Spenser: Small Vices

I remember watching the "Spenser: For Hire" tv series with Robert Urich and Avery Brooks. I loved Urich's refined approach to the character and Avery Brooks played the sidekick "Hawk" as one smooth, tough, powerful character (in fact, he played it so well that they made a spin-off tv show based on Hawk). The show was a success for the network and was popular as an action series. There was a suggestion of romance between Spenser and "D.A. Silverman", but after the first few episodes they were nothing more than friends and professional associates, and the focus shifted from developing their romance to giving us gunfights and car chases.

Joe Mantegna is a terrific actor, and in the role of Spenser he brings a darker, more sinister approach to the character which is interesting and certainly gives Spenser more depth. He does a good job showing us the tough side of Spenser, as well as the sensitive, romantic side (and I don't mean a la "James Bond"). Its the sort of duality that is so often missing in action characters.

Marcia Gay Harden as D.A. Silverman brings a more romantic and sensuous characterization to the role, which was missing in the tv series due to strict network censorship. Silverman is still intelligent and is still one tough attorney, but she also has a feminine side. There's one scene that's particularly steamy, but it really defines the relationship of the two characters and works well in the context of the story.

Like most hard-boiled detective stories, the detective finds himself surrounded by women who constantly throw themselves at him, and Mantegna does a good job playing these scenes for their somewhat comedic potential. If nothing else, the racy (and very successful) series "NYPD Blue" has opened the gates for tv networks to take more risks in showing non-sexual nudity, and "Small Vices" has benefitted from it tremendously, allowing the actors to have more intimate moments (including a brief nude scene where we see an actresses' posterior as she tries to seduce Spenser in his office). Knowing that Spenser has a strong relationship with Silverman, we can see why he would rebuff so many advances by other beautiful women. We know who owns his heart, and unlike the tv show version, we know why.

Comparing the film to the tv show, I prefer Brooks' portrayal of the Hawk character. It was just such a powerful role that he stole just about every scene he was in. I can still remember the way he said "Spens-SUH!" Urich played a good action character, but Mantegna shows us much more depth and has a bit more edginess. And Marcia Gay Harden is a dead ringer for the actress (her name escapes me) that played D.A. Silverman, but the tv version of Silverman never "nursed Spenser back to health" (if you know what I mean) after he was gravely wounded by a hitman's attack. Kudos to A&E (Arts And Entertainment) for bringing us a new "Spenser" mystery.

Good show featuring tough guy Spenser and his pal Hawk as they try to figure out if a convicted man is innocent or not. Spenser suspects the man is not guilty and gets into hot water when he gets too close to the truth. The story was a little corny and the character Spenser is somewhat unbelievable, but the film was enjoyable none the less.

Plot is more original than most; I even learned something about drilling for oil. Joe Montegna is always watchable,one of most underrated actors. And Farnsworth,in small but important role, is always a joy to watch.

I loved how true to the book the film stayed, thanks to Parker himself writing the script. My only problem is that none of the actors from the original series and Lifetime movies were brought in to reprise their roles. I could live with the recasting of Frank Belson, (done once before) Susan Silverman (done twice before) and Martin Quirk, (Richard Jaeckel's (qv) dead) but not bringing back Robert Urich (qv) and Avery Brooks (qv) made the film suffer. Sheik Mahmud-Bey (qv) struck me as someone I'd like to marry into my family rather than as a mysterious mercenary/crimeland enforcer. I was even hoping they'd bring back Carolyn McCormack (qv) to play Rita.

Cast-wise, Small Vices is an intentional break from the "Spenser: For Hire" TV series and Lifetime movies. Spenser author Robert B. Parker adapted his book for the A&E movie and had some say in casting. Though Urich's loyal fans cried foul at the casting of Mantegna for Spenser, more hardboiled fans (such as myself), and Parker himself, believed Mantegna better portrayed the gritty hero. Mantegna's Spenser is more relaxed, more subtle--his delivery guided by an authentic, wry Parker script. Those looking for a harder edge to the character were pleased. Viewers were less kind to Shiek Mahmud-Bey's portrayal of Hawk. Series actor Avery Brooks cast a long shadow as the mob enforcer sidekick. In that shadow, many believed (myself included) Mahmud-Bey lacked presence, that he was too young, cheerful, and chatty for the part. Small Vices is above average for its closeness to Parker's original plot and--for the most part--his characters; however, the Boston atmosphere vital to the books and series is missing, too obviously replaced by Toronto for budgetary purposes. For a different spin on Spenser, with some of Parker's personal touch, watch Small Vices.