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Reviews
Californication: Pilot (2007)
Promising new show
The first scene of this show put me off, not because it was sacrilegious (which it was, though nothing to get into a twist over) but because the dialogue seemed too precious, the scene too contrived. I almost quit on the show right then and there. But then the show settled into a groove--a nasty, unpredictable, thoroughly amusing groove--and it really held me from then on out.
Duchovny is fine, scruffier than his Agent Mulder days. I like that his character is currently down-and-out, but he isn't a sad sack. Check out the terrific scene of his character dealing with an obnoxious guy with a cell phone in a theater--he kicks the dung out of him, to applause from the other patrons. It gives you the notion that, even though Duchovny's character is on the skids, he's got the makings for getting back on the saddle--it gave me something to root for. Nothing more depressing than watching a show about a loser who will *always* be a loser, like Lisa Kudrow's The Comeback--Kudrow was terrific in terms of her performance, but the show was too painful to watch, because her character was always going to be a loser. Not so here.
The real treat of the show is Natascha McElhone, who is fantastic. It's a pity she's so extraordinarily beautiful--not a pity, but you know what I mean: Few probably notice what a phenomenal actress she is. Her looks get in the way of her chops. Check out her grunginess in Ronin, her brittleness in Solaris. Peter Weir really didn't use her effectively in The Truman Show. Here, thankfully, she really shines, the ambivalence of her character's feelings for Duchovny's character coming through loud and clear, at once amused/attracted to him, then turning on a dime into disgust and obvious repulsion, and then off in another direction.
Looking forward to more of this show. It looks like a keeper on the Tivo.
Entourage: The Day Fuckers (2007)
A holding pattern episode, but one of the most amusing
This episode didn't advance any of the story or character arcs of the show, but it was certainly one of the most amusing. For the first time, the Drama and Turtle story line was truly funny, as it involved sex while dressed up as an Easter Bunny (don't askwatch). Usually their story line is sort of sad-sack, and faintly depressing. Often as not, their adventures seem to depend on them being B-listers when they're lucky enough to rise above the C-level, their adventures usually tawdry and loser-ish. This time, however, their story was involving, amusing, and had a riotously funny payoff in the final scene of the show.
I was astonished to watch Jeremy Piven crying in this episodeit was really moving, and added an extra dimension to his character: Though Ari is a flippant jerk most of the time, it was touching to see his relationship with his immediate family, and how far he would go to get what they wanted.
Nothing happened with Medellin or with the next movie Vincent's doingthat's why I'm calling this episode a holding pattern. But boy was it funny, through and through.