White Collar - Fascino criminale

With White Collar popping back up and doing well with streaming these days I thought I'd give it a try again. I'm glad I did. I watched the first few seasons when this was on 10-15 years ago and then just forgot about it. This was on USA network at a time where they had a bunch of good shows (Psych, Suits, Burn Notice, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains, etc) so it got caught in the shuffle back them. Looking g back USA had a lot of good shows, it's too bad they changed their formula. It's about a White Collar felon named Neal Caffrey, he's wanted for years before being caught by FBI agent Peter Burke. After a few years in prison they make Neal an offer. In exchange for freedom he'll help them catch sought after white collar criminals. Neal and Peter work together and have a fun bro-mance thing going on, they start off not trusting of each other but that grows into a real friendship.

Very clever and has your rooting for both the good guys (FBI) and the bad guy (Neal in this case). The pairing of the FBI couple is just right and of course Matt as the con reminds me so much of Pierce Brosnan in the movie "After the Sunset" in which he played a perfect con man and there grew to be a grudging respect between the con and the FBI guy (Woody).

I can see that happening here too and if this lives up to the first few episodes, I'll be tuning in each week as this show is refreshing. I'm tired of the gore in many of the top crime shows. I actually taped this and showed the first two episodes to a few friends that hadn't heard of it and now I have them hooked on it and they want to watch it each week. Let's hope the networks finally realize the gore is getting to be too much and this type of show really works and let's hope it lasts a long time.

If you are a fan of the buddy cop genre (if not, start with French Connection and work forwards), you'll know the basic rules:

1 - One 'straight' cop, one 'rogue' cop

2 - The two have a love/hate relationship, although deep down, it's love

3 - The pair learn about themselves and each other while solving wacky crimes

4 - Hilarity ensues

Since the genre itself starts off very close to satire, it's easy for a show to devolve into parody and idiocy - remember when David Addison turned into a freaking frog on Moonlighting? Luckily, White Collar hasn't gone in that direction.

In fact, it is funny, clever, well written, the cast is great, and they have obviously made a clear choice to focus on character relationships and not to obsess over getting all the real-life details exactingly accurate.

If you want heavy, serious drama you should watch The Wire; if you want silly comedy, watch Chuck; but if you want something smart and funny, but light, try White Collar. You can think of it as Burn Notice's older, more mature, brother.

(For the record, I like and enjoy every show mentioned in this review - except for maybe that frog episode.)

Think of White Collar as a little bit "48 Hours" (the Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte classic) and a little bit "Catch Me If You Can" (the DiCaprio & Hanks rollick). "Law & Order" this ain't. Call it "fun TV".

The premise: What do you do with an amazing criminal mind (white collar, of course) frittering away in a super-max prison, that he can apparently escape from at will? The answer soon comes when said genius criminal Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) offers to help the FBI agent who originally caught him solve a case that's been frustrating him for years. Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) while wary, realizes this "may"...repeat "may" be a way to finally catch the bad guy.. White Collar is another USA "Characters welcome" offering, and it's a great one.

Tim DeKay is pitch perfect as the agent who lives his job. He has a kind of "Tom Hanks meets young Jack Lemmon" quality that is spot on for the tone of the show. He's written as real guy in a tough spot. He truly loves his wife, but tireless dedication to "the job" causes him to forget anniversaries, and regularly arrive home after his wife is long 'a bed. His wife Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) often eats dinners alone... well, sort of.

Matt Bomer, soon to be a household name, vaults from his supporting role of Bryce on "Chuck" straight into a major lead role that fits him like a glove... like he was born to do this. Along with class A hunky good looks, Bomer also has a vulnerable quality that is quite touching. Ladies, he's Oooo so cute, slick, smart and gosh darn lovable, that your significant other may actually allow you to gaze... This show has something for everyone. The story line is not at all predictable. You want to watch how this might end.

Tiffani Thiessen is actually a lovely surprise, having matured nicely as an actress from her 90210 days. Amazing for a pilot, there is sweet gentle chemistry with her FBI hubby.

This FBI version of the "truly odd couple" takes straight off on a smart, well written, snappy crime-solving adventure. The dialog is zippy, and once the obligatory plot setup is laid down, the laughs come early and often. This too makes White Collar good family entertainment.

If the series follows the pilot's lead, there will be ZERO gratuitous violence, another reason to appreciate the show. Caffrey charms and disarms all creatures great and small, while using his near savant abilities to see what the FBI cannot. The lead characters are perfectly complementary. The casting is sublime. Even the score is hip, something that USA recently seems to have cornered the market on.

Personally I can't wait for the next installment of what promises to be a seriously entertaining and original show.

White Collar is an exceptional TV series. I just bought it on DVD and it does not disappoint. The characters are so good. The dynamic between Peter and Neil, Peter and Elizabeth, Mozzie and Elizabeth, Neil and Mozzie and the list goes on. Seasons 2, 3, 4, and 6 are the best in my opinion but there are very few misses in this show and most of those are at the beginning when there are just finding their footing. The acting and chemistry is especially on point with Willie Garson, Tim Dekay and Matt Bomer. But everyone is incredible. Overall it is very entertaining. Though they do overuse the Neil going rogue trope a bit too much, but other than that this show is perfect.