ArronClohessy Reviews

The Wire (2002–2008)

WonderfulMagnificentDrama. You up? You should be.

[10/10 · 12 June 2007]

Even by the standards that HBO have set The Wire is a class above them all. This is the best drama that has ever been committed to film.

I've watched the first 3 seasons of the show, and I find it impossible to articulate how great this show is without resorting to words like incredible, amazing, fantastic, great. In fact they don't have a word to describe what has been achieved in the creation of The Wire.

First this show is different to anything else you might have seen. This has real substance, and an intelligence that you don't see on film or TV, or in the vast majority of books.

The Wire revolves around the drugs trade in the city of Baltimore, the crime that goes with it, and the various characters that make their living dealing with it. Every character has a depth that is sadly missing from most TV shows. The cops ain't always good, the drug associates ain't always bad, and the politicians are sometimes conflicted about being self serving weasels. I've found the show has more to do with the politics of life and the chains of command that are associated with that rather than crime itself.

Let me break it down for you.

THE WRITING: American TV shows always have great writing but this is different. The writing in a lot of their shows can hook you quite easily while it pursues the McGuffin as Hitchcock used to call it. It's like having a Big Mac. Great while your watching it but it doesn't fill you when walk away. But at the end of every season of The Wire you will walk away fully satisfied, and you will walk away educated. It is that good. Everyone remarks that it's like a great novel, and that was the first impression I got as I sat through the 1st Season. The intelligence of the show will also surprise you, and I think that the 1st season in particular is a valuable education in politics.

THE CAST AND ACTING: It's just an incredible job on the casting. So many great and varied parts have been filled by great actors who have brought a lot of depth and originality to their characters. Also, this is the only show I've seen where the majority of the actors, because it's set in West Baltimore, are black. I personally love the job that casting directors have, and if I was a casting director I'd be committing a lot of the faces from The Wire to memory.

DIRECTION AND CINEMATOGRAPHY: This is an area of The Wire where you don't notice the great work that's been done, because it's not intrusive. There are no camera shots just to show off, but every now and then you do notice some camera work and cinematography and you just go wow. In particular I'm thinking of some of the shots near the end of Season 3 that take place in the building where the construction work is constantly being delayed. The only time the show uses a montage is at the end of every season and this is a work of art, particularly the 1st Season's montage which is set to a great song.

SOUNDTRACK: The title track is a great song and they choose different cover versions of the song for each season. The cover for the first season being the best so far in my opinion. David Simon noted that they never use any music to drive the emotional power of any scene, and they only use music if it's coming from a source within a scene such as a car radio. But any music they do use has been chosen very well.

Now, in life we only have a limited time to spend, and to spend that time having the equivalent of a 24 hour full season Big Mac would be a waste of it. Instead you could watch a full season of The Wire in 12 or 13 hours be ecstatically entertained, get a free education and be fully satisfied when that montage kicks in at the end of a season.

Watch The Wire.

Prison Break (2005– )

Tightly Scripted, Interesting Characters and Logical Thinking.

[9/10 · 7 August 2006]

If the script for Prison Break was an actual prison there would be no escape because there are no obvious plot holes. This is a tightly scripted show where the writers have thought everything through, and what might look, at first, to be a cheesy subplot, inevitably turns out to be a piece of highly logical and highly entertaining drama.

I myself am only through the first half of season one, but every time I thought they were going in an illogical direction that would turn me off the show, the writers somehow pull it back. Political conspiracies in particular are hard to do unless they're centered solely on politics. Writers have a habit of creating an interesting story with involving characters only to find themselves with no logical reason for anything that occurred, and so they resolve it with a political, supernatural or extraterrestrial twist.

The casting is perfect, with mostly new faces, and the ever excellent Peter Stormare and Stacy Keach, and the very beautiful Sarah Wayne Callies. The Stand out performance would have to come from Robert Knepper as the slimy, Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell.

I can't vouch for how long the writers can maintain the momentum of the show, particularly with season two, but they've made the right choices so far. Excellent Show.

The Shootist (1976)

Death and Change

[9/10 · 7 May 2006]

This film directed by "Dirty Harry" director Don Siegel is probably the most important film in John Waynes career. Just like Johnny Cash's "Hurt" it seems to express the varied experience of his life and the circumstance in which he finds himself. As such, this film hasn't dated, and I doubt that it ever will.

"The Shootist" is an intimate drama about the inevitability of death and change, and how we choose to either fight it or accept it.

The direction, script and performances are superb and all aspects of the film are structured to support the main theme, the inevitability of change. At times, the film feels more like a dramatic play or a documentary. This is in some part aided by the occasional use of a hand held camera, but also by the intimacy of the performances.

This film is an important piece of work.

Boston Legal (2004–2008)

David E Kelly's Greatest Achievement

[30 April 2006]

If you have avoided Boston Legal because you are expecting more of the same inconsequential light hearted comedy, punctuated by terminally serious drama, don't avoid it any longer.

This show is funny, intelligent, insightful, and unique. Surprisingly, very surprisingly, the stand out performances come from the unlikely pairing of James Spader and William Shatner who have both crafted wonderfully interesting characters in Alan Shore and Denny Crane, and most of the heart of Boston Legal comes from the interaction of these two characters.

Most of all though, the characters in Boston Legal who constantly manipulate the truth as lawyers, earnestly search for the truth of their own circumstance and reality, and this makes for very interesting viewing.

Boston Legal is more like an hour long sitcom with substance, and I'd be surprised if any one who watched the show for even five minutes wouldn't want to watch it some more.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Enter The Sandman, But Only Once....

[9/10 · 21 April 2006]

This is a great movie in which Darren Aronofsky continues his very individualistic style of editing and direction, but in a completely different way than he did in Pi. As the movie progresses the direction and editing are conducted like a symphony to enhance your experience of the movie, and you will find yourself experiencing the same feelings as those of the characters. This is why you will only watch this movie once.

This movie is like experiencing a nightmare, and because it's so interesting you forget that you can just turn it off. I have only watched this movie once, and though I think it is a great film, I find myself unable to watch it again. This is the only time a movie has ever made me feel this way.

You won't even notice it happening, and......

The Cable Guy (1996)

Great Performance by Jim Carrey, in a Solid and Entertaining Movie.

[9/10 · 17 April 2006]

I saw this film when it first came out and I thought that it was woefully unfunny. However, I have since watched it a couple of times and I've enjoyed it more and more with each viewing.

This is one of Jim Carrey's best performances. He nails the comedy and the tragedy in his characterization of the socially inept cable guy who offers free cable to "Steven" Matthew Brodericks character.

This movie is just a solid piece of work. The great direction from Ben Stiller is commandingly inventive and he gets a great performance from Jim Carrey. I'd say the editing was a bitch, but they've done a fantastic job. The script is also deceptively good and well structured.

Basically, this movie will entertain you if you give it a chance.

Frasier (1993–2004)

The Best Sitcom TV Show Ever - Funny, Emotionally Grounded, Well Scripted, Farcical Comedy

[17 April 2006]

Don't be fooled - you don't need to know anything about fine wines, opera or scented bath salts to get a laugh out of this show.

From the first season to it's last the show has managed a level of consistency that no other sitcom could possibly match. Everything about this show is pure quality and because of this the show is highly re-watchable unlike many sitcoms of a similar quality. I have seen every single episode at least three times, and I still get a kick out of the ones I haven't seen in a while.

To deliver as many classics as this show has done requires talent, creative genius, luck and an unexplainable magic that allows all the choices made to be the right ones. This rarely happens in any artistic form, and I'm glad it did with Frasier.

What other TV show, book, play, etc could structure farcical comedy on a consistent basis without becoming cheap, unfunny and uninteresting? None.

Checking this show out on TV or buying the DVD will give you a glimpse of the 250+ episodes of consistently great entertainment that awaits the uninitiated. Flawless Perfection.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Incredibly Sad and Haunting Cinematic Fairy Tale

[9/10 · 16 April 2006]

This movie is a magnificent achievement when you consider that there was input from both Spielberg and Kubrick. I was sure the movie would have to be very disjointed, but to Spielbergs credit it is a very cohesive picture.

This film is a cinematic fairy tale, with a great story and interesting characters. The emotional impact of the movie will probably take you by surprise, and this may have been the reason that Kubrick entrusted Spielberg with the directing duties. However, Steven Spielberg doesn't resort to cheap sentimentality to involve you emotionally.

I would expect Stanley Kubrick to be very proud of the A.I. Spielberg has produced, because when the movie ends you are left with a feeling familiar to many of Kubrick's work, an uneasy and haunting feeling.

By the way, don't be alarmed by that salty discharge flowing from your eyes, it's perfectly normal.

Arrested Development (2003–2019)

One of the Funniest Comedies Ever.

[10/10 · 16 April 2006]

This is not an "occasional laugh comedy sitcom", this is an "if I don't stop laughing to take in another breath I'm gonna die...comedy sitcom."

This show is hilarious, but you need to view it from the start to get a grip on the characters and their predicaments. I watched a couple of episodes when it first began to air but I thought the show was Fox's attempt to be cutting edge like HBO so I quickly tuned out. Then I ignored it for a while but gave it another shot thereafter. I couldn't believe how funny the show was and I was surprised that I hadn't taken to it sooner.

It's well directed and structured, and the commentary from Ron Howard adds a lot of charm, humor and sense. The actors are perfect for their roles even the younger actors, and when I think about it there wasn't a single unnecessary or boring character even though the cast was so large.

The scenario's are great, and there is a running parody of the Iraqi war throughout the series. I suspect that many of the actors who were unknown before they starred in this show will go on to be very successful in other shows. Check it out on DVD.

The Color of Money (1986)

Character Driven, Road Movie About Raw Explosive Talent

[9/10 · 16 April 2006]

Paul Newman's character "Fast" Eddie Felson, last seen as a wildly talented pool player in 1961's The Hustler, discovers "Vincent" an incredibly talented pool player, played with explosive energy by a young Tom Cruise.

This is essentially a character driven road movie that could be set around any sport or discipline where prodigal talent is seen as an opportunity to be exploited. Although, the pool hall settings and Scorsese's direction make it a whole lot cooler than a movie about bingo.

Scorsese's direction has never been better or more unselfconscious. The camera work is beautiful and intricate, but it never distract's your attention from the movie itself.

Frankly, this movie is just cool, very entertaining and highly re-watchable. Everything from the performances to the music is just the way it should be. Enjoy.

Inside the Actors Studio (1994– )

Alway's Interesting, Sometimes Inspired.

[30 May 2005]

Inside The Actors Studio took me by surprise, I was expecting the host James Lipton to brown-nose celebrity's as per the Will Ferrell sketch. Instead the host gives an insightful and intelligent interview with various members of the Acting & Film Making community.

You've probably seen the list of guests, made up of some of the most famous but more importantly talented actor's and directors. Very infrequently the guests I suspect were chosen because of their personal interest to Mr Lipton.

His interview technique is amazing, he's probably the first interviewer I've seen with perfect timing. He tends to probe his guests to offer up a side of themselves or an experience that other people or they themselves may not even be aware of or want to admit to. Unlike many interviewers he does not back off when he hit's a nerve, instead he cajoles the guest to open up. He generously offers the guests an opportunity to make interesting comments or jokes, sometimes at his own expense.

Every episode is interesting even when it features an artist who you may not find interesting. I hope you'll be surprised by this show too.