I strongly suspect that my favorite new TV series of the season -- actually, my favorite series to premiere since House -- aired its last original episode Friday night. So while you still can, take a look at Raines. Pay particularly close attention to the pilot, which deftly establishes the premise -- and pulls off an ingenious twist during the final minutes. (It was directed, by the way, by Frank Darabont.) Then check out the ineffably melancholy "Reconstructing Alice" with the great Laurie Metcalf (who, in a perfect world, would be a slam dunk for an Emmy nomination). As Michael Raines, the L.A. cop who imagines he can converse with murder victims (who, in actuality, are projections of his brilliant -- albeit unstable -- ratiocinative mind), Jeff Goldblum hits the perfect balance of hard-boiled and soft-hearted, sharply witty and wistfully sad. At his frequent best, he makes me think of David Janssen's Harry O -- if only Harry could have seen dead men (and women) talking.
Showing posts with label Frank Darabont. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frank Darabont. Show all posts
Saturday, April 28, 2007
The 'Raines' came... and left
I strongly suspect that my favorite new TV series of the season -- actually, my favorite series to premiere since House -- aired its last original episode Friday night. So while you still can, take a look at Raines. Pay particularly close attention to the pilot, which deftly establishes the premise -- and pulls off an ingenious twist during the final minutes. (It was directed, by the way, by Frank Darabont.) Then check out the ineffably melancholy "Reconstructing Alice" with the great Laurie Metcalf (who, in a perfect world, would be a slam dunk for an Emmy nomination). As Michael Raines, the L.A. cop who imagines he can converse with murder victims (who, in actuality, are projections of his brilliant -- albeit unstable -- ratiocinative mind), Jeff Goldblum hits the perfect balance of hard-boiled and soft-hearted, sharply witty and wistfully sad. At his frequent best, he makes me think of David Janssen's Harry O -- if only Harry could have seen dead men (and women) talking.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Long form or short blasts? Blue skies or 'Raines'?
Peter Lauria reports: "Underlying the online video joint venture between NBC and News Corp. is a risky gamble that the Internet audience will evolve from watching short clips to a long-form viewing culture. While the as yet unnamed venture will feature shorts and clips, the primary driver of the site is the full-length television episodes and movies that make up both companies' content libraries."
NBC and News Corp. "appear to be betting that the next wave of online video viewers will want professionally produced, long-form video rather than user-generated, short, frenetic blasts of entertainment.
"Others, however, are willing to lay serious odds that they won't."
Want to decide for yourself if you're up for long-form entertainment on your computer? Then check out an episode of Raines, a very promising new series staring Jeff Goldblum. The pilot, directed by Frank Darabont (of Shawshank Redemption fame), is particularly clever -- with a twist that, I must admit, I didn't see coming.
NBC and News Corp. "appear to be betting that the next wave of online video viewers will want professionally produced, long-form video rather than user-generated, short, frenetic blasts of entertainment.
"Others, however, are willing to lay serious odds that they won't."
Want to decide for yourself if you're up for long-form entertainment on your computer? Then check out an episode of Raines, a very promising new series staring Jeff Goldblum. The pilot, directed by Frank Darabont (of Shawshank Redemption fame), is particularly clever -- with a twist that, I must admit, I didn't see coming.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)