Matthew Modine Alert

[Observer2]

According to TV Guide, Matthew Modine will be appearing on SVU – possibly in February, though that’s not really clear.

I don’t think I’ve seen him in anything other than Full Metal Jacket, so I’ll be interested to see his performance. If anyone figures out what week he’ll be on, please give us a heads up.

[Patcat]

He's a splendid actor, and has had his best roles in television films.

I understand that he and Mr. D'Onofrio are friends--maybe he could appear on a LOCI?

I've often wondered why Matthew Modine hasn't had a bigger career, but I get the impression he made decision to spend more time with his family.

Patcat

[NikkiGreen]

Observer2 said:

...If anyone figures out what week he’ll be on, please give us a heads up.

I usually watch the new episodes each week. I'll try and post with plenty of notice if I come across this information first.

[Techguy]

I found this while checking out the latest NBC Media Village news releases:

Spoiler warning--news release contains some episode plot details

nbcumv.com/entertainment/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20050224000000-matthewmodineguest.html

MATTHEW MODINE GUEST-STARS ON NBC'S 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' ON TUESDAY, MARCH 1, (10-11 PM. ET)
Published: February 24, 2005

Modine To Play Psychotic Serial Killer

NEW YORK -- February 24, 2005 -- Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee Matthew Modine ("Memphis Belle") guest-stars as psychotic serial killer Gordon Rickett, on NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," (Tuesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET).

An homage to the classic detective films of the past decades, this episode showcases the performances of "SVU" star Christopher Meloni (Detective Eliot Stabler) and guest star Modine. Intense and explosive, this episode breaks the traditional "Law & Order: SVU" mold, beginning in the interrogation room before moving to the field.

"When Stabler confronts a child rapist, who he tried to convict 14 years earlier, he must now confront his own built up rage, before it leads to tragedy," said executive producer Neal Baer.

In this episode, Detective Stabler interrogates Rickett, for the murder of a young girl, whose body is found in the Hudson River. Stabler let Rickett get away 14 years ago for committing a similar crime, and is determined not to let him loose again. However, with a lack of evidence, Stabler's plan to drive the suspect crazy in the interrogation room is not enough to hold him, creating a tense 24-hours. Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Ice-T, Dann Florek, Diane Neal, B.D. Wong and Tamara Tunie also star.

A veteran of over 30 films, some of Modine's film credits include "Birdy," "Memphis Belle," "Married to the Mob," "Vision Quest," "Full Metal Jacket," "Gross Anatomy," "The Browning Version," "Pacific Height's," Oliver Stone's "On Any Given Sunday," and "Le Divorce" opposite Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts. Modine was a recipient of the 1993 Venice Film Festival's Volpi Cup, for Best Ensemble Cast in Robert Altman's Golden Lion Award winning "Short Cuts."

Other credits include Modine's performance in television's critically acclaimed, Emmy Award winning drama "And the Band Played On," the Emmy nominated Mini-Series "Hitler: The Rise of Evil," "Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story," and "The Winning Season." Additionally, Modine received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in "What the Deaf Man Heard."

[NikkiGreen]

Intense and explosive...so, what else is knew with Stabler? Sounds like a very interesting episode (and, hopefully, Benson light...)

MM was fabulous in What The Deaf Man Heard.

Thanks for the update, Techguy.

ETA: There's a few PHOTOS on NBC's site: www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order:_Special_Victims_Unit/index.html

[Techguy]

I'm not a regular SVU viewer. But I watched this episode out of curiosity to see what the Matthew Modine fuss was all about. Modine looked appropriately twisted and evil as the psychotic serial child-killer Gordon Rickett, not that I intend to perpetuate any stereotypes. Why any woman would choose to be his girlfriend, or allow her young daughter within 100 miles of him, remains a big mystery to me.

In general, this show held my attention, although the detectives tag-teaming Rickett for 24 hours lost its edge about halfway through. Then everything got wrapped up too neatly and quickly as Stabler and Benson followed the trail from the girlfriend to the "adopted" aunt to her vacant house, etc.

And since I haven't seen Stabler evolve all the years SVU has been on, I have to ask: is he really that close to the edge? Based on his behavior in this episode, I'm thinking he should hand in his gun and spend the rest of his time until retirement sitting at a desk. And if I were his partner Benson, I'd get a little tired (and wary) of constantly "babysitting" Stabler to make sure he doesn't lose control competely and shoot someone in anger and not in the line of duty.

[NikkiGreen]

I thought it was rather "convenient" the way Stabler & Benson came across the aunt's house. What did the poor locker ever do to Stabler?!

The whole story was just okay, but I did like MM and CN. MM sure has a nice voice, made just for delivering narrations.

S & B can get quite pissy at times. Stabler has had to babysit Benson a few times too. Lately, there has been quite a few episodes where one partner is away testifying, family matters, etc. (while, the show tapes more than one episode at a time, I'd presume).

I've found S & B to be quite irritating at times, even 'juvenile' in the bickering. That's why I like it better when S & B are partnered with either Fin or Munch.

Stabler has been shown to be slowing losing it, for the last year or so. He's used his gun a couple of times, too. The separation from his wife only intensified his "unstability".

I guess unstability makes for better ratings!