Greetings,
I assume everyone has heard about that whole art imitating life imitating life or whatever order you want to put them in. Well, I found a pretty good example of that in the documentary Every Little Step.
Now I will not assume that everyone knows the plot to the Broadway musical, A Chorus Line. Basically, it tells the tale of a line (WHAT!) of people in an audition, where they tell stories from their own lives. To music, of course. And all of those stories that are in the play come from the real life stories of a group of dancers. In Every Little Step, we see the lives of people being documented as they audition for a revival of A Chorus Line on Broadway. Got all that? If not, we are watching real life performers auditioning for a play about auditioning based on the stories of real life performers. Take a moment and unswirl your mind.
As someone who likes musicals, as well as being a behind the scenes voyeur, I enjoy this documentary very much. Not only do we get to witness the stress and excitement and struggles and triumphs of the auditioning process, we also get to hear about how the show was originally put together. There are quite a few past interviews with the late Michael Bennett, as well as newer ones with original cast members like Donna McKechnie and Baayork Lee, the composer Marvin Hamlisch and Bob Avian, who did choreography for the original show and directed the revival. And we also got to hear some of the original recordings of those initial interviews, which was interesting to hear them telling the stories and have them bleed into the songs they inspired.
I have to say some of the most compelling things about this documentary came from the current dancers and singers who were auditioning. A lot of them are so open about their experiences in the theater, big time and small time, and they become so endearing to the audience watching this movie. We want to root for these people. You see the passion of people like Jessica Lee Goldyn, Chryssie Whitehead, J. Elaine Marcos, Natascia Diaz and so many others and you want them to succeed, if not here, then elsewhere. If not in this show, then another one. You just want them to make it.
One of the things I really love is that you get to see this whole process from people who are in so many different stages of it. We get to see the newer people, the people who have been doing it professionally for years, know the roller coaster ride of it and want to stay on, and the people who have moved on from that life but still know and feel the passion of it. One of the most beautiful moments in the film is when Charlotte d'Amboise, who is auditioning for Cassie, visits her father, Jacques, who was once a dancer himself. He talks so poignantly about what it's worth to anyone to do what they love, what they are willing to endure and sacrifice to be able to live a dream. Of course, he was talking about dancing for himself, but he was addressing anyone who has ever had a drive to do anything.
One of the auditionees, Rachelle Rak, also said something that everyone should take to heart. She talked about how you have to look at yourself everyday and like yourself, because they're not always going to like you. Like yourself, work hard and be passionate. And, at its heart, I think that this is exactly what this documentary is about is just that. Being passionate about something, anything, and working toward achieving a dream. I would definitely recommend this for anyone wanting to get into the theater, one way or another, but it's pretty good for everyone else, too. Even if you're not a hardcore fan of A Chorus Line, which I don't know if I would call myself even, you can still really enjoy this. Of course, if you hate A Chorus Line, you might have some issues, because there's a lot of it here. A LOT!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Nostalgia Critic Old Vs New Wishlist - Top Eleven
Greetings,
I've said it before; I'll say it again. I don't like to tell anyone how to do their job, certainly not someone who I think is already doing a stellar job on their own. If you recall, a while back, I did a Top Eleven list of my favorite Nostalgia Critic episodes from his previous wave. Well, I'm visiting this subject again. You see, Nostalgia Critic does an occasional Old Vs New episode, wherein he compares older movies and their remakes. Some he covered were True Grit, King Kong and The Nutty Professor. He doesn't do these as nearly as I and probably other fans wish. Maybe it's because he can't think of any to do. I'm kidding. I'm sure he has his own list. But as I am always one to help, I thought I would share a list of suggestions that I hope will one day be covered by the Nostalgia Critic. And yes, I am doing a Top Eleven again, because that's what he does. And I will be calling him NC in the list to save me some typing. I'm not lazy. I just hate typing. Let's get started.
#11. 12 Angry Men (1957 & 1997) - This only makes Number 11 because I'm kind of cheating. Everyone knows the great 1957 film, 12 Angry Men, but I'm not sure if everyone knows about the TV movie from 1997. I have to say, I like both of them. Both had very strong casts, which is what the story relies heavily on. This also might be a challenge for the NC, because there is little to compare, other than those casts. Still, I wonder which one he would pick.
#10. Endless Love (1981 & 2014) - Yes, I know that the Cinema Snob already talked about the 1981 version of this film, and it was awful. The movie, not the review. And if anyone has seen the 2014 remake, you'll know that one was awful as well. But which was more awful? I guess instead of deciding which was the more superior film, NC will have to decide which is the more sucky film.
#9. Alfie (1966 & 2004) - Some people might say that this is an obvious choice. I mean, the original has Michael Caine. But you know what else had Michael Caine? Jaws the Revenge. And as penance, he must sit in anxious suspense as someone decides if maybe, just maybe, that remake is better than his original. Be careful what you say yes to, Mr. Caine.
#8. House on Haunted Hill (1959 & 1999) 1999 was not a good year for remakes of horror films. I refer you to NC's review of The Haunting remake. Yikes. But that wasn't the only one that was made that year. We also had a remake of the 1959 Vincent Price movie, House on Haunted Hill. I can't imagine NC thinking that it could be worse than that The Haunting remake, but we'll see. If I get my way.
#7. Ransom (1956 & 1996) - Raise your hand if you didn't know that Ransom of 1996 was a remake of a 1956 movie starring Glenn Ford, Donna Reed and Leslie Nielson. I'm raising my hand right now, by the way. Yes, despite the fact that Ransom is one of my favorite movies with my absolute favorite actor, Gary Sinise, I had no idea it was a remake. I've obviously never seen the 1956 one, so it should be interesting to see NC's take on both of them. And no fair giving the 1996 version more points because they were allowed to say the F word.
#6. The Poseidon Adventure (1972) & Poseidon (2006) - Believe it or not, I'm not sure which one I personally would choose as the better film. I mean, with one, you can make fun of Fergie's acting, but with the other, you have an excuse to use that South Park clip of the "A Morning After" song being sung by Cartman. It's anyone's game here.
#5. The Bishop's Wife (1947) & The Preacher's Wife (1996) - Well, Christmas is coming and NC always does something Christmas-y around that time. Why not pay tribute to Whitney Houston with this one? Unless he thinks The Bishop's Wife was better. Then, it's kind of a slap in the face to her. Okay, forget the Whitney angle. At least, we can also decide who is a better angel - Cary Grant or Denzel Washington. Might be a tie on that.
#4. Fame (1980 & 2009) - I want another Nostalgia Critic and Paw crossover. This might be a good contender for that. Plus, I'm hoping for some dancing. Aren't I always?
#3. Miracle on 34th Street (1947 & 1994) - Again, Christmas is coming, but I think we all know why this would be a good choice for an episode. That's right. More Mara Wilson. We really can't get enough of her, can we?
#2. The Fog (1980 & 2005) - This is another couple of films that I kind of like equally. By that, I mean I am not a huge fan of either of them. But if they happen to be on TV, I usually stop and start watching. It's that car wreck thing, I guess. And of course, the remake has Maggie Grace and Tom Welling. I want to see if NC can resist the urge to make any Lost or Smallville jokes. I know I wouldn't be able to do that.
#1. Clash of the Titans (1981 & 2010) - There is someone in my family who disagrees with me on which one of these films is better. What is even the heck? So, in order to prove how right I am, I will need some confirmation from an expert, like the Nostalgia Critic. Wow, I really hope he agrees with me. I think I'll keep my choice quiet just in case. Wouldn't want to embarrass myself...any more than I already have.
So, there you have it. Those are my choices for some great Old Vs New episodes for the Nostalgia Critic. Like I said, these are suggestions, certainly not demands, which means he does not have to do any of them. But, hopefully, if he gets the urge to do another Old Vs New, perhaps he will find this list somewhere deep in the internet, point to one of my selections and say, "Hey, that might be a good idea!"
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I've said it before; I'll say it again. I don't like to tell anyone how to do their job, certainly not someone who I think is already doing a stellar job on their own. If you recall, a while back, I did a Top Eleven list of my favorite Nostalgia Critic episodes from his previous wave. Well, I'm visiting this subject again. You see, Nostalgia Critic does an occasional Old Vs New episode, wherein he compares older movies and their remakes. Some he covered were True Grit, King Kong and The Nutty Professor. He doesn't do these as nearly as I and probably other fans wish. Maybe it's because he can't think of any to do. I'm kidding. I'm sure he has his own list. But as I am always one to help, I thought I would share a list of suggestions that I hope will one day be covered by the Nostalgia Critic. And yes, I am doing a Top Eleven again, because that's what he does. And I will be calling him NC in the list to save me some typing. I'm not lazy. I just hate typing. Let's get started.
#11. 12 Angry Men (1957 & 1997) - This only makes Number 11 because I'm kind of cheating. Everyone knows the great 1957 film, 12 Angry Men, but I'm not sure if everyone knows about the TV movie from 1997. I have to say, I like both of them. Both had very strong casts, which is what the story relies heavily on. This also might be a challenge for the NC, because there is little to compare, other than those casts. Still, I wonder which one he would pick.
#10. Endless Love (1981 & 2014) - Yes, I know that the Cinema Snob already talked about the 1981 version of this film, and it was awful. The movie, not the review. And if anyone has seen the 2014 remake, you'll know that one was awful as well. But which was more awful? I guess instead of deciding which was the more superior film, NC will have to decide which is the more sucky film.
#9. Alfie (1966 & 2004) - Some people might say that this is an obvious choice. I mean, the original has Michael Caine. But you know what else had Michael Caine? Jaws the Revenge. And as penance, he must sit in anxious suspense as someone decides if maybe, just maybe, that remake is better than his original. Be careful what you say yes to, Mr. Caine.
#8. House on Haunted Hill (1959 & 1999) 1999 was not a good year for remakes of horror films. I refer you to NC's review of The Haunting remake. Yikes. But that wasn't the only one that was made that year. We also had a remake of the 1959 Vincent Price movie, House on Haunted Hill. I can't imagine NC thinking that it could be worse than that The Haunting remake, but we'll see. If I get my way.
#7. Ransom (1956 & 1996) - Raise your hand if you didn't know that Ransom of 1996 was a remake of a 1956 movie starring Glenn Ford, Donna Reed and Leslie Nielson. I'm raising my hand right now, by the way. Yes, despite the fact that Ransom is one of my favorite movies with my absolute favorite actor, Gary Sinise, I had no idea it was a remake. I've obviously never seen the 1956 one, so it should be interesting to see NC's take on both of them. And no fair giving the 1996 version more points because they were allowed to say the F word.
#6. The Poseidon Adventure (1972) & Poseidon (2006) - Believe it or not, I'm not sure which one I personally would choose as the better film. I mean, with one, you can make fun of Fergie's acting, but with the other, you have an excuse to use that South Park clip of the "A Morning After" song being sung by Cartman. It's anyone's game here.
#5. The Bishop's Wife (1947) & The Preacher's Wife (1996) - Well, Christmas is coming and NC always does something Christmas-y around that time. Why not pay tribute to Whitney Houston with this one? Unless he thinks The Bishop's Wife was better. Then, it's kind of a slap in the face to her. Okay, forget the Whitney angle. At least, we can also decide who is a better angel - Cary Grant or Denzel Washington. Might be a tie on that.
#4. Fame (1980 & 2009) - I want another Nostalgia Critic and Paw crossover. This might be a good contender for that. Plus, I'm hoping for some dancing. Aren't I always?
#3. Miracle on 34th Street (1947 & 1994) - Again, Christmas is coming, but I think we all know why this would be a good choice for an episode. That's right. More Mara Wilson. We really can't get enough of her, can we?
#2. The Fog (1980 & 2005) - This is another couple of films that I kind of like equally. By that, I mean I am not a huge fan of either of them. But if they happen to be on TV, I usually stop and start watching. It's that car wreck thing, I guess. And of course, the remake has Maggie Grace and Tom Welling. I want to see if NC can resist the urge to make any Lost or Smallville jokes. I know I wouldn't be able to do that.
#1. Clash of the Titans (1981 & 2010) - There is someone in my family who disagrees with me on which one of these films is better. What is even the heck? So, in order to prove how right I am, I will need some confirmation from an expert, like the Nostalgia Critic. Wow, I really hope he agrees with me. I think I'll keep my choice quiet just in case. Wouldn't want to embarrass myself...any more than I already have.
So, there you have it. Those are my choices for some great Old Vs New episodes for the Nostalgia Critic. Like I said, these are suggestions, certainly not demands, which means he does not have to do any of them. But, hopefully, if he gets the urge to do another Old Vs New, perhaps he will find this list somewhere deep in the internet, point to one of my selections and say, "Hey, that might be a good idea!"
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, November 14, 2014
Begin Again - Music Movie Review
Greetings,
Have you ever seen a trailer for a movie that makes you really excited to see it? That's how I felt about a movie called Begin Again. Saw the trailer and, despite an obvious and glaring flaw in my opinion, which we'll get into later, I was still very psyched to see the film. Of course, I had to wait for DVD because it wasn't showing in my area. So, was it worth the wait? Well, let's see.
Okay, the plot. The basic story of Begin Again is about two people. One of them is a guy named Dan Mulligan. He's this washed up record executive, whose life is pretty much falling apart. His family is breaking up and he loses his job, which leads him to do some serious drinking. The other person is a girl named Greta James. She is a young singer-songwriter, who isn't exactly confident about her talent but she thrives on being an authentic artist. One night, in a bar, whilst he is drunk, Dan sees Greta performing and immediately wants to record an album with her. It's actually kind of a cool sequence. She's up on stage with just a guitar, but he starts to hear more instruments. We even see the instruments behind her come to life and start playing themselves. Yeah, did I mention he was drunk? Anyway, Greta is hesitant and suspicious, and she's dealing with own crap having been dumped by her cheating boyfriend, Dave, who has gone on to be a successful musician. Eventually, they come together to try and make music in some unusual but effective ways. All the while, we see the goings on in their personal lives and what path they will choose to follow.
Alright, THAT was the plot BASICALLY. Now I must warn you that the structure is not nearly as simple. I didn't know this when I first watched it, but this movie kind of jumps back and forth in time without really telling the audience blatantly. You just have to figure it out for yourselves. With my first viewing, I didn't even notice this. With my second viewing, I started to get confused. I was thinking "Wait, are they together or not?" or "Is the boyfriend famous yet or not?" or "What the heck is going on?" Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad, but I was wondering about things. Then, I found out about the jumping around, and I felt better. It's actually not that confusing, once you realize what's going on, so you're welcome.
I guess it's time to talk about the cast. I will be very nice, but not the entire time. The good news is that the ladies in this are fantastic. Greta is played by Keira Knightley, and I have to say, whilst I usually enjoy her in movies, this might be my favorite performance of hers. See, honey, you can totes act in present day stuff! We also got Catherine Keener and Hailee Steinfeld as Dan's wife, Miriam, and daughter, Violet, respectively. Good times. Of course, we've come to expect greatness from Catherine Keener, but it's nice to see Hailee Steinfeld still going strong after her epic turn in True Grit.
And now for the boys. James Corden played Steve, Greta's best friend. I don't know much about this guy, but he certainly did well in this role as the lovable and supportive sidekick of sorts. I mean, it's usually a woman playing the...not-so-skinny best friend, right? Another thing is that they cast a lot of musicians in this to act. CeeLo Green plays a rapper named Troublegum (totally his real name!) who was discovered by Dan, and Mos Def plays, Saul, Dan's business partner. They both did well, but the big surprise was Adam Levine as Dave. I'm not exactly what you would call a fan of Adam Levine or his music, but, holy smokes, he was really good in this. I was worried it might seem like he was trying too hard to keep up with hi co-stars. That didn't happen, thankfully. He came off as a natural with some real potential. Frankly, if he decided to do some more movies, I wouldn't object.
And now for the bad news. I'm not sure if a film can be totally ruined if it has an actor in it that you do not like, but it can certainly knock a few points off. For example, I would have given this movie something of an 8.7 rating. But thanks to one major defect, it's a 6.3 at best. And that defect is Mark Ruffalo. Look, I'm sorry if you like him, but I am just SO not a fan of his. I've never really gotten him as an actor. Then, I heard some things he said in the real world and, whilst I try not to let that affect how I feel about someone's work, I just have to keep him at arm's length. So, yeah, to me, and this is just my opinion, it would have been a much better movie had they cast someone else. Edward Norton, perhaps. Wouldn't that have been ironic?
Anyway, let's move on to the music. It was actually pretty good. Of course, we got to hear Adam Levine sing, since he was playing a singer, but we also got to hear Keira Knightley sing. Much like how I was surprised by Adam's acting, I was just as surprised by Keira's singing. She was great. Okay, she's not Celine or Mariah as far as range goes, but I didn't expect that. And she flat out admits that she's not a singer. But she has this nice, sweet voice and it fit the music perfectly. The music, by the way, was mostly written by Gregg Alexander, who people remember for his 90's hit "You Only Get What You Give", as well as, Danielle Brisebois, former child actress and clearly, amazing adult musician. These two have been working together for awhile and have not lost their touch over the years. The music was great and also appropriate. It just fit so well with the story. Not surprising, considering who the director is.
The director is John Carney, the guy who gave us the charming beyond reason movie Once back in 2008. Admittedly, I do like Once better than this, but Begin Again is kind of like that movie with more money, bigger names and slightly less of that charm. Not to say it has none, but there was something so sweet and innocent about those non-actors trying to act while clearly appearing more comfortable when allowed to do the music thing. Begin Again is far more polished. They've got four Oscar nominees, for crying out loud, so there can only be so much simplicity. Still, you can feel what John Carney wants you to feel through his work.
So, in closing, I am actually going to recommend this movie. Yes, I have my issues with it, but the good things about it outweigh the bad ones. I especially recommend this if you are a music lover or someone who writes music or both. I am both and I enjoyed this.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Have you ever seen a trailer for a movie that makes you really excited to see it? That's how I felt about a movie called Begin Again. Saw the trailer and, despite an obvious and glaring flaw in my opinion, which we'll get into later, I was still very psyched to see the film. Of course, I had to wait for DVD because it wasn't showing in my area. So, was it worth the wait? Well, let's see.
Okay, the plot. The basic story of Begin Again is about two people. One of them is a guy named Dan Mulligan. He's this washed up record executive, whose life is pretty much falling apart. His family is breaking up and he loses his job, which leads him to do some serious drinking. The other person is a girl named Greta James. She is a young singer-songwriter, who isn't exactly confident about her talent but she thrives on being an authentic artist. One night, in a bar, whilst he is drunk, Dan sees Greta performing and immediately wants to record an album with her. It's actually kind of a cool sequence. She's up on stage with just a guitar, but he starts to hear more instruments. We even see the instruments behind her come to life and start playing themselves. Yeah, did I mention he was drunk? Anyway, Greta is hesitant and suspicious, and she's dealing with own crap having been dumped by her cheating boyfriend, Dave, who has gone on to be a successful musician. Eventually, they come together to try and make music in some unusual but effective ways. All the while, we see the goings on in their personal lives and what path they will choose to follow.
Alright, THAT was the plot BASICALLY. Now I must warn you that the structure is not nearly as simple. I didn't know this when I first watched it, but this movie kind of jumps back and forth in time without really telling the audience blatantly. You just have to figure it out for yourselves. With my first viewing, I didn't even notice this. With my second viewing, I started to get confused. I was thinking "Wait, are they together or not?" or "Is the boyfriend famous yet or not?" or "What the heck is going on?" Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad, but I was wondering about things. Then, I found out about the jumping around, and I felt better. It's actually not that confusing, once you realize what's going on, so you're welcome.
I guess it's time to talk about the cast. I will be very nice, but not the entire time. The good news is that the ladies in this are fantastic. Greta is played by Keira Knightley, and I have to say, whilst I usually enjoy her in movies, this might be my favorite performance of hers. See, honey, you can totes act in present day stuff! We also got Catherine Keener and Hailee Steinfeld as Dan's wife, Miriam, and daughter, Violet, respectively. Good times. Of course, we've come to expect greatness from Catherine Keener, but it's nice to see Hailee Steinfeld still going strong after her epic turn in True Grit.
And now for the boys. James Corden played Steve, Greta's best friend. I don't know much about this guy, but he certainly did well in this role as the lovable and supportive sidekick of sorts. I mean, it's usually a woman playing the...not-so-skinny best friend, right? Another thing is that they cast a lot of musicians in this to act. CeeLo Green plays a rapper named Troublegum (totally his real name!) who was discovered by Dan, and Mos Def plays, Saul, Dan's business partner. They both did well, but the big surprise was Adam Levine as Dave. I'm not exactly what you would call a fan of Adam Levine or his music, but, holy smokes, he was really good in this. I was worried it might seem like he was trying too hard to keep up with hi co-stars. That didn't happen, thankfully. He came off as a natural with some real potential. Frankly, if he decided to do some more movies, I wouldn't object.
And now for the bad news. I'm not sure if a film can be totally ruined if it has an actor in it that you do not like, but it can certainly knock a few points off. For example, I would have given this movie something of an 8.7 rating. But thanks to one major defect, it's a 6.3 at best. And that defect is Mark Ruffalo. Look, I'm sorry if you like him, but I am just SO not a fan of his. I've never really gotten him as an actor. Then, I heard some things he said in the real world and, whilst I try not to let that affect how I feel about someone's work, I just have to keep him at arm's length. So, yeah, to me, and this is just my opinion, it would have been a much better movie had they cast someone else. Edward Norton, perhaps. Wouldn't that have been ironic?
Anyway, let's move on to the music. It was actually pretty good. Of course, we got to hear Adam Levine sing, since he was playing a singer, but we also got to hear Keira Knightley sing. Much like how I was surprised by Adam's acting, I was just as surprised by Keira's singing. She was great. Okay, she's not Celine or Mariah as far as range goes, but I didn't expect that. And she flat out admits that she's not a singer. But she has this nice, sweet voice and it fit the music perfectly. The music, by the way, was mostly written by Gregg Alexander, who people remember for his 90's hit "You Only Get What You Give", as well as, Danielle Brisebois, former child actress and clearly, amazing adult musician. These two have been working together for awhile and have not lost their touch over the years. The music was great and also appropriate. It just fit so well with the story. Not surprising, considering who the director is.
The director is John Carney, the guy who gave us the charming beyond reason movie Once back in 2008. Admittedly, I do like Once better than this, but Begin Again is kind of like that movie with more money, bigger names and slightly less of that charm. Not to say it has none, but there was something so sweet and innocent about those non-actors trying to act while clearly appearing more comfortable when allowed to do the music thing. Begin Again is far more polished. They've got four Oscar nominees, for crying out loud, so there can only be so much simplicity. Still, you can feel what John Carney wants you to feel through his work.
So, in closing, I am actually going to recommend this movie. Yes, I have my issues with it, but the good things about it outweigh the bad ones. I especially recommend this if you are a music lover or someone who writes music or both. I am both and I enjoyed this.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, October 31, 2014
The Top 10 of the Top 100 Law & Order Episodes, The Genius of Dick Wolf and the Legacy
Greetings,
At long last, we have come to the end of Law & Order Month. And now for the final installment of my own personal Top 100 episodes if Law & Order. We have finally reached the Top 10. So, no hesitations. Let's get started...and finished.
#10. "By Perjury" (Season 19) - We have had a few screwed up criminals on this show and also some screwed up lawyers. Well, how about we combine the two. The story here is that an airline is being sued by several people. One of the plaintiffs ends up getting murdered. We learn that there is some dissention in the ranks, as some of the plaintiffs want to settle and some want to continue on. Of course, some of them become suspects, but it ends up leading to their attorney and another case he worked on. What he ends up getting charged with is rather interesting and the outcome, even more so. Although, there is one very memorable line in this. Just pay attention to Cutter when he goes to the guys office and tries to trick him by being friendly. Just listen to what he says concerning his "punishment" for acting up in court. I can't even repeat it, because I will start laughing and not be able to finish this list. Also, I will give a pat on the back to Dallas Roberts who played the attorney. You are good at playing obnoxious, my friend
#9. "Aftershock" (Season 6) - This was the final episode of Season 6, and the final episode for Claire Kincaid. Teardrop. It's also the only episode without a case. Several of the characters attend an execution (sounds like fun), and then they all go off and do their own thing. It's basically a chance for us to get more up close and personal than we ever have with them. Groundbreaking for the series. And, as someone who loves a good character study, this one was a standout.
#8. "Suicide Box" (Season 13) - A cop gets shot and a young black man is charged with the attempted murder. Sadly, we learn that he is motivated by the death of his older brother. The entire situation is terrible, especially when some shady police work comes to light. The good news is we get some Gregory Hines, acting as a defense attorney. No singing or dancing from him, of course, because they don't let you do that on this show. Yes, he is just another reminder that we never got our musical episode. This makes me turn to Broadway and say "Your move".
#7. "Myth of Fingerprints" (Season 12) - I am all for law enforcement doing whatever it takes to catch a bad guy. Unless, of course, what it takes is lying. Whilst investigating the opening scene murder, we end up in a case where a fingerprint technician, played wonderfully by Diana Scarwid, is called into question for testifying to evidence that was pretty much non-existent. The specific case that is being brought to light is the one that started Van Buren's road to her position of lieutenant. It's tough for her because, first of all, this woman was her friend, and second, she was always having to defend herself and her abilities when she got the job. This did not make things easier. And we do get another stellar performance from S. Epatha Merkerson. I know. Shocking.
#6. "Burn, Baby, Burn" (Season 11) - This episode features Mod Squad member himself, Clarence Williams III. I love this guy so much, mostly thanks to his subsequent work on Mystery Woman. But I digress. Here, he plays a guy who shoots a cop, and he also has a past that some consider questionable. It is part of his defense, though. Now, because the victim is a cop, there is a ton of tension in this episode. You can see the struggle between trying to get justice for one of their own and trying to do things the right way. It can't be easy.
#5. "Submission" (Season 18) - So what do we have here? Well, we've got some dogfighting, some winemaking, some betrayal, some crooked journalism, and, of course, some murder. Do you ever feel like ideas for episodes get added by way of Mad Libs? It's okay, though. It all worked out, because those are some interesting ingredients for a fantastic show. Sprinkle some David Harbour and Lara Flynn Boyle on top, and we are good to go.
#4. "True Crime" (Season 13) - So, a female rock singer is found dead with a ton of drugs in her system, though, it is not a suicide. She was, at one time, married to another rock singer, who also died years earlier. He was the leader of a band whose members were not fond of her. One of the former members of the band was actually an ex-boyfriend, who she talked her husband into firing. Got all that? Okay. Turns out, the cops get info from a former police officer who became a true crime author whose book was about the death of the victim's husband and whether it was suicide or murder. A lot of the episode focuses on his questionable tactics. He thinks that, now that he is no longer a cop, that pesky Constitution does apply to him when it comes to searching an apartment for evidence. I guess if you're a writer you can just straight up break the law and call it, I don't know, artistic license. Well, this is going to make my job as a writer so much more interesting.
#3. "Endurance" (Season 11) - After a suspicious fire breaks out in an apartment building claims the life of a disabled boy, his estranged parents are looked at as suspects. It is his mother, however, who turns out being guilty of a mercy killing. This whole episode is so incredibly heartbreaking, and even though it would be no matter what, I give a ton of credit to the performance of Meghan Follows. She does an amazing job of portraying this mother who loves her child so much but who is frustrated to the point of near insanity because she had no idea how to make his life better. She knows she can't, so she chooses to end his suffering. I can sit here and say I don't approve, but I don't know what it's like to be in that situation and what it can drive a person to do. And, if that's not bad enough, we get a reveal near the end, which might make you cry, if you weren't already.
#2. "Competence" (Season 5) - If I had to pick the best performance by S. Epatha Merkeson as Lt. Van Buren, it would be this one. Of course, I loved her work in Season 20 as a whole, but it was this one episode that gave us everything she had to offer. She was straight up amazing. The plot is that she gets held up at an ATM and must defend herself, which results in the death of a young kid. She gets put through the ringer, as it happens, but I was constantly wanting to come to her defense and shout "LEAVE VAN BUREN ALONE!: Yes, I did. But she had to go through it to come out stronger on the other side.
#1. "Smoke" (Season 13) - A famous person holds his baby out of a window and then we find out he is a child molester. I'll give you a minute to figure out what inspired this one. This episode is my favorite for so many reasons. Let's get the shallow thing out of the way first. The way that the detectives get info on this celebrity is through a website kind of like the Smoking Gun, but it's called - wait for it - Up Your Butt.net. I just... I can't even...who thought of that?! And everyone had to say it, except I think for Orbach, who I guess won the raffle that week. But, yeah, everyone else had to say it. And you sort of say to yourself as this episode goes on, "Wow, did I just hear a former U.S. Senator and the guy from The Killing Fields say 'Up Your Butt'? Mind blown!" That aside, there was some great guest acting in this episode as well. We get Adam Ferrara, Larry Miller, Lisa Valez a.k.a Lisa Lisa, a very good performance by a young actor named Jon Budinoff who plays the victim, and also David Zayas who has shown up a lot in the Law & Order universe and is one of the best character actors I've ever seen. Yeah, there are so many reasons why this is my favorite, and in a sea of about a millions or so episodes, I'd say that is an honor.
And there you have it. My Top Ten favorite episodes of Law & Order, preceded by the rest of the Top 100. Wow.
So, as this month draws to a close, a month I have worked on very hard but have also enjoyed immensely, I though I should take a moment to discuss one more thing. I can't let this time pass without mentioning the genius behind it all, Dick Wolf. I mean, I have such a major amount of respect for this guy. He has, essentially, created something of an empire, and it is his masterpiece. It is something so well put together that I doubt it will ever be matched. He made such a complex universe, full of every kind of character you can imagine, getting every kind of actor you can imagine to portray them. It was all inclusive, and, as I've said several times, it had the perfect balance so that everyone could enjoy it. All of these unique characters, who were so different from one another, all had their moments to shine. Everyone had an opportunity to be right and an opportunity to be wrong. No person, or group, or political party was seen as all right or all wrong. Looking back, you can see how difficult that was to do, especially in the entertainment industry. But Dick Wolf did it. I know I said it already, and I really don't use this word lightly, but the man is a genius.
When I decided to do this, I didn't realize how much thought I would be putting into this. I already knew a ton of stuff about the show, but really making myself think about the little things that build this huge thing made me realize what a legacy there is in this series. This is truly the perfect example of what a show should be. Build on a foundation of good writing, good acting, good stories and a good team behind it all, and there's no telling what may come of it. What came of this was my favorite show of all time.
So, I will finish this long, work filled but also joy filled month by simply saying thank you. Thank you to Dick Wolf and all the amazing people who worked so hard to give us twenty years of Law & Order. I will always be grateful.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
At long last, we have come to the end of Law & Order Month. And now for the final installment of my own personal Top 100 episodes if Law & Order. We have finally reached the Top 10. So, no hesitations. Let's get started...and finished.
#10. "By Perjury" (Season 19) - We have had a few screwed up criminals on this show and also some screwed up lawyers. Well, how about we combine the two. The story here is that an airline is being sued by several people. One of the plaintiffs ends up getting murdered. We learn that there is some dissention in the ranks, as some of the plaintiffs want to settle and some want to continue on. Of course, some of them become suspects, but it ends up leading to their attorney and another case he worked on. What he ends up getting charged with is rather interesting and the outcome, even more so. Although, there is one very memorable line in this. Just pay attention to Cutter when he goes to the guys office and tries to trick him by being friendly. Just listen to what he says concerning his "punishment" for acting up in court. I can't even repeat it, because I will start laughing and not be able to finish this list. Also, I will give a pat on the back to Dallas Roberts who played the attorney. You are good at playing obnoxious, my friend
#9. "Aftershock" (Season 6) - This was the final episode of Season 6, and the final episode for Claire Kincaid. Teardrop. It's also the only episode without a case. Several of the characters attend an execution (sounds like fun), and then they all go off and do their own thing. It's basically a chance for us to get more up close and personal than we ever have with them. Groundbreaking for the series. And, as someone who loves a good character study, this one was a standout.
#8. "Suicide Box" (Season 13) - A cop gets shot and a young black man is charged with the attempted murder. Sadly, we learn that he is motivated by the death of his older brother. The entire situation is terrible, especially when some shady police work comes to light. The good news is we get some Gregory Hines, acting as a defense attorney. No singing or dancing from him, of course, because they don't let you do that on this show. Yes, he is just another reminder that we never got our musical episode. This makes me turn to Broadway and say "Your move".
#7. "Myth of Fingerprints" (Season 12) - I am all for law enforcement doing whatever it takes to catch a bad guy. Unless, of course, what it takes is lying. Whilst investigating the opening scene murder, we end up in a case where a fingerprint technician, played wonderfully by Diana Scarwid, is called into question for testifying to evidence that was pretty much non-existent. The specific case that is being brought to light is the one that started Van Buren's road to her position of lieutenant. It's tough for her because, first of all, this woman was her friend, and second, she was always having to defend herself and her abilities when she got the job. This did not make things easier. And we do get another stellar performance from S. Epatha Merkerson. I know. Shocking.
#6. "Burn, Baby, Burn" (Season 11) - This episode features Mod Squad member himself, Clarence Williams III. I love this guy so much, mostly thanks to his subsequent work on Mystery Woman. But I digress. Here, he plays a guy who shoots a cop, and he also has a past that some consider questionable. It is part of his defense, though. Now, because the victim is a cop, there is a ton of tension in this episode. You can see the struggle between trying to get justice for one of their own and trying to do things the right way. It can't be easy.
#5. "Submission" (Season 18) - So what do we have here? Well, we've got some dogfighting, some winemaking, some betrayal, some crooked journalism, and, of course, some murder. Do you ever feel like ideas for episodes get added by way of Mad Libs? It's okay, though. It all worked out, because those are some interesting ingredients for a fantastic show. Sprinkle some David Harbour and Lara Flynn Boyle on top, and we are good to go.
#4. "True Crime" (Season 13) - So, a female rock singer is found dead with a ton of drugs in her system, though, it is not a suicide. She was, at one time, married to another rock singer, who also died years earlier. He was the leader of a band whose members were not fond of her. One of the former members of the band was actually an ex-boyfriend, who she talked her husband into firing. Got all that? Okay. Turns out, the cops get info from a former police officer who became a true crime author whose book was about the death of the victim's husband and whether it was suicide or murder. A lot of the episode focuses on his questionable tactics. He thinks that, now that he is no longer a cop, that pesky Constitution does apply to him when it comes to searching an apartment for evidence. I guess if you're a writer you can just straight up break the law and call it, I don't know, artistic license. Well, this is going to make my job as a writer so much more interesting.
#3. "Endurance" (Season 11) - After a suspicious fire breaks out in an apartment building claims the life of a disabled boy, his estranged parents are looked at as suspects. It is his mother, however, who turns out being guilty of a mercy killing. This whole episode is so incredibly heartbreaking, and even though it would be no matter what, I give a ton of credit to the performance of Meghan Follows. She does an amazing job of portraying this mother who loves her child so much but who is frustrated to the point of near insanity because she had no idea how to make his life better. She knows she can't, so she chooses to end his suffering. I can sit here and say I don't approve, but I don't know what it's like to be in that situation and what it can drive a person to do. And, if that's not bad enough, we get a reveal near the end, which might make you cry, if you weren't already.
#2. "Competence" (Season 5) - If I had to pick the best performance by S. Epatha Merkeson as Lt. Van Buren, it would be this one. Of course, I loved her work in Season 20 as a whole, but it was this one episode that gave us everything she had to offer. She was straight up amazing. The plot is that she gets held up at an ATM and must defend herself, which results in the death of a young kid. She gets put through the ringer, as it happens, but I was constantly wanting to come to her defense and shout "LEAVE VAN BUREN ALONE!: Yes, I did. But she had to go through it to come out stronger on the other side.
#1. "Smoke" (Season 13) - A famous person holds his baby out of a window and then we find out he is a child molester. I'll give you a minute to figure out what inspired this one. This episode is my favorite for so many reasons. Let's get the shallow thing out of the way first. The way that the detectives get info on this celebrity is through a website kind of like the Smoking Gun, but it's called - wait for it - Up Your Butt.net. I just... I can't even...who thought of that?! And everyone had to say it, except I think for Orbach, who I guess won the raffle that week. But, yeah, everyone else had to say it. And you sort of say to yourself as this episode goes on, "Wow, did I just hear a former U.S. Senator and the guy from The Killing Fields say 'Up Your Butt'? Mind blown!" That aside, there was some great guest acting in this episode as well. We get Adam Ferrara, Larry Miller, Lisa Valez a.k.a Lisa Lisa, a very good performance by a young actor named Jon Budinoff who plays the victim, and also David Zayas who has shown up a lot in the Law & Order universe and is one of the best character actors I've ever seen. Yeah, there are so many reasons why this is my favorite, and in a sea of about a millions or so episodes, I'd say that is an honor.
And there you have it. My Top Ten favorite episodes of Law & Order, preceded by the rest of the Top 100. Wow.
So, as this month draws to a close, a month I have worked on very hard but have also enjoyed immensely, I though I should take a moment to discuss one more thing. I can't let this time pass without mentioning the genius behind it all, Dick Wolf. I mean, I have such a major amount of respect for this guy. He has, essentially, created something of an empire, and it is his masterpiece. It is something so well put together that I doubt it will ever be matched. He made such a complex universe, full of every kind of character you can imagine, getting every kind of actor you can imagine to portray them. It was all inclusive, and, as I've said several times, it had the perfect balance so that everyone could enjoy it. All of these unique characters, who were so different from one another, all had their moments to shine. Everyone had an opportunity to be right and an opportunity to be wrong. No person, or group, or political party was seen as all right or all wrong. Looking back, you can see how difficult that was to do, especially in the entertainment industry. But Dick Wolf did it. I know I said it already, and I really don't use this word lightly, but the man is a genius.
When I decided to do this, I didn't realize how much thought I would be putting into this. I already knew a ton of stuff about the show, but really making myself think about the little things that build this huge thing made me realize what a legacy there is in this series. This is truly the perfect example of what a show should be. Build on a foundation of good writing, good acting, good stories and a good team behind it all, and there's no telling what may come of it. What came of this was my favorite show of all time.
So, I will finish this long, work filled but also joy filled month by simply saying thank you. Thank you to Dick Wolf and all the amazing people who worked so hard to give us twenty years of Law & Order. I will always be grateful.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Law & Order Character Profile: Kevin Bernard
Greetings,
Even though getting new characters on Law & Order was something we were more than used to, I still looked forward to when someone new was coming to the show. So, when it came to the last new character we were going to get, I'd think they would get someone really fantastic upon whom to bestow that honor. Well, I thought correctly. Join me now as I discuss the final Law & Order main character, Kevin Bernard.
Kevin Bernard was portrayed by Anthony Anderson from the middle of Season 18 to the end of Season 20. I don't think they ever did this, but he actually came in for the last episode of Detective Green, the man he would replace. In fact, at the time, he was working IAB. For those playing the home game, that stands for the Internal Affairs Bureau. They investigate crimes that may or may not have been committed by their fellow police officers. Hmm. That can't make them very popular. In fact, the first time see him, he's there to investigate Green. Yeah, we got off to a rocky start there. Who would have guessed that this would have led him to working in Homicide and being quite a likable character?
Bernard seemed to be a bit more "by the book" than his partner, but that's expected. It gives a good balance and probably makes it easier for some good cop/bad cop shenanigans. Eventually, Bernard and Lupo develop a good friendship, but they do disagree on quite a few issues. I mean, they obvious weren't seeing eye to eye in that first episode, which was before they were even partners. Not because Lupo was trying to help out Green, whilst Bernard was investigating him, but because Lupo brought up that he wanted to get a dog, and Bernard said he didn't like dogs. Oh, no. We're going to have a problem. But he apparently has a good excuse. When he was in Catholic school, the kids gave him the nickname of "St. Bernard". Okay, I guess I understand. But wouldn't that make you hate kids? And if you must hate dogs, why not just the St. Bernard? Why blame all breeds for this? Alright, I'm getting off track. Moving on.
As I just said, Bernard went to Catholic school, and he continued to practice the religion into his adulthood. This most likely plays a part in his personal beliefs and politics. He appears to be Conservative on most issues. In Season 20, we learn that he is pro-life, and, when the subject of illegal immigration comes up, he says he understands why it bothers people so much. Growing up in Compton, he witnessed many jobs being lost to those immigrants because businesses wanted cheap labor, and he saw the effects of that on where he lived. We actually get a lot of references to his youth over the years. In one case, when the DA's office wants to charge a very large group of men fighting in the park as terrorists, he has few problems with it. As those men caused harm to innocent parties and were technically a gang, Bernard was reminded of how he thought gangs terrorized many innocent people and should be held responsible for it.
When it comes to Bernard's personal life, we do not learn much. However, when he was called on to testify during the trial, it was revealed that he had a son, but he does not have a relationship with him. The reason is because the mother was involved with someone else when the child was conceived, so the paternity was called into question. But, even though it was proved to be Bernard's son, they all agreed to let him be raised by the mother and her husband. They thought it was what was best for the kid. I'm not sure I agree with that, but I guess I respect Bernard's decision to not want to disrupt his son's life.
I really like this character, and I really like Anthony Anderson as an actor. He just seems like so much fun in real life. And I have to admire him for taking on this role. The situation seems similar to when Dennis Farina had to replace Jerry Orbach after an eleven year run. Anthony Anderson was following Jesse L Martin, who had been on the show for nine years. Not easy, I'm sure, but he did an amazing job. And as the last new character we got on Law & Order, everyone certainly got the privilege of going out on a very high note.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Even though getting new characters on Law & Order was something we were more than used to, I still looked forward to when someone new was coming to the show. So, when it came to the last new character we were going to get, I'd think they would get someone really fantastic upon whom to bestow that honor. Well, I thought correctly. Join me now as I discuss the final Law & Order main character, Kevin Bernard.
Kevin Bernard was portrayed by Anthony Anderson from the middle of Season 18 to the end of Season 20. I don't think they ever did this, but he actually came in for the last episode of Detective Green, the man he would replace. In fact, at the time, he was working IAB. For those playing the home game, that stands for the Internal Affairs Bureau. They investigate crimes that may or may not have been committed by their fellow police officers. Hmm. That can't make them very popular. In fact, the first time see him, he's there to investigate Green. Yeah, we got off to a rocky start there. Who would have guessed that this would have led him to working in Homicide and being quite a likable character?
Bernard seemed to be a bit more "by the book" than his partner, but that's expected. It gives a good balance and probably makes it easier for some good cop/bad cop shenanigans. Eventually, Bernard and Lupo develop a good friendship, but they do disagree on quite a few issues. I mean, they obvious weren't seeing eye to eye in that first episode, which was before they were even partners. Not because Lupo was trying to help out Green, whilst Bernard was investigating him, but because Lupo brought up that he wanted to get a dog, and Bernard said he didn't like dogs. Oh, no. We're going to have a problem. But he apparently has a good excuse. When he was in Catholic school, the kids gave him the nickname of "St. Bernard". Okay, I guess I understand. But wouldn't that make you hate kids? And if you must hate dogs, why not just the St. Bernard? Why blame all breeds for this? Alright, I'm getting off track. Moving on.
As I just said, Bernard went to Catholic school, and he continued to practice the religion into his adulthood. This most likely plays a part in his personal beliefs and politics. He appears to be Conservative on most issues. In Season 20, we learn that he is pro-life, and, when the subject of illegal immigration comes up, he says he understands why it bothers people so much. Growing up in Compton, he witnessed many jobs being lost to those immigrants because businesses wanted cheap labor, and he saw the effects of that on where he lived. We actually get a lot of references to his youth over the years. In one case, when the DA's office wants to charge a very large group of men fighting in the park as terrorists, he has few problems with it. As those men caused harm to innocent parties and were technically a gang, Bernard was reminded of how he thought gangs terrorized many innocent people and should be held responsible for it.
When it comes to Bernard's personal life, we do not learn much. However, when he was called on to testify during the trial, it was revealed that he had a son, but he does not have a relationship with him. The reason is because the mother was involved with someone else when the child was conceived, so the paternity was called into question. But, even though it was proved to be Bernard's son, they all agreed to let him be raised by the mother and her husband. They thought it was what was best for the kid. I'm not sure I agree with that, but I guess I respect Bernard's decision to not want to disrupt his son's life.
I really like this character, and I really like Anthony Anderson as an actor. He just seems like so much fun in real life. And I have to admire him for taking on this role. The situation seems similar to when Dennis Farina had to replace Jerry Orbach after an eleven year run. Anthony Anderson was following Jesse L Martin, who had been on the show for nine years. Not easy, I'm sure, but he did an amazing job. And as the last new character we got on Law & Order, everyone certainly got the privilege of going out on a very high note.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Law & Order Character Profile: Michael Cutter
Greetings,
So, what does one do when they get a promotion and they are tasked with replacing themselves in their former job? Well, I bet that, either consciously or subconsciously, one may hire a "Mini-Me". Or, at least, a "Mini-Me" that more resembles them in their youth. Time for you to move on up Jack McCoy and let Michael Cutter take your place.
Michael Cutter was portrayed by Linus Roache from Season 18 to Season 20. And this actor is British, something I don't think we've ever had on Law & Order. I mean, they had them on Law & Order:UK, but that was the point. Of course, he hid that accent well, and you'd swear he was a native New Yorker. Now, I was just kidding about the "Mini-Me" thing...sort of. Cutter does actually remind me of a younger Jack McCoy, certainly in the way that he tends to look at the rules sometimes. By that, I mean he looks at the rules and pretty much says, "Yeah, maybe. Maybe not. I guess we'll just see".
I must say, though, it was rather entertaining to see him try and get away with some of this stuff, which he did occasionally. And it wasn't always small stuff either. There was the time he told Green and Lupo they had a search warrant when they didn't. And in the "Not at all about Scientology" episode, he convinced a suspect that he was a member of the religion, just to get the guy to confess. Then, there was the time that he kind of, sort of, in her words "pimped out" Connie Rubirosa when he saw that a juror was crushing on her. And can we ever forget that time he slipped into a Russian accent to convince a witness that he was a spy? Why would he do that? Well, he wanted to provoke the witness into threatening him so that Dr. Olivet would have to order the guy to take his medication...BECAUSE HE WAS SCHIZOPHRENIC! Yeah, no! That is just not right. At least, the guy got the help he needed. And Cutter got headbutted. It was fantastic.
You may be wondering to yourself "What kind of behavior is that? This guy is, after all, a lawyer in the District Attorney's office". Or is he? Yeah, that's another thing. We find out in Season 20 that he never got his Undergraduate Degree, because a few of his credits weren't recorded, but he still went through law school. In short, his entire legal career was called into question. But since he did do the work, the New York State Bar was just like "Whatever. He can be a lawyer".
Now, aside from that little incident, we don't learn much about Cutter's personal life. At least, not in present times. We do know that his parents are divorced, and his father, who he has had little contact with, left when he was ten. As far as politics go, I don't think he ever said what side he was on, straight out. Still, since he was pro-life, I always just assumed he leaned more towards the Conservative side. But who knows? And, speaking of personal lives, it is hinted at that he may have a thing for Connie Rubirosa, but nothing ever comes of it. That's sad. They would have been so cute together.
Oh, and I would be remiss to not mention the one time that he came within an inch of being murdered...in the courthouse bathroom. Use your own imaginations, but I believe it would have made for some embarrassing crime scene photos. Thankfully, Lupo and Bernard came to his rescue. By the way, I don't care if someone LIVES in the courthouse, this should teach us that even they should be subject to the metal detectors.
Look, as I said, I was kidding about Michael Cutter being a clone of Jack McCoy. Of course, because he was taking his job, there were bound to be some comparisons, even similarities. Still, he managed to stand out as his own character, and he was a fantastic one. It didn't hurt that I enjoy Linus Roache as an actor so much. I'm sure he could have just gone in there and been the new Jack McCoy, but he put forth an effort to be, despite the similarities, his own person. He had some big shoes to fill, but I can't think of anyone who could have done it better.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, what does one do when they get a promotion and they are tasked with replacing themselves in their former job? Well, I bet that, either consciously or subconsciously, one may hire a "Mini-Me". Or, at least, a "Mini-Me" that more resembles them in their youth. Time for you to move on up Jack McCoy and let Michael Cutter take your place.
Michael Cutter was portrayed by Linus Roache from Season 18 to Season 20. And this actor is British, something I don't think we've ever had on Law & Order. I mean, they had them on Law & Order:UK, but that was the point. Of course, he hid that accent well, and you'd swear he was a native New Yorker. Now, I was just kidding about the "Mini-Me" thing...sort of. Cutter does actually remind me of a younger Jack McCoy, certainly in the way that he tends to look at the rules sometimes. By that, I mean he looks at the rules and pretty much says, "Yeah, maybe. Maybe not. I guess we'll just see".
I must say, though, it was rather entertaining to see him try and get away with some of this stuff, which he did occasionally. And it wasn't always small stuff either. There was the time he told Green and Lupo they had a search warrant when they didn't. And in the "Not at all about Scientology" episode, he convinced a suspect that he was a member of the religion, just to get the guy to confess. Then, there was the time that he kind of, sort of, in her words "pimped out" Connie Rubirosa when he saw that a juror was crushing on her. And can we ever forget that time he slipped into a Russian accent to convince a witness that he was a spy? Why would he do that? Well, he wanted to provoke the witness into threatening him so that Dr. Olivet would have to order the guy to take his medication...BECAUSE HE WAS SCHIZOPHRENIC! Yeah, no! That is just not right. At least, the guy got the help he needed. And Cutter got headbutted. It was fantastic.
You may be wondering to yourself "What kind of behavior is that? This guy is, after all, a lawyer in the District Attorney's office". Or is he? Yeah, that's another thing. We find out in Season 20 that he never got his Undergraduate Degree, because a few of his credits weren't recorded, but he still went through law school. In short, his entire legal career was called into question. But since he did do the work, the New York State Bar was just like "Whatever. He can be a lawyer".
Now, aside from that little incident, we don't learn much about Cutter's personal life. At least, not in present times. We do know that his parents are divorced, and his father, who he has had little contact with, left when he was ten. As far as politics go, I don't think he ever said what side he was on, straight out. Still, since he was pro-life, I always just assumed he leaned more towards the Conservative side. But who knows? And, speaking of personal lives, it is hinted at that he may have a thing for Connie Rubirosa, but nothing ever comes of it. That's sad. They would have been so cute together.
Oh, and I would be remiss to not mention the one time that he came within an inch of being murdered...in the courthouse bathroom. Use your own imaginations, but I believe it would have made for some embarrassing crime scene photos. Thankfully, Lupo and Bernard came to his rescue. By the way, I don't care if someone LIVES in the courthouse, this should teach us that even they should be subject to the metal detectors.
Look, as I said, I was kidding about Michael Cutter being a clone of Jack McCoy. Of course, because he was taking his job, there were bound to be some comparisons, even similarities. Still, he managed to stand out as his own character, and he was a fantastic one. It didn't hurt that I enjoy Linus Roache as an actor so much. I'm sure he could have just gone in there and been the new Jack McCoy, but he put forth an effort to be, despite the similarities, his own person. He had some big shoes to fill, but I can't think of anyone who could have done it better.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Law & Order Character Profile: Cyrus Lupo
Greetings,
I am going to say something that applies to all the shows in the Law & Order franchise. I love when I see a familiar face show up in those opening credits. And after having to wait an extra long time to get to Season 18, I was so overjoyed to get one in that first episode. Looks like it's time to talk about Cyrus Lupo.
Cyrus Lupo was portrayed by Jeremy Sisto from Season 18 to Season 20. Yes, I was quite excited about this, because I am from the era of Clueless. And he was in that, in case you didn't know. I actually had been a fan of Jeremy Sisto's and his entire body of work for quite a while, so I was looking forward to seeing him and Jesse L. Martin together. That's right. For the first time, we were getting two, young, male cops partnered together. Thank you, Casting Director. Of course, that did only last for about fourteen episodes, but I'll take what I can get. Moving on.
When Cyrus Lupo first showed up, he was not just thrown into working in Homicide at the 27th precinct. Actually, he had been working overseas investigating terrorists groups and was called back when his brother, Thomas, died of an apparent suicide, which was brought on because he was dying of cancer. When it was discovered that his brother had some Kevorkian-style help, Lupo wanted to assist in the investigation, though considering the circumstances it was a conflict of interest or something. Eventually, due to more assisted suicides, he was able to get involved. By the end of that first episode, Lupo was partnered with Green and working Homicide. Goodie.
I said this before, but I really liked the chemistry that Lupo and Green had. They sort of reminded me of frat brothers, but the responsible kind who aren't obnoxious. Do those even exist? Then, once Green left and he was partnered with Kevin Bernard, that same comradery continued on with that relationship. Even though, I think, on certain issues, it was clear that Lupo and Bernard were not on the same page. Still good partners though. And obviously, good friends.
Actually, this stint working Homicide was not the first time Lupo had worked in the 27th. Early in his police career, he was a patrolman, which I think is like a beat cop. It was during that time that he had the misfortune of walking into a devastating brutal murder scene. He ended up having PTSD, which led to a drinking problem. In fact, he even was drinking when he testified in court. On another occasion, he fell asleep due to a hangover whilst on patrol, which led to the death of his partner, as he was not there to back him up. Yeah, don't drink, kids. But Lupo was so affected by this he stopped drinking and got himself some much needed help.
Much like with more than a few of his law enforcement brethren, Lupo sometimes thinks that it is A-okay to bend the rules a bit. Like emailing himself the contents of someone's phone without their consent. Um, yeah, no. I'm pretty sure that is not admissible in court. And there was that one time when he and Green entered a building without a warrant. Though I think that was Cutter's fault. Still, never trust a lawyer, boys. Also, his judgement wasn't always the best around. There was one time where he got involved, if you know what I mean, with a female victim who ended up being the guilty party. So, you're a detective, right? Shouldn't you just get one of those gut feelings? Who am I kidding? Guys don't always lead with their brains. As long as he learned his lesson. And since Lupo was never involved with that kind of situation again, I'd like to think he did.
One more thing about Detective Lupo is that he was taking law school night classes so he can become a lawyer. I did not even know they had night classes for that, but then I remembered, it's New York. They have everything. So, since he knows more stuff about the law than maybe your average detective, he sometimes lets that creep into his dealings with the DA's office. It is not always met well. There were a few cases of "You do your job; I'll do mine", and I suppose I can understand that. But he's just trying to help. Of course, when the last episode rolled around, he was still doing police work, but I like to think that Lupo became a very good lawyer one day. Because I have hope.
In closing, I have to say that I really enjoyed my time with Cyrus Lupo, and that was probably because I tend to enjoy Jeremy Sisto. It's kind of nice to follow someone from early on in their career right up until he gets cast on the best show ever. I'm happy to report that he fit in perfectly. He upheld the standard of great acting and gave us a memorable character.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I am going to say something that applies to all the shows in the Law & Order franchise. I love when I see a familiar face show up in those opening credits. And after having to wait an extra long time to get to Season 18, I was so overjoyed to get one in that first episode. Looks like it's time to talk about Cyrus Lupo.
Cyrus Lupo was portrayed by Jeremy Sisto from Season 18 to Season 20. Yes, I was quite excited about this, because I am from the era of Clueless. And he was in that, in case you didn't know. I actually had been a fan of Jeremy Sisto's and his entire body of work for quite a while, so I was looking forward to seeing him and Jesse L. Martin together. That's right. For the first time, we were getting two, young, male cops partnered together. Thank you, Casting Director. Of course, that did only last for about fourteen episodes, but I'll take what I can get. Moving on.
When Cyrus Lupo first showed up, he was not just thrown into working in Homicide at the 27th precinct. Actually, he had been working overseas investigating terrorists groups and was called back when his brother, Thomas, died of an apparent suicide, which was brought on because he was dying of cancer. When it was discovered that his brother had some Kevorkian-style help, Lupo wanted to assist in the investigation, though considering the circumstances it was a conflict of interest or something. Eventually, due to more assisted suicides, he was able to get involved. By the end of that first episode, Lupo was partnered with Green and working Homicide. Goodie.
I said this before, but I really liked the chemistry that Lupo and Green had. They sort of reminded me of frat brothers, but the responsible kind who aren't obnoxious. Do those even exist? Then, once Green left and he was partnered with Kevin Bernard, that same comradery continued on with that relationship. Even though, I think, on certain issues, it was clear that Lupo and Bernard were not on the same page. Still good partners though. And obviously, good friends.
Actually, this stint working Homicide was not the first time Lupo had worked in the 27th. Early in his police career, he was a patrolman, which I think is like a beat cop. It was during that time that he had the misfortune of walking into a devastating brutal murder scene. He ended up having PTSD, which led to a drinking problem. In fact, he even was drinking when he testified in court. On another occasion, he fell asleep due to a hangover whilst on patrol, which led to the death of his partner, as he was not there to back him up. Yeah, don't drink, kids. But Lupo was so affected by this he stopped drinking and got himself some much needed help.
Much like with more than a few of his law enforcement brethren, Lupo sometimes thinks that it is A-okay to bend the rules a bit. Like emailing himself the contents of someone's phone without their consent. Um, yeah, no. I'm pretty sure that is not admissible in court. And there was that one time when he and Green entered a building without a warrant. Though I think that was Cutter's fault. Still, never trust a lawyer, boys. Also, his judgement wasn't always the best around. There was one time where he got involved, if you know what I mean, with a female victim who ended up being the guilty party. So, you're a detective, right? Shouldn't you just get one of those gut feelings? Who am I kidding? Guys don't always lead with their brains. As long as he learned his lesson. And since Lupo was never involved with that kind of situation again, I'd like to think he did.
One more thing about Detective Lupo is that he was taking law school night classes so he can become a lawyer. I did not even know they had night classes for that, but then I remembered, it's New York. They have everything. So, since he knows more stuff about the law than maybe your average detective, he sometimes lets that creep into his dealings with the DA's office. It is not always met well. There were a few cases of "You do your job; I'll do mine", and I suppose I can understand that. But he's just trying to help. Of course, when the last episode rolled around, he was still doing police work, but I like to think that Lupo became a very good lawyer one day. Because I have hope.
In closing, I have to say that I really enjoyed my time with Cyrus Lupo, and that was probably because I tend to enjoy Jeremy Sisto. It's kind of nice to follow someone from early on in their career right up until he gets cast on the best show ever. I'm happy to report that he fit in perfectly. He upheld the standard of great acting and gave us a memorable character.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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