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Post by annabelleleigh on Jan 16, 2009 12:39:44 GMT -5
Again, with no press announcement or on-air promotion a new L&O episode appeared yesterday, at 10 PM, on NBC: "By Perjury" written by Richard Sweren and Christopher Ambrose and guest-starring the great Mercedes Ruehl. I'm so glad my TiVO is set to capture all new L&O offerings. I found "By Perjury" to be a deeply satisfying episode with a beautifully crafted script and first-rate performances. I'm writing a more complete review for CI:US which I hope to post shortly. In the meantime you can view a clip at www.nbc.com/Law_and_Order/video/clips/by-perjury/936481/AL |
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Post by DonnaJo on Jan 16, 2009 15:33:28 GMT -5
I'm glad you started this thread, AL. I also caught this episode on my DVR, and thoroughly enjoyed it! I think it's partially based on the crash of Flight 800 off Long Island about 12 years ago. They initially believed that an errant missile had hit it. I think that the class action suit still hasn't been settled?
Mercedes was excellent, but Lord.... that accent - what was that about? A not so convincing Scarlett O'Hara drawl. It was distracting to say the least.
The perp was a perfect sleazoid. And welcome back McCoy - crusader for the good. Letting Cutter indict the guy for murder as a result of perjury? Very imaginative.
The ending was shocking. Poor Cutter, I wonder if he had finished his business at the urinal? I think not, based on Lupo's averted eyes.
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Post by annabelleleigh on Jan 16, 2009 17:23:38 GMT -5
While writing my own review I stumbled across the following. AL -------------------------------- TV Talk Extra: Murderous Litigators on "Law and Order!" by Leslie Gray Streeter Entertainment columnist Palm Beach PostJanuary 15, 2009 Excerpt: "...Last night's episode of "Law and Order: Original Recipe" was so good, I backed up the TiVo and watched it over again. There was so much going on, my head almost exploded - the guy who used to play the hippie male nanny on "The L Word" as a sinister lawyer, Mercedes Ruehl as a not-easily-amused judge, a slap-down between D.A. Jack McCoy and his surly Mini-Me, Michael Cutter, a wrongful execution, and a last-minute attempted murder in a courthouse bathroom! And unlike most episodes of "SVU," I never once stopped and said "Wait...that would never happen!" The Stiff Of The Week turns out to be Charlie Sawyer, whose family members died in an infamous plane crash that killed 90-something people seven years earlier. The victim had been part of a class action suit against the airline, and after ruling out his estranged wife and a nutso conspiracy theorist who'd been harassing the plaintiffs of the suit, suspicion quickly comes around to attorney Winston (Dallas Roberts, the aforementioned portrayer of male nannies), who is representing the plaintiffs. In fact, Cutter begins to suspect that Winston not only murdered Sawyer, because he was considering settling with the airline and ruining his multi-million dollar payday, but also killed the original judge in the case and framed one of the plaintiffs, who was later executed. That's not only shady, but it's darned good lawyering. Not to encourage him in his evil, but...that's impressive, in a sinister way. Unfortunately, the case is almost scuttled when the self-representing Winston, who's so slimy there's practically an EPA official planting "Caution" flags everywhere he walks, embarrasses and discredits cop/law student Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) on the stand. Apparently, evidence they were using against him wasn't technically legally obtained (a key in a closed drawer isn't fair game, even though the door to the office was wide open), and after slapping by pretty Lupo down, Winston gets the charges dismissed. Cutter, who has all of McCoy's righteous indignation and grandstandy tendencies but none of his gravity (or awesome eyebrows), freaks out on Lupo, gets a contempt citation and then gets firmly slapped by the Eyebrows of Justice. Chastened, he tries a new tactic - prosecuting Sawyer for the murder of Mr. Cruz, the executed man they believe he framed for the judge's murder... ...This show has gotten so good this year! Anthony Anderson has gotten over his showiness, Cutter and Connie Rubirosa have a crackling chemistry both legally and otherwise, and Jeremy Sisto is all mumbly hot. We like mumbly hot." Find the complete review at: www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/streeter/entries/2009/01/tv_talk_extra_m.html |
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Post by NikkiGreen on Jan 16, 2009 17:52:25 GMT -5
DonnaJo, I think Cutter may have wet his pants! ;D That's probably one of the reasons that Lupo averted his eyes.
It was quite satisfying having Lupes be the one to save Cutter, after their showdown earlier.
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leanonme
Silver Shield Investigator
Posts: 166
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Post by leanonme on Jan 18, 2009 2:09:18 GMT -5
I found "By Perjury" to be a deeply satisfying episode with a beautifully crafted script and first-rate performances. AL ME TOO!!! I loved it! In fact, I was doing some other things while the episode was on and I got absolutely drawn in and had to give the episode my full attention. That rarely happens in my house. I am looking forward to your review AL. |
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Post by ragincajun on Jan 18, 2009 10:49:54 GMT -5
I was reading this thread and wondering How did I miss this show?! I remembered parts of it, but didn't remember the bathroom scene, luckly I had it on my DVR and watched it again, I must have fallen asleep, I haven't been well this week, wow what an ending. Great show.
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hansen21
Silver Shield Investigator
Posts: 75 
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Post by hansen21 on Jan 19, 2009 4:26:52 GMT -5
Hi,
What I've noticed in the last two episodes is that while the story leading up to the final moments is engaging, the final minutes of the show seem rushed. It feels as if they create the story, and then notice that they have about eight minutes to argue the case and tie up loose ends. In the last two episodes, the legal gotcha! moments seem to be a little flimsy. In the last episode, everything seems to center on whether or not the lawyer/criminal let someone smoke in his office. If there was more evidence, I might believe that lawyer would've crumbled, but it didn't seem enough evidence to convince me that this lawyer would cave in so easily.
I enjoy the legal strategizing, and we seem to be getting that element between Cutter and Connie. They also seem to be using and developing the Connie character : she seems a little more rounded out and creates a counter balance to Cutter : their scenes seem smart; like the dialogue and the posturing. I'm happy that there's some meat to this season!!!
The other element that I've noticed this season is the little intimacies between the characters in the scenes. In the last episode, the opening scene involves the couple getting ready for bed. It's these brief peeks into the mundane, day-to-day routines of ordinary people that I enjoy. The scenes may not seem to move the story forward, but these scenes create a life story that pulls me in rather than a feeling that they're actors saying their lines to move the plot forward. These scenes seem reminiscent of early L & O, the first few seasons.
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Post by DonnaJo on Mar 17, 2009 11:27:06 GMT -5
This episode was on again Saturday evening. My DVR taped it again, and I couldn't help but rewatch it. That's how good I thought it was.
Great ending! And I have to say that the review Annabelle posted/linked for us from The Palm Beach Post is spot one.
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