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Swing Shift (1984)
Hollywood Values
Husband leaves California home to defend his country in World War 2. While he is risking his life overseas, his wife back home has carnal relations many times with a pretty boy musician she meets. Husband comes home to find his wife has betrayed him. He is naturally devastated.
Movie portrays the philandering wife sympathetically and passes no judgment on her betrayals. Movie makes no effort to explore the emotional devastation that the husband has experienced. It is much more concerned with the poor unfaithful wife and her adulterous lover.
Movie fails to consider the fact that millions of women remained faithful to their soldier husbands in times of war. Movie fails to consider the possibility that men and women may become close friends and provide each other emotional support without engaging in sexual relations. Movie is literally about nothing but sex between a bunch of people who are not married, and one who is married - to someone else.
I cannot recall a movie which better exemplifies the immoral value system of Hollywood.
Law & Order: Paranoia (1995)
Only In Hindsight . . .
From their first introduction, L&O was always fairly coy about the relationship between McCoy and Kincaid, and to me it only became explicit several episodes after this one, at the end of season 6, in that great episode "Aftershock" where Kincaid is killed by a drunk driver.
However, in the last few seconds at the very end of this episode we get a big clue, which only in hindsight did I recognize and appreciate.
In discussing paranoia, the subject (and title) of this episode, DA Adam Schiff says to Jack McCoy and Claire Kincaid: "A little paranoia could be the answer to a long life." And then: "How much does anyone really know about the person sharing his bedroom?"
And at this last statement, McCoy's eyes get wide as he immediately looks over toward Kincaid as they leave Schiff's office. It's only a second or two, and easy to miss, but oh so telling if you detect it.
And there we have it. Only in hindsight do we know that McCoy and Kincaid are living together, and then the significance of McCoy's reaction to Schiff's statement becomes clear..
Only after having watched every episode in this series more than once have I finally appreciated how often L&O dropped little breadcrumbs like this about the personal lives of the characters. And since L&O took pains in trying to keep the "law and order" prominent and the private lives way in the background, each of these little crumbs is that much more precious. This one is a good one.
Anyway, it's a good episode. Sandy Duncan really shines as the defense attorney.
Recommended!
Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Semi-Detached (2004)
Goren Reveals a Killer's Heart - And His Own
I did not understand the title of this episode until the end. I thought it had something to do with the killer or maybe even the victim.
It didn't.
To fully understand this episode, you need to watch to the very end, to Goren's heartbreaking last line - which is pure brilliance, IMO.
I like Law & Order CI a lot, and I think there are a lot of terrific episodes. But this one might be my favorite.
Highest recommendation.
Law & Order: Impossible Dream (2022)
Theranos - Ripped From the Headlines
Like in the old days, this plot is ripped from the headlines, and revolves around a fraudulent IPO for a fraudulent start-up company pushing a fraudulent medical diagnostics test - lust like Theranos. For the CEO, they even cast an actress (Rachelle Lefevre) who bears a resemblance to Elizabeth Holmes, CEO of Theranos (right down to the same shade of lipstick!).
Also like in the old days, they added some twists that veer far away from the facts behind the headlines - like the murder itself, and the CEO's ultimate battered woman defense.
As for the show . . .
The acting was uneven. The detectives are good. The attorneys not so much - especially the junior ADA who looks like a deer in the headlights too often. I am surprised that Hugh Dancy is not very good here, but he just isn't. There is also a guy playing a mechanic whose acting was . . . Terrible.
The dialog left something to be desired, too. The opening scenes before the credits were good, but things deteriorated from there. The editing also needs improvement.
The story was OK , , , except the plot element which cinched the case was preposterous (having the defendant exposed by telling a gratuitous and easily disprovable lie on the witness stand).
The overall effect is quite choppy. Not at all smooth like seasons 1-20. Needs some work. I hope episode three is better.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent: The Good Doctor (2001)
Not Just Ripped From the Headlines - Ripped From Reality
There are plenty of other reviews here which recap the plot. I just wrote to note that this episode was pretty clearly based on the murder of Gail Katz in 1985 by her husband, Dr. Robert Bierenbaum. Bierenbaum was tried and convicted in 2000, but he continued to claim innocence until 2020 when he finally confessed during a parole hearing. His release date is scheduled for June 2022.
Many L&O episodes were "ripped fom the headlines." But usually they eventually veer off from the facts of the case behind the headline. This one, however, follows the real case extremely closely. Everything from the way the murder is done, to how the body disappears, to the discovery of a corpse who turns out not to be the victim, to even a witness in a Manhattan bagel shop. Sure, they changed a few things (especially about the victim and the motive), but if you watch this episode, you can skip the Wikipedia article about the original murder.
Anyway, the acting is strong as usual, especially in this case: by Courtney Vance as ADA Ron Carver; by Penny Balfour as a woman who falls under the Doctor's spell (she played a similar part in the original L&O episode "Hubris"); and by an actor whom I could not identify who played a bagel shop owner and witness. Production values are high. Dialog is clever - notably in the way Goren manipulates a judge into granting a dubious warrant application.
Recommended.
Law & Order: Censure (1994)
Claire Kincaid is Too Young
In this episode, we find out more more of Claire Kincaid's backstory - namely that she worked for, and had an affair with, a judge before joining the DA's office. This isn't the only previous job they mention in various episodes - an earlier episode revealed that she clerked for a different judge - and BTW these judicial clerkships are generally at least year long gigs.
The problem is that Jill Hennessy was just barely 25 when this episode was filmed, and Claire Kincaid certainly doesn't look any older than that. Generally one graduates from law school at age 25. How did she get all of this judicial clerking experience AND then subsequently spend anough time in the DA's office to rise to an ADA sitting second chair on 1st degree murder trials at her age? Not possible. Even being generous, she would have had to have been at least four or five years older.
I can get past her romantic affair here with a judge who was nearly 30 years her senior, and her subsequent romantic relationship in seasons 5 and 6 with Jack McCoy who was also nearly 30 years her senior. Maybe that's just how she rolled. But she is just way too young to have the position she has, and especially if she had two or more judicial clerkships before ever even joining the DA's office, as this episode indicates.
As for the episode . . . It's OK, nothing more than that, especially because the unconvincing ending just seems to come out of nowhere since they're running out of time.
Law & Order: Discord (1993)
Life's a Funny Old Dog
This is an entertaining episode, though perhaps with an unconvincing conclusion. But I just want to write about one element.
About three quarters of the way into the episode, EADA Stone (Moriarty) effectively dismisses ADA Kincaid (Hennesy) for a mistake she made that seriously jeopardized their case. Later, he rethinks this and gives her a second chance.
So she remained on as Stone's assistant through the end of season 4, and then becomes EADA Jack McCoy's (Waterston) assistant (and lover) in seasons 5 and 6 when he replaces Stone. But in this position and with this relationship, at the end of season 6 she dies prematurely and tragically.
But what if Stone really had dismissed her? The whole trajectory of her career and life would have changed. She probably never becomes McCoy's asst when he replaces Stone. And she might very well be alive today.
As Jack McCoy said ruefully to former ADA Jamie Ross in a later episode in season 10 ("Justice") . . . "Life's a funny old dog."
Maverick: Gun-Shy (1959)
A Masterpiece
I almost never give an episode of anything ten stars. In fact, this might be the first one ever. But it deserves it. It's a national treasure.
As others have mentioned, this is an absolutely brilliant send up of "Gunsmoke" - particularly the black-and-white show of the late 50s, of which I'm a big fan. You'll find someone parodying practically every character of that show, but my favorite is the guy who plays the Chester character - Deputy Clyde Diefendorfer. He even sounds like Dennis Weaver, and has his mannerisms down pat. He has a limp like Chester . . . But it's because someone stepped on his foot that morning. LOL. And like Chester, he's obsessed with coffee and always calls the Marshall "Mr. Dooley."
Like another reviewer, I spotted the convertible WAAAAAAAY up the street in the background, a little over halfway through the episode. Had to be intentional because there are so many other little gems stuck in this episode. One of my favorites is a scene between "Mort" and the Doc where they discuss strangers who have passed through town, and Mort mentions this strange gunfighter who was handing out business cards . . . A reference to "Have Gun, Will Travel."
The plot? Who cares. It's really just an excuse to show us the Maverick version of Gunsmoke.
I give this epsisode my highest recommendation, especially if you like Maverick and/or the Gunsmoke of the 1950s.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Dead Ringer (1966)
Four More Episodes and It Was Time for This Show to End
No one likes it when you criticize anything about a beloved show like Perry Mason, and give it less than 5 or more stars. Sorry, you'll have to downvote this review then.
Watch this episode next to an episode from the 1st season, and the changes are striking. Barbara Hale, so lovely in the first season, looks here like the mid-40-ish mother of teenagers which she is. It looks like Burr had put back on all the weight he originally lost nine years earlier to get the role in the first place, and the old man haircut they gave him the last season did not help. Seeing him doubling as the portly cockney sailor emphasizes the issue - he could have never been mistaken for that overweight bum in season one. Paul Drake, who would pass away 5 years later, looks somewhet better, but still looks unhealthy.
To me, it's kind of sad to see, and it's just as well that they wrapped this show up four episodes later.
As for the story . . . Other than the trick of having Burr play two parts, examining himself on the witness stand, there really isn't much here. A lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. Some ridiculous plot elements - including what falls out of someone's pants during "The Reveal." And it almost seems like they flipped a coin at the end to decide who the killer was ging to be. Sure, it's fun watching Burr playing two such opposite characters. But once you get past that . . . Meh.
The Last Lullaby (2008)
Good Acting Covering for Weaker Plot with Holes
Don't worry - no serious spoilers here. But better safe than sorry, right?
So it's another hitman film. But since it's from 2008, it was actually made before the recent spate of hitman films. The story has a few twists and turns, but the basic elements of the hitman-goes-straight cliche are all there.
Where the movie shines is in the fine acting all around. Tom Sizemore's personal demons aside, he always has been, and remains, a very fine actor. What his career might have been! And he is very good here. Sasha Alexander also does a fine job, and is very easy on the eyes, too. Supporting actors are outstanding, especially the underrated Jerry Hardin and Bill Smitrovich.
The directing and cinematography are efficient and more than competent. I wonder what ever happened to Mr. Goodman, as he does a fine job here, but it appears to be the last of only two films he ever directed, and nothing since 2008.
Where things fall apart are in the plot. Too many unbelievable elements, starting principally with Ms. Alexander's character.
No woman - and I mean NO woman - as drop-dead gorgeous, classy, intelligent and decent as her character, would be alone and lonely unless that is exactly what she wanted. In which case, the over-the-top way she just invites Tom Sizemore's stranger character into her life at the drop of a hat just does not ring true at all. It just wasn't at all believable to me. If she wasn't so gorgeous, or if she was nasty, or a drunk, or self-loathing, or dimwitted then **maybe ** I could buy it. But this woman was darn near perfect and would have had her pick of the litter years before Tom Sizemore's character ever showed up.
There were other unbelievable plot elements, such as the opening sequence, and a few threads were left untied. Not the worst story ever by any means, but not good enough for the acting to bring this above six stars for me.
The Waltons: The Fire (1973)
Typical Hollywood
What a non-surprise to see Hollywood once again present those who believe in God's creation as mean-spirited, violent, drunken, hypocritical loons. When I saw what this story was about, I knew it was coming. I just didn't know that the cardboard-character negative sterotyping would be even worse than I could have imagined. Instead of striving for any kind of understanding and presentation of differing viewpoints, we get this piece of lazy writing. Pathetic.
Law & Order: Chosen (2003)
One of the Very Best L&O Episodes
First off, Peter Jacobson in his first of three appearances as defense lawyer Randy Dworkin is a total revelation. He has had a nice acting career, particularly on "House," but his talent is on full display here and IMO, he deserved a much brighter star. His performance is reason enough to watch this episode.
I'm not going to rehash the plot. You can read other reviews here for that. Or better yet - just watch the episode for yourself, which I highly recommend.
In addition to the excellent acting all around, I want to complement the writer and director on handling a delicate subject with deft and class. And for giving Jack McCoy one of the best closing arguments that he ever makes. As Peter Jacobson's character Randy Dworkin says of McCoy, better than him they do not come. Top of the food chain.
Finally, I want to dispel the ridicuous notion offered by some other reviewers that this episode is anti-Semitic. The Jewish creator/producer and Jewish writer may disagree with that allegation, along with the Jewish actors who played the judge, the defense attorney, the lead detective and the defendant in this episode. And frankly, without spoilng anything, the entire point of the episode was to uphold the (accurate) idea that Jewish-Americans are excellent American citizens, and do not slavishly fall prey to every appeal that is supposedly made on behalf of Israel. This is not anti-Semitic; it's actually quite pro-Semitic!
The Twilight Zone: The Changing of the Guard (1962)
Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity
There are already 37 reviews here for this outstanding episode of The Twilight Zone so I will not add yet another plot summary. I just want to add what appears to me to be a small irony. In the story, Donald Pleasance' character quotes the educator Horace Mann: "Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." IMO, Pleasance amazing performance in this episode, which has lived on to touch the hearts and minds of new viewers for nearly 60 years now, is HIS "victory for humanity." RIP.
Law & Order: Fluency (2005)
New ADA Borgia and A Ham-Handed Tribute to The Third Man
This episode is ostensibly about a counterfeiter who makes and dstributes a fake flu vaccine during an epidemic when the real vaccine is hard to come by. Sitting here in my 60s, but still not eligible for the Covid vaccine, this held particular interest for me. Fortunately, I haven't heard any tales of counterfeit Covid vaccine.
But this is a review, not a recap, so I will leave it to the viewer to see how that is all resolved. Instead, I want to comment on two elements on this episode.
The first is the introduction of the new ADA, Alexandra Borgia, after the unceremonial firing of ADA Southerlyn in the previous episode. Personally, I think this was handled excellently. They quickly established that she is personable, professional, smart, and no pushover. They also established that she IS a rookie in the big-time homicide prosecution biz, and still has some things to learn. Full disclosure: ADA Borgia was my favorite ADA in the entire L&O run, so that might color my review here.
Less well handled was the obvious parallel of this plot and the plot in the great classic film, The Third Man, starring Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles. I think this was probably tough for the writers, as they could not be sure how many viewers had seen this underrated film and would immediately recognize the parallels. Still, I think they handled this very ham-handedly by pretty much spelling out every detail of that film in an extremely improbable courtroom cross examination. Why the perp would ever admit that he was so familiar with that film makes zero sense - he should have denied all knowledge of it. I found the whole thing hard to watch without cringing.
Anyway, that brings down what would otherwise have been a 7 star or even an 8 star episode, to a mere five stars. If you've never seen The Third Man, then you might like this episode better that I did. But in that case . . . I recommend just watching The Third Man instead.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Enemy Within (2001)
Only Ones L&O Hates More than the Rich are the Poor Folks Around the Rich
Another reviewer notes how very often the rich are cast in an unfavorable light on Law & Order's various franchises. And that's true.
But there is one group which is unvariably cast in an even more unfavorable light. The relatively poor folks who work for the rich or are related to the rich. The trophy wife with a prenup. The headmaster of the private school for the rich kids. The orphaned child whose rich parent denies them. The affirmative action student at the private school with the rich kids. The parent trying to get their kid into the ritzy private school. The surrogate mother for the barren rich folks (and her husband). And . . .
SPOILER ALERT . . .
the caretaker for the rich.
Suffice to say that I found this plot extremely unconvincing , , , and more than a little annoying. One of the weakest episodes in the first season, IMO. YMMV.
Bat Masterson: Mr. Fourpaws (1960)
A Doggone Good Episode
Bat makes a new friend in the form of a dog, Mr. Fourpaws, when he comes upon two men on horseback who shoot and kill the dog's owner. The problem is that Bat is not able to get a good look at the killers to see who they are, and he hopes that Mr. Fourpaws can help him find them.
I think it's obvious pretty early on who the killers are. And the story includes the old trope of a sheriff who is under the influence of wealthy and important townsfolk, causing him to forego his lawful duties. So there are some weaknesses in this tale of the tail, IMO. However, Paula Raymond (who appeared in three Masterson episodes) plays a particularly smart and pretty lady, and that compensates for some of the plot weaknesses.
But never mind all that. I'm a sucker for dogs, and this one is loyal, smart as a whip, and adorable. He makes this episode worth the watch all by himself. I enjoyed it!
Perry Mason: The Case of the Singular Double (1960)
Connie Hines
This episode features the drop-dead gorgeous Connie Hines in the role of Mason's client, about three months before she became famous as Carol Post on "Mr. Ed." So we get to see her a lot.
The end.
Star Trek: The Way to Eden (1969)
They're not Hippies - They're the Manson Family
MANY reviews here say that the group which is featured in this episode are supposed to represent hippies of the future.
I disagree.
This episode aired in February 1969. It would be nearly ten months before anyone ever heard of Charles Manson and his "family." But the group that is featured in this episode paralled the Manson family in so many ways. Young people under the spell of an older, charismatic, and murderous, madman. Animated by music. Seeking to live in an enclave separted from the rest of humanity. No compunction about stealing transportation vehicles belonging to others. Some of them ready and willing to murder everyone aboard the Enterprise on their leader's orders.
They are not harmless hippies. They are dangerous cult members, under the spell of an evil madman. They are the Manson Family of the 23rd Century.
After posting this, I saw that another review observed pretty much the same thing. Good job! But his dates are wrong. This episode aired in February 1969 - not 1971 - and was in fact five months before the Tate/La Bianca murders, and ten months BEFORE the police figured out that the Manson family was behind those crimes, not afterwards. So the writers could not have intended it to represent the Manson family; they were just prescient.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Potted Planter (1963)
A Nice Twist
First, I want to correct some misinformation in another review. Perry's client is NOT Martin Walden, played by Robert Bray. Martin Walden is the murder victim. Instead, Perry's client is Nelson Tarr, played by Joe Maross.
Next, I want to note that this episode has a very nice cast of familiar faces - leaving the viewer with plenty of suspects. Mark Goddard, Constance Ford, and Diane Brewster portray but a few of our suspects (we know that Joe Maross' character is innocent, because . . . Perry is defending him!).
The plot is a bit complicated with all of the various characters and their relationships, so I won't write the lengthy summary which would be necessary to do that justice.
Instead, I will note that the victim was a very unpleasant person, as in MANY Perry Mason episodes, who pretty much got what he deserved. But that also means he did a lot of folks wrong, so we have a lot of suspects. Sometimes on Perry Mason we can sympathize with the killer when the victim is such a rotten person. Will that be the case here? You'll have to watch to find out - as answering that would be too big of a clue.
What makes this episode somewhat special is that it has one of the better twists to be found in any Perry Mason episode. If you see it coming, you're more clever than I am. But we find out something about the victim very late in the episode due to Perry's big brain putting some clues together and Paul Drake uncovering some facts. And once we do, the true motive for the murder is revealed from left field, and at that point the likely culprits are winnowed down to only a couple of candidates.
Very good later episode. Recommended.
Law & Order: Atonement (1996)
Michael Imperioli Deludes Himself
Without rehashing the entire plot, the basic idea here is that a limo driver named Stivers, portrayed by Michael Imperioli pre-Sopranos, has a thing for hot model Sharon Lasko. However the feelings are not reciprocal, and the police and DA think that bitter jealousy drove him to murder her.
Or did it? Stay tuned for the late twist.
But what really makes this episode interesting to me is a throwaway bit of dialog between McCoy and Kincaid about 45 minutes in. From their first introduction, L&O was always fairly coy about the relationship between McCoy and Kincaid, and to me it only became explicit five episodes after this one, in that great episode "Aftershock" where Kincaid is killed by a drunk driver.
However, about 45 minutes into this episode we get the following dialog which is easy to miss or not properly appreciate:
Kincaid: Well, I think her behavior with Soames should have made things pretty clear even to Johnny Stivers.
McCoy: Men have a way of deluding themselves.
Kincaid: I hope you're not speaking from personal experience.
McCoy: Not recent. I hope.
And there we have it. Combined with the looks between McCoy and Kincaid during this exchange, it takes very little reading between the lines to get the point that they are in a relationship (something which would be confirmed once and for all five episodes later).
Only after having watched every episode in this series more than once have I finally appreciated how often L&O dropped little breadcrumbs like this about the personal lives of the characters. And since L&O took pains in trying to keep the "law and order" prominent and the private lives way in the background, each of these little crumbs is that much more precious. This one is a good one. And IMO, L&O was on a hot streak about this time, too - from this episode right on through the end of season 6.
Recommended.