gdvibe

Saw it on television and really enjoyed it. Actually I liked it better than Get Shorty, primarily since I can't stand Danny DeVito. I actually thought Get Shorty would have been better without him. And one really does not have to see "Shorty" to get this film.

But this film is clever and funny. Travolta does "cool" so well and he and Uma Thurman work so well together---recall their scenes together in Pulp Fiction.

The film works on a number of levels---a complex caper film where we never know who is trying to outsmart whom, a movie about how the business side of things has taken over the music business, and as a star is born story.

All themes are always interconnected so the viewer has to stay alert.

The direction is good. The film never lags and there are some nice angle shots and fancy editing which probably is influenced by music videos.

Be cool definitely is cool.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this show. Our comment was that it looks like Hollywood people actually can write. We prefer character driven shows and the characters are great. There is whimsy and great interplay.

The plot was complex but only because more than one story overlapped and the pilot should probably have been 2 hours instead of 90 minutes to help develop some of the themes and the characters, but there was no problem in following what was happening.

I hope the relationship between Mary and Raphael develops. She obviously wants more but sees herself as either not capable of such a relationship or because her job won't let her have a solid relationship.

But will she develop a relationship with detective Dershowitz? That would be interesting.

We look forward to the next episode.

I took this out not knowing anything about it. I was apprehensive when I saw the Coen brothers names since I am not a fan of their directing style. But Turturro really comes through.

This movie is a kind of collage with many influences. Many scenes reflect the influence of Fellini, and while the choreography was not Fosse influenced, I felt that the way dance was used does reflect a Fosse influence.

The use of music through the film was great and the music itself was great. A fantastic mix which perfectly reflected the story line.

The acting was great. It is always interesting to see people associated with certain kinds of roles play opposite to that. Gandolfini can show tenderness, and I almost did not recognize Aida Turturo who played Tony's sister on the Sopranos. And Mary-Louise Parker is always great.

In short a marvelous modern love story told in a post modern way. Very watchable.