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Reviews
Veronica Mars (2004)
Veronica Mars is the best drama on broadcast television
I'm not one for coronations, but I'm afraid this show deserve every accolade out there. While everyone raves about "Desperate Housewives", this program continues to be passed over. So since "DH" has jumped the shark, now's the time to see the seedy side of Neptune for yourself.
Veronica Mars is a perfect combination of hardboiled detective story and teen soap. I have spent the better part of the last week catching up (27 episodes) and can't say there's a better show on TV that combines drama and light humor. The writing on this program continues to be top-notch. The scripts are labyrinth affairs of multiple plot threads interlaced with witty dialogue and the most believable father/daughter relationship on TV.
Rob Thomas has created a show that works all the time. It's stylishly shot, well-directed (esp. the episodes by Nick Marck and Marcos Siega) and constantly evolving before your eyes. The acting is wonderful especially Kristen Bell's command of everyone. She moves in and out of the many strata of Neptune like a teenage Sam Spade, only showing vulnerability when Veronica just can't handle anymore.
Her father, Keith Mars, is marvelous played by Enrico Colantoni. He too transcends different worlds, once a caring father, then a hardened PI. His Bogart-esquire delivery and demeanor are perfect for this show. Veronica's right hand man is fellow Neptune High student Wallace Fennell, portrayed by Percy Daggs III. He plays off of Bell so well, you just want their witty conversations to go on and on. The rest of Neptune's characters must really be seen to be believed, especially the spoiled nemesis Logan Echolls. Jason Dohring continues to add dimension to this character, making him far more than just your average high-school smartass.
Either way, you win with this show. Its acting and writing are top-notch, and it's entertaining to watch again and again. The only real drawback is that you really must watch it from the beginning. I was immediately hooked after one episode. However, you don't really get the balance of characters and story unless you start at the beginning with the amazing pilot.
Margaret Cho: CHO Revolution (2004)
disappointed
Revolution is revolting. It's revolting to see a comedienne with such talent and a natural ability to make people laugh release a film so utterly devoid of humour. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of these people who gets offended easily and turns it off, this movie is offensive because of how she wastes her talent by recycling the same bits from previous films for her beloved cult audience. She stretches every bit until it is completely numbing and therefore dangerously unfunny. She gets off to a good start with some mild political humour before falling back into silly vulgar humour that makes her look uninspired. I only wish that she could get back to the concise humour that made her earlier humour so insightful and dangerous, these new bits are her simply resting on her comfortable laurels.
Mystic River (2003)
nothing very mystical
It was my understanding going in to this film that it was a powerful, timeless classic. After all, critics lavished it with praise and it received many accolades. Personally, I can't say I'd recommend it to you dear reader. I was disappointed in the Oscar-nominated script from the always reliable Brian Helgeland, I felt like he sacrificed character building for a moody, ambiance that was already captured by the gorgeous cinematography. The script is convoluted and filled with details merely designed to confuse the viewer (see also the jumbled Conspiracy Theory for this problem) and the direction was solid, but too focused on everyone being 'tough guys'. There's this great setup of a story and a brilliant opportunity to give us a meditation of the friendship of three leads and the impact that a brutal crime can have on families. Instead, we are treated to a well-acted murder mystery where everyone method acts their asses off. In the end, Tim Robbins steals the movie and deserves his Oscar-Sean Penn (far better in 21 Grams) channels Robert DeNiro and left me saying that Bill Murray should have won the Oscar for 'Lost In Translation' .