Gulliver's Travels (1996) Review

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(More customer reviews)Contrary to popular belief, Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" was never intended to be simply a children's fantasy / fairy tale. Although the Lilliputans are cute as heck, this story has some serious overtones. As a matter of fact, although more subtle perhaps, there are aspects of this tale which are as dark and bitter as the commentaries on humankind written by the likes of Dostoevsky, Camus and Kafka. Jonathan Swift never was a very happy man.
This rendition of Swift's classic is, in a word, fabulous. It reaches to the heart of the message Swift was trying to convey while at the same time is accessible to all. It is also appropriate for a family to watch. I cannot remark enough on just how well done this film was; it would have been so easy to do a half-baked job and let it be yet another ambitious television movie that somehow went awry. I'm so glad that didn't happen here.
In truth, I have never cared too much for Ted Danson. However, in this film he delivers a surprisingly exceptional performance. So much so, in fact, that looking back I can't imagine anyone else as Gulliver. The rest of the cast did a superb job as well, and the inclusion of Peter O'Toole as the king of the Lilliputans was a great touch. (Then again, when can having Peter O'Toole in the cast of a movie ever HURT?) The direction and the way they chose to tell the story was wonderfully done. The soundtrack (written by Trevor Jones, who co-wrote the soundtrack to "The Last Of The Mohicans" among other things) was right on the $$$ for emotionally gripping scenes.
This is the type of ambitious, fervent film-making that studios can be proud of. If one Jonathan Swift were around today, I have no doubt that he could not and would not have asked for a better adaptation of his prose. A GREAT movie!

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Bored to Death: The Complete First Season (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Jonathan Ames (Jason Schwartzman) is a freelance writer with one novel under his belt, a 447,000 rating on Amazon, and serious writers' block. He writes the occasional article for his friend George Christopher (Ted Danson, in a hilarious role), the bored-to-death editor of an Esquire-type magazine. Meanwhile, his buddy Ray (Zak Galifianakis)is a frustrated graphic novelist, comic-strip artist trying to hawk his work, with meager results. Zak's girlfriend Leah controls his every move, while Jonathan's girlfriend Suzanne moves out after Jonathan refuses to clean up his act according to her straight-edge wishes, i.e., no drinking, no pot smoking.
After losing his roommate/lover, Jonathan is unable to write, and suffers from a serious case of the doldrums. He mopes around his apartment, doing very little but reading Raymond Chandler novels and getting smoked up. Schwartzman is very good at conveying this bright-guy-turning-into-a-loser character. Apparently inspired by the Chandler novels, he decides to try his hand at being a private eye himself. Despite having no background whatsoever in police work, he figures he has nothing to lose and advertises on craigslist as an "unlicensed" private detective. He hopes that by doing this he will pad his bank account, as well as find inspiration for his writing. Thus, the hilarity ensues.
The series is stylish, with lots of allusions to Raymond Chandler potboilers, complete with gorgeous, troubled dames, topcoats, hats, and all the Chandler-esque parafernalia. Jonathan hasn't a clue as to what he's doing, but somehow his escapades all work out, with George and Ray as his Keystone cops sidekicks. Each episode is done tongue-in-cheek, requiring a large dose of literary license from the viewer. If the viewer has a sense of fun and enjoys a well-crafted farce, this isn't hard to do. I hope this series catches on, because in my household, this is half an hour of very entertaining television. All the actors do a fine job, my favorite being Ted Danson, who seems to thoroughly enjoy acting a fool and probably getting paid enormous amounts of money to do so. Some of the scenes are sidesplittingly funny; others have a Woody Allen-ish charm, as Schwartzman is exactly the kind of appealing nebbish that Allen always played. I hope for more "Bored to Death" episodes of this caliber in Season 2.

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Meet Jonathan Ames: writer, romantic, unlicensed private detective. Moonlighting from his job as a novelist and writer for a New York magazine, Jonathan is looking to jettison some heavy emotional baggage (his girlfriend just dumped him, okay?) through an unusual second careerof cracking cases of missing persons, espionage and infidelity in the Big Apple.
DVD Features:Audio CommentaryBEHIND THE SCENES

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Damages: The Complete First Season Review

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(More customer reviews)One of the biggest treats of the 2007 television season was "Damages," a wicked and wonderful legal thriller from FX. Headlined by Glenn Close, I expected to enjoy this show--but I wasn't prepared for the level of sophistication, complexity, and intelligence it offered up from its first twisty, and twisted, moments. Made for adults, this drama demands attention and may not be for the casual viewer. With its intricate plotting and structure, the story is told from different time periods interwoven throughout each episode. Essentially, snippets of the story are presented in each time frame, so the audience is left to speculate about the full truth in any given instance. However, as the season progresses, the pieces start to connect in unexpected ways that can both surprise and frustrate. I'd compare the narrative flow of "Damages" to that of a fine novel--telling you just enough so that you are tantalized to stick around for the next chapter.
The plot of "Damages" is a knotty web that is difficult to describe briefly. Ostensibly, the show revolves around a naive young lawyer played by Rose Byrne. The opening scenes show a bedraggled and bloodied Byrne stumbling down the streets of New York--apparently the victim (or perhaps the perpetrator) of an act of violence. Cut to six months earlier and a proper introduction is made. Byrne is seduced and recruited by a major law firm run by Glenn Close. Close seems to have a hidden agenda, but Byrne is quickly overcome by the trappings of success and acceptance. The firm is handling an enormous class action lawsuit against one of the town's most prominent businessmen, played by Ted Danson, and Byrne ends up squarely in the midst of much legal intrigue. What follows includes lying, blackmail, corruption, and even murder--no one in this story remains an innocent.
While I actually think the plot is the real star of "Damages" (I don't think I've ever said that about a TV show before)--it certainly doesn't hurt that the cast is uniformly excellent. Don't be surprised if you see Close front and center come awards time. Her thinly veiled menace and cutting remarks make for classic villainy, but Close pulls it off in a way that you can't help but love! Byrne and all the key supporting players are solid and believable. I particularly liked Zeljko Ivanek and Peter Facinelli, but the real revelation to me was Ted Danson. Honestly, I've followed Danson since he was a bit player in "Body Heat" and I think this is by far his best role. Mixing equal parts charm and bile, this is a great actor in a beautifully written role.
Again, I don't recommend "Damages" to everyone--I only wish I could! If, however, you love sophisticated drama--give this a shot. The DVD format is the perfect way to watch this show at your own pace and enjoy all its subtleties, surprises, and delights. But, be reminded, if you sit down to watch this show--WATCH IT! Otherwise, you might not appreciate how intricately put together "Damages" really is. KGHarris, 12/07.

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Hot new legal thriller on FX! Set in New York's world of high stakes litigation, Damages follows the lives of Patty Hewes, the nation's most revered and most reviled litigator, and her bright, ambitious protégée Ellen Parsons as they become embroiled in a class action lawsuit targeting Arthur Frobisher, one of the country's wealthiest CEOs. As Patty battles Frobisher and his attorney, Ellen learns what it takes to win at all costs, and that lives, not just fortunes, are at stake.

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Damages: The Complete Second Season Review

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(More customer reviews)Season 1 was taught and terrifying magic. Season 2 tries to mix in a major new storyline while still carrying forward the lethal fallout from last season's Arthur Frobisher case. Although teasing and confusing the viewer are part of the stylistic tone of this production, things got a little muddy with too many characters in mid-season. Still, the Season Finale was so brilliant, it more than paid off its mid-season markers. Meanhile, the acting of the major characters - Rose Byrne deserves more credit, IMHO - continues to shine.

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Seven Emmy nominations for this season of the award-winning show! After her unprecedented victory over billionaire Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) has the legal world at her feet. Just as she's pondering her next move, Daniel Purcell (William Hurt), a man from Patty's mysterious past, storms back into her life, catapulting Patty into a new legal challenge. What starts as a domestic murder case, escalates into the highest reaches of government as Patty unearths a vast conspiracy. At the same time, Ellen (Rose Byrne) is on a mission to take down Patty. She's agreed to act as an informant for the FBI, assisting them in their criminal investigation of Patty and the firm. As Patty unravels the mystery surrounding Daniel Purcell, she must also negotiate the perilous minefield both inside and outside her office.

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Damages: The Complete Seasons 1-2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I stumbled across Damages in season 1 while looking through the FX web site. Out of boredom I watched Season 1, episode 1 (in teh good 'ol days when all episodes were online). I WAS BLOWN AWAY! My wife was out of town on a business trip and when she got back, I "forced" her to watch S1,E1. She rolled her eyes and agreed. SHE WAS BLOWN AWAY! It instantly became our favorite TV show, edging out Dexter! We plowed through 8 or so episodes online, catching up to real time, then anxiously awaited the next episode. It was smart, well-acted, quick paced TV. The way the story is told from the inside out only increases your anxiousness to see more. In every episode you get glimpses into the future that keep you on the edge of your seat.
I'm not a huge fan of Glenn Close, but this is her Citizen Kane! She is AWESOME as the evil Patty Hewes. She is completely believable and completely evil! BUT, her legal battles are against some really bad guys so you find yourself wanting her to win, evil as she is! It's brilliant.
I have told several friends, "buy the DVD set, if you aren't instantly sucked in, if the first episode doesn't capture your attention, I'll buy the DVD set from you so you aren't out any money." I have yet to shell out a single penny! Not a penny!
The sad news is that after season 3, FX cancelled this awesome show. It's now the property of DirecTV and they have plans to keep it alive. But for now, the only way to see it, is on DVD. As far as TV goes, it's a breath of fresh air.

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Damages: The Complete First SeasonHot new legal thriller on FX! Set in New York's world of high stakes litigation, Damages follows the lives of Patty Hewes, the nation's most revered and most reviled litigator, and her bright, ambitious protégée Ellen Parsons as they become embroiled in a class action lawsuit targeting Arthur Frobisher, one of the country's wealthiest CEOs. As Patty battles Frobisher and his attorney, Ellen learns what it takes to win at all costs, and that lives, not just fortunes, are at stake. Damages: The Complete Second SeasonSeven Emmy nominations for this season of the award-winning show! After her unprecedented victory over billionaire Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) has the legal world at her feet. Just as she's pondering her next move, Daniel Purcell (William Hurt), a man from Patty's mysterious past, storms back into her life, catapulting Patty into a new legal challenge. What starts as a domestic murder case, escalates into the highest reaches of government as Patty unearths a vast conspiracy. At the same time, Ellen (Rose Byrne) is on a mission to take down Patty. She's agreed to act as an informant for the FBI, assisting them in their criminal investigation of Patty and the firm. As Patty unravels the mystery surrounding Daniel Purcell, she must also negotiate the perilous minefield both inside and outside her office.

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