Exquisitely acted, beautifully written. They aimed for transcendent...and fell short. The sum isn't equal to the parts, and it's hard to say exactly why. The most C.J.-heavy episode of the series, and Allison was of course up to the moment. She returns home for a school reunion and to see her Dad (Donal Moffat - THE THING, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER), who is spiraling down into Alzheimer's dementia. Matthew Modine (VISION QUEST, FULL METAL JACKET) is the third side of this towering thespian triangle, as an ex- punk/jock whose arms the lonely, miserable Claudia falls into. Verna Bloom (ANIMAL HOUSE) plays the step-mom who deserted her husband. She gives an interrupted speech at her reunion...it's all so very, very good that you don't even care it's not excellent.
Review of The Long Goodbye
