment in season five was the redemption of Josh by convincing Bartlett to walk down the road to the capital building to meet with the slimy Speaker of the House, played brilliantly by Steven Culp. It reminded me again of the ‘Let Bartlett Be Bartlett’ motto that got me hooked on the show in the first place.

So now it’s onto season six with the arrival of Alda and Smits. I heard some good things about season seven , so I’ll continue to trudge through these bleak seasons and hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. It ain’t over till it’s over.

The West Wing: Seasons 3 & 4

For those who don’t know, I’ve been making up for lost time by racing through all seven seasons of The West Wing. Here’s my quick update on season three and four. I’ve been finding myself impressed with the casting and acting of The West Wing way more than the storyline themselves. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sharp dialogue and certain plots, but I have been finding the military actions as confusing as I assumed they would be.

Season three has been my least favourite of the four seasons I’ve seen so far, but it’s still heads and tails above a lot of television that was around at the time. I loved the revelation of Bartlet’s MS in season two but the trials were less interesting for me; and the Qumar situation only started getting interesting for me in season four. What I loved were the guest stars that appeared in season three. Oliver Platt as Babish continued to impress, especially in his dealings with the First Lady. Mark Harmon did a fine job as CJ’s secret service man. But the actress that was truly a delight to see was Mary-Louise Parker as Amy Gardner. Say what you will about Josh and Donna, but I love Amy more. Parker radiates on the screen and is wonderfully cute at keeping Josh befuddled. I am thrilled to still see her appearing in early episodes of season five. I can totally see why this actress was finally given her own series in the form of Weeds.

Season Four was great fun. Not only did it have some thrilling episodes like Batlet’s debate, the Air Force One trouble, Toby & Andy's pregnancy and Zoey’s kidnapping but it also brought the incomparable Joshua Malina as Will Bailey to The West Wing. I loved Malina work when he co-starred in Sports Night and I feel he has brought new life to The West Wing cast. To be perfectly honest, I really didn’t find myself missing Rob Lowe all that much. Season four also had its share of great guest stars like John Goodman as Speaker of the House Walken, Lily Tomlin as the new secretary and Matthew Perry as Joe Quincy the new lawyer replacing Ainsley. After seeing a bunch of Studio 60 episodes (picked up for the full season by the way, woo hoo), it was great fun to see Perry and Whitford have some one-on-one conversations. I think what impresses me most with the cast of West Wing is that they bring people back to make the show more credible. The fact that they can get Tim Matheson as VP Hoynes to appear in the background during the debate or have Harry Groener return as the Minister of Agriculture for only one line commenting on Walken getting sworn in, is a testament to the production in their efforts to make this presidential life seem real.

I’m wary about watching the upcoming Sorkin-less seasons but onto season five I go.

Stranger Than Fiction

“Fantastic!” That was the word going through my mind as the credits rolled. So far this year, my number one movie has been Thank You For Smoking; but I’m now thinking that Stranger Than Fiction deserves the top spot. While both films have superb acting, interesting characters and funky editing, Fiction has a better storyline with characters that I actually care about. I could see myself applauding an epic or action-packed movie as fantastic but what Stranger Than Fiction is missing in panoramic battles and explosions, it makes up for with subtlety and brilliance.

Stranger Than Fiction is a nicely-paced story of Harold Crick, a mediocre IRS agent who also happens to be a doomed character in an author’s next novel. When I first saw the trailer for this film, I was instantly intrigued with the fun concept of having someone narrating your life as you live it. At the same time, I worried that this device might get annoying after awhile. Fortunately, first-time writer Zach Helm knows what he’s doing and perfectly justifies why and when the narrator intrudes. Stranger Than Fiction does a great job exploring the fundamentals of literary genre with help of Dustin Hoffman’s character. I, myself, love breaking down genres and seeing what makes them tick. I also like how uplifting this story was with its carpe diem message; something you rarely get treated to in today’s day and age.

The acting in Stranger than Fiction is nothing short of amazing. Dustin Hoffman (Meet the Fockers, Finding Neverland) channels his role from I Heart Huckabees, as a literary professor, Emma Thompson (Love Actually, Angels in America) is oddly captivating as an author with writer’s block, Maggie Gyllenhaal (World Trade Center, Secretary) is unbelievably sweet as the baker with IRS problems, and Tony Hale (Arrested Development) is a breath of fresh air as Harold’s only friend. Of course, the standout is none other than Will Ferrell (Ricky Bobby, Elf, Old School) who is amazing to watch as a perfectly normal individual. With the help of director Marc Forrester (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland), Ferrell manages to play the character straight without being boring. There’s no mugging for the camera or take-offs on any of his SNL characters; it’s great material like this that allows me to forgive him for making the disastrous Bewitched last year. I would be overjoyed to see Will Ferrell get an Oscar nomination out of this, he’s that good.

The cool thing about Stranger Than Fiction and Thank You For Smoking is that these films are done by newcomers. Fiction’s writer had only written a TV episode and TV movie before, Smoking’s writer/director Jason Reitman had only done a couple of direct-to-video smalltime films. It’s nice to see some fresh blood being pumped into the Hollywood machine. I also enjoy how both movies used the new trend of titling on film to emphasis narration; I guess it’s true that great minds think alike.

To sum things up: SEE THIS FILM! Don’t wait for the DVD. Go to the crowded movie theatre and share in the laughter, the love and the life found in Stranger Than Fiction. I do apologize if I have made expectations too high, but I do believe that this is the best film of the year so far. Take that Borat.

Man of the Year

Man of the Year had potential but it fumbled the ball shortly after the opening credits. The premise was great. A Jon Stewart-like comedian runs for president. Fun stuff. With the impassioned speeches Stewart gives on The Daily Show, I bet many people have fantasized about this guy assuming the role of Commander in Chief. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see that much of the campaign or even the decision to run. It seems Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog) wants to bypass this stuff to get to this boring story of fixed elections and political intrigue. Yawn. Maybe that’s why the trailers for this movie revealed the fact that Williams wins the election. At least I was prepared for the sitcomy presidency that was done far better in the Kevin Kline film, Dave. And while I was disappointed with the bulk of the story, what bothered me more was the lukewarm dialogue given to the gifted comedians.

 To be perfectly honest, I don’t find Robin Williams all that funny. Give me Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock or Bill Cosby any day. I actually like Williams more when he plays serious roles in such films as Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting. Williams also brings creepiness to a whole new level in such films as Insomnia and One Hour Photo. Maybe it’s because in those dramatic films, he is forced to slow down. His mile-a-minute manic rants have begun to bore me and come off as a little desperate. It’s like he needs to keep talking in case no one laughs. There have been a few Robin Williams comedies that still make me laugh, but only three come to mind: Mrs. Doubtfire, The Birdcage and Good Morning Vietnam. The latter movie was able to incorporate his rants perfectly into his radio announcements. I don’t get that sense in Man of the Year. There are a couple of fun moments, but not enough to keep me laughing throughout. 

 What really made me cringe was watching gifted comic, Lewis Black spouting off lines that were only partially funny. If you didn’t know, The Daily Show has a recurring segment called Back in Black where Lewis Black rips into the latest trend found on the six o’clock news. His impassioned, angry, bitter sarcasm is a treat to watch and always makes me laugh. Too bad they didn’t tap into that brand of humour for Man of the Year. Black gets a few choice line but spends most of the film wondering if he’ll get to keep his writing job with Williams as president. It looked like Black was making a film he would have cruelly mocked in his own Back in Black segment. 

 In the film, Robin Williams makes an appearance on SNL’s Weekend Update, still hosted by Amy Poleher and Tina Fey. Watching that part of the movie not only dated the film but also made me miss Tina Fey’s presence on the struggling Saturday Night Live. But I digress. 

 So is Man of the Year worth your precious time? Not really. Should you rent it? Maybe, if you really like Robin Williams. I would suggest waiting for the film to show up as a movie of the week on network television. Or better yet, watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report and just use your imagination. I guarantee you’d laugh a lot more.

Borat

Being a single guy, I sometimes find myself going to the movie theatre alone. Sometimes it’s because I’m a loser who can’t convince his friends to go see a movie with him, other times it’s because I’m a little ashamed that I want to see a particular film, so I’ll just go to a matinee and hope no one notices me. Borat was one of these particular films. I knew going into this film that it was full of crude humour, nudity, racial slurs, and all forms of offensive material. I usually warn my students to stay away from a film with that kind of content. I know friends of mine are probably surprised that I’d let myself be subject to this material. But Rotten Tomatoes has Borat sitting at 94%! Out of the 147 reviews, only 9 critics gave it a poor rating. Now I don’t always agree with critics but this was a landslide! I had to check it out and see for myself. I went to a Saturday matinee assuming that there would only be fifteen people in the theatre. I could not be more wrong. The place was packed. Future showings were sold out. The theatre was full. And laughing. Hard.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America to Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is one of the funniest movies of the year. Even the full title makes me chuckle. As most critics will agree, Borat is like Spinal Tap mixed with Andy Kaufman and sprinkled with Jackass. The guerilla-style mockumentary follows Borat as he travels across the USA to learn more about the country and find Pamela Anderson. Along the way, Borat interacts with individuals who show their true colors when prodded. While most of the conversations seem genuine and spontaneous, others seem to be played up for the camera. Larry Charles who has worked on Seinfeld, Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm directs the film. Being involved with Curb easily qualifies Charles to be documenting Borat’s every move whether scripted or otherwise.

What amazes me about Borat is the utter talent of Sacha Baron Cohen. I never watched Da Ali G Show, so this is my first exposure to Borat. No pun intended. I’m a big fan of improv and watching Cohen work his magic is sight to behold. He never breaks character or accent. In fact, he would only be interviewed in character when it came to the multiple talk shows on the press tour. I also heard that Cohen only wears one Borat suit that has never been washed. The smell is pretty bad. That’s commitment to character. With all of Borat’s anti-Semitic comments, I do find it comforting to know that Cohen is Jewish and not just a jerk. The true jerks in Borat are the Americans who don’t bother to censor themselves in front of this supposedly naïve foreigner. A gun shop owner doesn’t even flinch when Borat asks what gun is best to kill Jews. The owner suggests a Glock. Scary.

So do I recommend Borat? If you are easily offended, stay away. If you can take the offensiveness, go ahead and enjoy with caution. If you don’t want others to know you’re watching it, wait till the DVD. If you watch this film and not one thing causes you to squirm, I worry about you.

The Prestige

Okay, I know I’ve been slacking. To make up for it, I’ll try and do three movie reviews in a row. Actually, one of the reasons I am so behind is that I can’t make up my mind on The Prestige. There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the movie but I didn’t find myself enraptured with the film as much as I thought I would be. This film has everything going for it. Christopher Nolan is a brilliant director that gets the most out of his actors as well as the story. I must admit, however, is that I didn’t find the cinematography as beautiful as his previous efforts, like Insomnia or Memento. The story is carefully woven and keeps you guessing throughout the film. I had my suspicions midway through but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the storytelling. I love learning the secrets behind magic tricks; I don’t really care that ruins my enjoyment of the wonder of illusion. Of course the tricks shown in The Prestige would not make it onto the stage today, especially the disappearing bird act. While the story is interesting and nicely paced, it’s the superb acting that got my attention. 

 Christian Bale is one of the best intense actors of this generation. It’s unfortunate that more people don’t know of his skill. He was fantastic in Batman Begins but he plays the villain even better. He had the perfect tone of smarm in the Samuel L Jackson remake of Shaft, but his crowning achievement comes in the form of Patrick Bateman in the dark but perversely entertaining American Psycho. If you can handle the disturbing sex and violence put to an eighties soundtrack, give American Psycho a try. Anyway, back to The Prestige, I think Christian Bale has another winning turn as a magician who has made the ultimate trick. But even with his superiority, he makes you sympathize with his plight. 

 I like to see Hugh Jackman fail. We’ve seen him as Wolverine and Van Helsing with his confident attitude, winning smile and sarcastic comebacks. In The Prestige, we see a more desperate side of Jackman that really shows off his acting ability. Rounding out the cast is the incomparable Michael Caine as another wise mentor with tricks up his sleeve, and Scarlett Johannson who always manages to bring the perfect mix of passion and grace. 

 So if it wasn’t the story or the acting, what is it that makes it hard for me to convince everyone to see this film? Maybe my expectations were way too high. Maybe it’s because I saw it on a Monday, which always feels kind of weird. Maybe it’s because I had already seen some of this magic done in The Illusionist. Maybe I’m just an idiot who’s over-analyzing again. It’s probably the latter. Go see The Prestige and judge for yourself. If anything you’ll get a greatly acted story, and what more do you really want from a film?

The Last Kiss

Don’t expect The Last Kiss to be like Garden State. In my opinion, that’s a pretty lofty expectation to place on this film. It’s understandable that people could make the assumption with Zach Braff in the lead role having romantic discourses with pretty actresses as emo music fills the background. But it is important to note that Braff neither wrote nor directed this film (well, he did write the final scenes which are wonderfully done); that credit goes to Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby, Crash) and Tony Goldwyn (TV guest actor who also played the chief of staff in The Pelican Brief). I guess I should also mention that this film is a remake of 2001’s L'ultimo Bacio. The critics are wondering why a remake was needed, I was wondering if any regular movie-goer had actually seen the original. I know I haven’t. But enough about giving credit where credit is due; let’s look at the film.

I am a big fan of Zach Braff. Ever since I saw him play with shaving cream in the opening seconds of the Scrubs pilot episode, I thought this is an actor I can get behind. For some strange reason, I find that I can totally relate to Zach Braff. Maybe it’s the dorky sense of humour. Maybe it’s the similar age. Or maybe it’s that sense that we feel like we’re living in a movie-world that is much more dramatic than it really is. Of course, Zach gets all the hot girls and me, not so much . . . not at all. In The Last Kiss, Braff plays Michael, a guy who has a hot, pregnant fiancée but is afraid to commit without seeing what else is out there. At times I can totally see where he is coming from even though I may not agree with his actions. Actually, Michael is pretty despicable at times. And he seems stupid as well. I agree that Rachel Bilson (The OC) is pretty good looking but his fiancée played by Jacinda Barrett (The Real World, School for Scoundrels) is no slouch. Barrett’s Jenna is also sweet and caring, making Michael even more stupid.

While the love triangle is at the center of The Last Kiss, this drama also looks at four other relationships filled with great acting from the likes of Casey Affleck, Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson. Unfortunately, these relationship trials aren’t fully fleshed out to the point that I’m really rooting for the characters to get back together. It is also unfortunate that I can’t get past the casting of Michael Weston as the rejected Izzy, since I will always remember him as Large’s cop friend from Braff’s Garden State. Another thing wrong with this film are the graphic sexual scenes that are completely unnecessary. The three scenes seemed out of place and served only for titillation purposes as the story could have easily been told without them.

Braff’s other contribution to The Last Kiss is the making of the soundtrack. As he did with the Grammy award-winning Garden State soundtrack, Braff picks the perfect emo songs to punctuate the movie and evoke the desired feelings. The opening track of Snow Patrol’s Chocolate puts the audience in the perfect state of mind for this romantic dramatic film. Looking over the track listing, it appears that Braff is giving Joshua Radin some time in the spotlight, much like he did with The Shins in Garden State. And with good reason.

In closing, wait for this film on DVD and fast forward through a couple of quick scenes. Oh, and don’t watch this film if you’re going to get married in the next couple of weeks. But if you want to support the film, buy the soundtrack. If Zach Braff likes it, that’s good enough for me.

New Show Update

Now that we’re fully into the new TV season, here’s my update on how the new shows are doing.

Shows You Should Be Watching
It’s a known fact that networks are impatient. They want instant success or else they’ll yank the show before you can say goodbye. This is especially true for new shows. It is unfortunate that networks have not heard about word of mouth or letting a show gather a following. Do they not remember Cheers or Seinfeld? Both shows failed their first year and then went on to become the most recognized super sitcoms of this present age. The Office did poorly it’s first season to now become a hit on NBC. It took three years for 24 to become the powerhouse drama Fox hoped it would be. All I am saying is give new shows a chance.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – I know a lot of people are watching but apparently not enough. It keeps losing to CSI: Miami. I hate that show. I hate David Curuso. I don’t know why Americans would prefer another procedural show instead of a witty, fast paced, intelligent drama by Aaron Sorkin. Because it airs on Sunday in Canada, I often find myself watching this show twice a week. And I don’t think I’m alone.

The Nine – I don’t understand what would keep people from turning the TV off after Lost instead of sticking around for one of the best new shows of the season. I loved the opening scene of Lost’s third season premiere, and don’t get me wrong, I also see the need for the inevitable “debriefing” after each episode but you gotta stick around for The Nine. It’s inventive, it’s mysterious, and it’s full of great characters played by great actors. Sound familiar? Don’t be left out of loop.

Heroes – Until 24 comes, there’s nothing else on at 9pm on Monday nights. It’s another great show with a large cast of colourful characters with incredible powers. And with this one, you know it’s not going to get yanked anytime soon since NBC has picked up the full first season (the first of any new series this fall). That kind of commitment has to say something.

Shows That Have Been Moved but Are Still Worth Watching

Justice – It’s fast and slick. That refers to the plot and Victor Garber’s lines. This show will be back in November and will be probably moved from it’s “opposite Lost” timeslot which is a relief. It’s a fun procedural without a serialized storyline. It helps take the pressure off.

Kidnapped – Because of poor ratings, NBC is moving this show to Saturday and making the producers wrap up the storyline in 13 episodes. At least the producers know this in advance (unlike Reunion’s fate last year) so expect a tight action-packed story. Also moving it to Saturday makes it easy to tape and watch later. I’m enjoying the show, I find the pace works well. NBC will probably re-air the first three episodes and then run down the series.

Show I’m Still Not Sure About

30 Rock – To be fair, I’ve only seen the pilot episode which was only so so. It seems to be in bad taste to start a sitcom with a major portion of it taking place in a strip club, but maybe that’s just me. Nevertheless, I’ll probably keep watching this show because I like the cleverness of Tina Fey and the hilarious line delivery of Alec Baldwin.

Shows I Tried and Gave Up On

Vanished – I didn’t care if the senator got his wife back. I found the dialogue cheesy and Rebecca Grayheart and Ming Na were a waste of airtime.

Six Degrees – I didn’t care about the characters or the coincidences. Apparently having JJ Abrams (Alias, Lost) as an executive producer doesn’t mean that much if he’s not writing it.

Jericho – Skeet Ulrich bothers me. I can’t stand him. The only intriguing character in this show is the black former cop who seems to know too much. Not intriguing enough, though.

Brothers and Sisters – Marti Noxon left, so did I. This show is too chick-flick for me despite its impressive cast.

Shark – I gave it an honest shot but it looks too much like House with lawyers. You have the grumpy guy with a soft heart teaching younger people how the world really works while barking orders at them. Not a fan of James Woods, don’t like is underlings. Like the daughter, but not nearly enough to stay.

Smith – I really wanted to like this show. I love heist films. Unfortunately, the cops and wife know too much already. Slow down the revelations. I’m obviously not alone, since Smith has already been yanked from the schedule.

Who will be the next to fall? Gotta prediction?

The Departed

Go see The Departed. The only reason not to see this film is if you have an aversion to violence. This film is gritty and raw but it does not seem out of place considering the subject matter. But what else would you expect form Martin Scorsese? This film has the panache of Goodfellas with even better acting. In fact, if this film doesn’t get a slew of Oscar nominations, I will be dumbfounded. Scorsese has been robbed of the Best Director statue in the past (he should have gotten it for Raging Bull), but it will be a true crime if he is denied the trophy this year. I was riveted, engrossed and not at all bothered by the two and half hour running time. This film has everything going for it.

I know people like to knock down Leonardo DiCaprio because of his pretty-boy turn in Titanic, but this guy can act. Before the film, I saw a preview of DiCaprio’s next film The Blood Diamond, and was blown away at how he is able to change his accent. In The Departed, Leo plays a Boston cop who is sent undercover to infiltrate Jack Nicholson’s mob. His moral dilemmas and constant fear are perfectly played in each scene. If you doubt DiCaprio’s chops, rent What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and see how great an actor he really is.

Matt Damon is starting to grow on me. Admittedly, I am one of the three people in North America who hated his roles in Good Will Hunting and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Legend of Bagger Vance didn’t win any points with me either. But with Dogma, Bourne Identity and Ocean’s Eleven, Matt Damon is shaping up to be a another great actor who should not be ignored. Damon is compelling in The Departed playing a mob soldier in a cop uniform. His intensity and two-facedness is a treat to watch.

Jack Nicholson is Jack Nicholson. Roles are written specifically for him. And I sometimes don’t think that’s a bad thing. I love watching Jack play. He’s both chilling and humourous all at the same time. Nobody does it better than Jack.

The cast is rounded out with some stellar acting from Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Anderson and Martin Sheen. My goodness, the mouth on Wahlberg. His foul vulgar-strewn tear down of diCaprio almost made me wince with its amount of profanity. But then again, I once worked in a warehouse, so it seemed to fit all the same. The only poor performance in this film is done by the only lead female in the cast, Vera Farmiga. She does not possess the skills to hold her own in scenes between Damon or diCaprio. This is a job better suited for Scarlett Johansson.

Apart from the fantastic acting, the cat and mouse storyline is compelling and inventive. I love how one reviewer called it Goodfellas with cell phones. Never has text messaging been so spine-tingling. I remember when I was watching Daniel Day-Lewis’ brilliant portrayal of Bill the Butcher in Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, I took note of Lewis’ breathing. Even his breathing was in character. In one gripping scene of The Departed, the breathing over a cell phone speaks volumes and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

In closing, watch this film. In the movie theatre. Now. It’s definitely in my top three, if not my number one movie this year (I’ll make that decision in December). And a note to Martin Scorsese, you should be working on your acceptance speech.

CTV Sucks!

Okay, I usually don't post mini blogs but this was too perfect to pass up. You know how I was complaining about how inept CTV was? Well, last night they played the wrong Grey's Anatomy episode. Instead of the anticipated season premiere (as seen on ABC), they played the second epsiode by mistake. Luckily I don't watch Grey's Anatomy, so it didn't affect me, but many Canadians are pissed! So to reiterate my point, watch American channels cuz Canadian affiliates suck!

The West Wing: Season Two

So I just finished the second season of The West Wing. And while the final moments of the season finale were so predictable that a third grader could see it coming, the rest of the season was top notch.

I remember hearing about the gunshots when the series first aired a few years ago; I didn’t know it was Josh who got shot though. So I was pulled right in when the season began. Of course, I knew he’d live based on his role for the rest of the seasons, but I was still engrossed. I’m glad they continued to bring Marlee Matlin in to amp up the relationship between Josh and Donna. And I though Aaron Sorkin did a brilliant job of ending the season with the confession of MS. Toby’s thought process and reaction, Oliver Platt’s interrogations, the fatal signature, and the surprise death in the second last episode, is what makes West Wing what it is. One of things I am most impressed with about The West Wing are its Christmas episodes. The majority of television Christmas episodes are filled with family stuff and learning the true meaning of Christmas. I usually find these episodes mediocre, as they seem to just go through the motions. The West Wing doesn’t go that route. Josh has a posttraumatic breakdown that is told in wonderful flashback form. The year before, Toby helped a homeless vet, which on the surface seems like a Christmas cliché, but I can still see Toby’s flinch reaction when the gun shots go off at the funeral. Sure there are some Christmasy things thrown in those episodes, but there is definitely more powerful stories being told.

Looking at the characters, I have enjoyed watching Charlie more and more. I love his quick comments and was pleasantly surprised when he was the one who figured out the president’s signature mistake. At first I didn’t like Emily Proctor’s Ainsley role. She just talked too fast and had these weird habits like eating other people’s food. But a few episodes later, I started to enjoy her spunkiness and her sparring with Sam, even though it's just ripping off the chemistry between Josh and Donna. Speaking of Donna, I love those episodes where Donna confronts Josh as an average American citizen so he has to justify himself and things he does as a government official. Its stuff like that that makes me learn more about American government. Of course, looking at the frenetic lives of the Senior White House Staff, it’s hard to imagine that the current Bush administration is anything like that.

There were only a couple of things that I didn’t like about this season of The West Wing, and all of them were minor. First, I missed Timothy Busfield’s Danny in the second half of the season. Second, I didn’t care about Bartlett’s fascination with Galileo. Third, I was annoyed that the filibuster episode didn’t have one reference to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, even to point out how the filibuster rules have changed. And finally, the final moments of the finale, with the hands in the pockets, seemed way too obvious. But these are just small potatoes when compared to the rest of the stellar season.

I’m looking forward to season three. Let the re-election begin.

Essential TV

As I have said before, there is no way that I could expect anyone to keep up with my television viewing habits. So I have made a schedule for those who do not want to miss quality programs, yet can’t spend the time to watch them all. I’ve narrowed it down to eight shows. Eight must-see shows. Eight shows that are not playing during the same timeslot. If you only have time to watch eight shows, here is what I think you should be watching:

Sunday
8:00pm......................................Amazing Race (Sept 17)
Monday
8:00pm......................................Prison Break (running)
9:00pm......................................Heroes (Sept 25)
10:00pm.....................................Studio 60 (Sept 18)
Tuesday
9:00pm......................................Veronica Mars (Oct 3)
Wednesday
9:00pm......................................Lost (Oct 4)
10:00pm.....................................The Nine (Oct 4)
Thursday
8:30pm......................................The Office (Sept 21)

This schedule has a bit of everything; drama, action, mystery, comedy, reality. While I watch many other shows, these are the ones that I care about. Of course, some might think I am taking a risk on some of the new shows; namely: Heroes, Studio 60 and The Nine. You wouldn’t say that if you’ve seen the downloaded pilots.

The Nine literally kept me captivated for the full hour. The first act (after the first commercial) is riveting. My mouth was open in stunned silence as the story frenetically unfolded before me. If they can keep this up, we are in for a treat. This was by far, the best pilot of the fall.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip has such clever writing and fantastic characters; it’s almost impossible to dislike this show. My only issue with the pilot is that they have shown a large chunk of it during its extensive promotion campaign. I can’t wait to hear what Aaron Sorkin will write next, especially with his challenging diatribes on Christianity.

Heroes has definitely peaked my curiosity. They have a lot of interesting stories to tell with some of them being downright creepy. The last minutes of the pilot pleasantly surprised me and made me want a whole lot more. It was great even without Greg Grunberg making an appearance yet.

I am definitely excited about the upcoming TV season. I think it’s mainly because there are some smartly written shows that networks are giving a chance to. It’s nice to not be insulted with cliché programs of canned laughter, formulaic plots and cardboard characters. It’s getting to the point, where it feels like I’m watching a bunch of mini-movies each week without leaving the comfort of my couch. It’s about time.

Premiere Recap

So CTV is showing Studio 60 at 7:00pm on Sunday now. Maybe. This coming week is the ‘official’ start of the TV season also knows as Premiere Week. If you watch as much TV as I do, you can look forward to seeing the Amazing Race, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, How I Met Your Mother, 2½ Men, Smith, The Unit, Boston Legal, Law & Order: SVU, Kidnapped, CSI: NY, CSI:, My Name is Earl and The Office all premiere this week. But since you probably don’t watch as much TV as I do, you may be asking, what should watch? Well, lucky for you, I do my research. In a stroke of great bandwith, I was able to download many of the new show pilots to see just what was worth watching. But before I get to those, a quick recap on the series that have premiered so far.

Prison Break –The pace is still keeping me on the edge of my seat. The casting of William Fitchner (Invasion) as the lead detective with the same intelligence as Scofield was a genius move. And not to spoil the premiere for those who haven’t seen it yet, but the death at the end of the first episode was a joy to be hold. Finally, as assassin who got it right; a shot to head to make sure they’re dead. You hear me Alias bad guys?

Justice – Speaking of Alias, Victor Garber is so fun to watch. One of my favourite Alias scenes ever was Jack Bristow berating Sydney’s fiancée on the phone and not granting his blessing. Now we get to see this angry character every week. Thematically, I love the way the show incorporates the effect the media has on a trial even if it is over-exaggerated. Love the wit. Love the strategy. Love the slick CSI:-style camera work. And the show is made even more enjoyable with the truth being told in the closing seconds of the program. If only more clients were guilty, and if only the show weren’t going up against Lost in a couple of weeks.

Vanished – Boring. I gave up after the lackluster premiere. The biggest problem with this show is that I could care less about the people involved. The senator is not at all sympathetic, the daughter is annoying, the Asian agent is cardboard, and the news reporter is overdone. The only person I cared a speck for was the lead agent, but not enough to continue the series. Don’t waste your time on this show. Besides, it’s on Fox, so they’ll probably yank it half-way through like they did with last year’s serialized mystery, Reunion.

House – Still good. Can’t complain. I even kind of like Robert Sean Leonard’s Wilson character being a jerk to House. Now if only they could change the show’s formula up a bit.

Simpsons, American Dad, Family Guy – It’s like they’ve never left. I am so glad they moved the awful War at Home to a later timeslot so it doesn’t interrupt this fine 90 minutes of animation.

Survivor: Cook Islands – I gave this show fifteen minutes, then changed the channel. The gimmick wore off. It’s like these survivors feel that they are representing their entire race, as if they have been chosen to tell the rest of us what they are really like, while at the same time adopting the stereotypes placed on them. I remember watching Bowling for Columbine and seeing Canadians talk as if they spoke for the whole country. They couldn’t be more wrong and couldn’t make us look more stupid. It annoyed me. Still does. Oh, and I can see trouble a-brewing when they award one ethnicity over the other at the final tribal council. Let the bigotry begin

Why I Hate Canadian Television

If you get CTV, the series premiere of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is tonight (Thursday) at 10:00pm. Glad they had that small information bar pop up while I was watching Justice last night. I could have sworn that Studio 60 was set to premiere this Sunday on CTV, with NBC showing it on Monday night. I know I could have sworn it, because I did the research. But apparently, they changed the premiere without telling anyone, probably because they had to make room for The Amazing Race on Sunday. This is why I hate Canadian television networks.

I am a proud Canadian. Well, I don’t eat poutine, I do watch hockey and the CFL and I do feel a sense of pride when a Canadian music artist does well in the States. The one thing I can’t stand about Canada is its crappy television and network programming. When it comes to the shows I love to watch, I try my hardest to see them on their original American network. Thankfully, I am able to get the eastern feeds, so I can watch Lost at 6pm instead of waiting til 9pm. You see, if I waited until 9, then CTV takes over the ABC station and I’m stuck watching that annoying guy trying to sell me on more Shaw services. On the American stations, you always see previews for the next episode; on Canadian stations I keep seeing promos for Canadian Idol with the much-despised Ben Mulroney. And don’t get me started on their repetitive commercials.

I also have a hard time watching Canadian original shows. I hate Corner Gas. I don’t find it funny at all. I’m not from the prairie, I’ve never been to the prairie, I’m not even sure I’m correctly spelling prairie. I just can’t relate to Corner Gas whatsoever. And I don’t want to try. Other than that, are there any worthwhile Canadian programs? Does Degrassi count as worthwhile? Trailer Park Boys? Has it come to that? Okay, those Canada: A People’s History documentaries are supposed to be well done. But still, that’s pretty sad.

What bothers me most about Canadian networks is that there is no consistency when it comes to their schedule. Because they are showing various series from various American networks, they need to keep adjusting. A special two hour episode of something will mess up an entire week of Canadian programming. Some friends of mine tried to watch Alias on CTV. The geniuses at the network put it on at 4pm on Sunday.... sometimes. I think they moved it to 11:00pm on Monday for a week. Without telling anyone. Then they skipped some weeks because of the Academy Awards and a miniseries. My friends gave up and are waiting for the DVD now. CTV let them down. They don’t get American stations so they must rely on the sub-par talents of Canadian programming. So think of this a public service announcement for those who don’t possess cable (I seriously don’t know how they survive), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in on tonight at 10pm. You got that Dave and Andrea?

After writing this, I went to the CTV website and they say Sopranos are on tonight at 10pm. So maybe that Studio 60 information was wrong last night. Maybe it’s not. Tune in tonight at 10pm and see what CTV decides to do. Don’t blame me, blame CTV. And that’s why I hate Canadian television networks.

The Illusionist/Hollywoodland

Yup, it’s a new blog. I took some time off with the start of the new school season, but it’s back to the reviews. This past week I saw two films that were not on my fall movie list. I guess I now know the reason why I make such lists. Not that these two movies were terrible, but they weren’t the greatest pieces of cinema either. Since I have the same complaints with both films, I’ll save myself some time and review them together.

On the surface, The Illusionist and Hollywoodland have good things going for them; they both have big name, Oscar worthy stars in a stylized film drenched in mystery. Unfortunately, it’s the slowly dragging plot that does the movies in. The only redeeming factor in both The Illusionist and Hollywoodland is the superb acting. The Illusionist stars Edward Norton (American History X, Primal Fear) as a famed illusionist and Paul Giamatti (Cinderella Man, Sideways) as a cop trying to figure Norton out. I find both actors are compelling to watch as they revel in the their thick accents and convey volumes of meaning in just one glance. Even supporting turns by Rufus Sewell (Dark City) and Jessica Biel (7th Heaven) are well done. In Hollywoodland, Adrien Brody (The Pianist) does a fine job as a washed up, publicity-craving detective who investigates the ‘mysterious’ death of George Reeves. And while some may disagree, I enjoyed seeing Ben Affleck as the washed up George Reeves who only had the role of Superman to call his own. So if you watch these two movies to just looking for great acting, I don’t think you’d be disappointed.

Unfortunately, we often go to the movies to see a well-paced story of some sort. I remember watching a TV commerical for The Illusionist that warned the viewers not to spoil the secret of the movie. I guess that those people responsible for the warning have not realized that audiences have become smarter and more suspicious ever since the big reveal of The Sixth Sense. I won’t spoil the film for you, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to see what is really going on. I will admit that I did find the feats of illusion to be fascinating and way above the work of Criss Angel: Mindfreak. What really hurts The Illusionist, however, is the slow pace of the film that seems to stretch every second of Norton’s concentration on stage. Pace is also a problem with the noir-ish Hollywoodland. The film takes too much time watching Adrien Brody think things through. That, and if you know the story of George Reeve’s death, there’s not that much mystery. The film did, however, do a great job showing the similar beaten path taken by Affleck’s Reeves and Brody’s detective. But all I have to say is, if I have to check my watch, the film is going on too long.

In conclusion, these films would be better viewed as a rental instead of spending your precious time constantly shifting your seat in the theatre. What’s weird is that there are two films coming up shortly that seem very familiar, yet far superior to these films. Instead of The Illusionist, wait for The Prestige which also deals with magicians but features Hugh Jackman and Chirstian Bale and is written & directed by the stellar Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins). Instead of watching Hollywoodland, go see The Black Dahlia, another gritty noir directed by Brian DePalma (Scarface, Carrie) and written by the guy who wrote LA Confidential. Let’s just hope that second time’s the charm.