Post by Patcat on Jul 16, 2010 7:53:08 GMT -5
INERT DWARF
Will air 12am (EST) on the Bravo Cable network on July 19, 2010. Ninth episode of Season Four. First aired November 21, 2004.
Written by Warren Leight and Rene Balcer. Directed by Alex Chapple.
Guest Actors:
Austin Pendleton as Dr. John Manotti (Mr. Pendleton is a very well respected stage actor and director. You may remember him as Charles Durning’s assistant Max in THE MUPPET MOVIE and in many other roles.)
Marla Sucharetea as Joanna Manotti
Ann Dowd as Laura Manotti
Anya Migdel as Mona Manotti
Synopsis: The radiation poisoning death of a physicist leads Eames and Goren to a renowned physicist and his circle.
John Manotti is based on Stephen Hawking. Dr. Hawking, however, is far more willing to admit his mistakes and appears less concerned about his legacy. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking
Radiation poisoning is NOT a nice way to depart this world. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_poisoning
Quotes:
Manotti (to his assistant): “I see. By hitting it, you force the equation to solve itself.”
Cop: “He’s some dead guy stopping traffic.”
Eames: “I wonder if the Hedgewick knows how hot its coffee is.”
Goren (about reading Manotti’s book): “I tried like everyone else.”
Deakins: “The smartest guy on the planet can’t figure out he’s being abused?”
Manotti (to Eames, about Goren): “Does he play with the siren when he drives?” Goren: “She drives.”
Eames: “For such a genius, he’s not much of a liar.”
The nurse (about Manotti): “He is, in his own way, very close to God.”
Eames (after confronting Manotti’s second wife): “Is that what you had in mind?”
Eames: “The only person in Manotti’s room when he gets injured is Manotti.”
Manotti (to his second wife): “Now you’ll have to find your own invitations to the White House.”
Carver: “Your theory of everything has a lot of moving parts.”
Goren: “It’s based on our observation of the acceleration of panic.”
Manotti: “Einstein was a flash in the pan.”
Eames: “My mother always said, “Be happy you’re not a genius; it makes for a lonely life.””
Queries:
The original discussion regarding this episode contained some excellent comments, especially by Sirenna and Techguy. I recommend a review.
There was much discussion about exactly how Manotti was able to poison his assistant. How did he accomplish this? Is this a weak point in this story?
Do we lose sight of the victim in this story?
Where does Manotti rank among LOCI villains? Is he a villain?
Would it have been so terrible if Manotti had gone to the conference and admitted failure? Hasn't he destroyed his legacy far more effectively by this plot?
When do Eames and Goren become suspicious of Manotti?
Will Manotti ever go on trial? Will he spend time in prison?
Would Manotti have gotten away with his plan if Bobby and Alex weren’t on the case?
Is it cruel of Bobby and Alex to confront Manotti in front of his first wife and daughter?
Does Manotti deserve any sympathy?
Is this story disrespectful to Stephen Hawking?
Was Alex’s “genius” comment directed at Bobby? Is Bobby a genius? Does being really good at one thing make a person a genius? And are geniuses lonely?
Comments:
Just as bad casting can really hurt an episode, good casting, and the resulting good performance, can make one. Austin Pendleton’s superb performance lifts INERT DWARF beyond the usual LOCI for me. Admittedly, the usual LOCI is pretty good TV by my standards, but this story does have some holes in its depiction of how Manotti poisons his assistant. But the why, while certainly unusual, is completely believable because of Mr. Pendleton’s depiction of Manotti. The part is also exceptionally well written. Manotti is so charming, so self deprecating, so vulnerable, that I didn’t want to believe he was capable of such a horrible murder (and radiation poisoning is an awful way to die, not to mention the danger of the source poisoning other people).
I also enjoyed the writing and depiction of the nurse who fled the Manotti home. The actress playing her is exceptionally beautiful and effective.
And Goren and Eames are working very well together in this episode. I like Goren’s dance around the second Mrs. Manotti as he shows the email to Dr. Manotti in the hospital. I like the way Eames takes the lead in interviewing the victim’s widow, and the way she and Goren conspire to interview the second Mrs. Manotti. And, of course, their final tag teaming to trap Manotti.
Submitted for your consideration and comments, as always.
Patcat
Will air 12am (EST) on the Bravo Cable network on July 19, 2010. Ninth episode of Season Four. First aired November 21, 2004.
Written by Warren Leight and Rene Balcer. Directed by Alex Chapple.
Guest Actors:
Austin Pendleton as Dr. John Manotti (Mr. Pendleton is a very well respected stage actor and director. You may remember him as Charles Durning’s assistant Max in THE MUPPET MOVIE and in many other roles.)
Marla Sucharetea as Joanna Manotti
Ann Dowd as Laura Manotti
Anya Migdel as Mona Manotti
Synopsis: The radiation poisoning death of a physicist leads Eames and Goren to a renowned physicist and his circle.
John Manotti is based on Stephen Hawking. Dr. Hawking, however, is far more willing to admit his mistakes and appears less concerned about his legacy. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking
Radiation poisoning is NOT a nice way to depart this world. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_poisoning
Quotes:
Manotti (to his assistant): “I see. By hitting it, you force the equation to solve itself.”
Cop: “He’s some dead guy stopping traffic.”
Eames: “I wonder if the Hedgewick knows how hot its coffee is.”
Goren (about reading Manotti’s book): “I tried like everyone else.”
Deakins: “The smartest guy on the planet can’t figure out he’s being abused?”
Manotti (to Eames, about Goren): “Does he play with the siren when he drives?” Goren: “She drives.”
Eames: “For such a genius, he’s not much of a liar.”
The nurse (about Manotti): “He is, in his own way, very close to God.”
Eames (after confronting Manotti’s second wife): “Is that what you had in mind?”
Eames: “The only person in Manotti’s room when he gets injured is Manotti.”
Manotti (to his second wife): “Now you’ll have to find your own invitations to the White House.”
Carver: “Your theory of everything has a lot of moving parts.”
Goren: “It’s based on our observation of the acceleration of panic.”
Manotti: “Einstein was a flash in the pan.”
Eames: “My mother always said, “Be happy you’re not a genius; it makes for a lonely life.””
Queries:
The original discussion regarding this episode contained some excellent comments, especially by Sirenna and Techguy. I recommend a review.
There was much discussion about exactly how Manotti was able to poison his assistant. How did he accomplish this? Is this a weak point in this story?
Do we lose sight of the victim in this story?
Where does Manotti rank among LOCI villains? Is he a villain?
Would it have been so terrible if Manotti had gone to the conference and admitted failure? Hasn't he destroyed his legacy far more effectively by this plot?
When do Eames and Goren become suspicious of Manotti?
Will Manotti ever go on trial? Will he spend time in prison?
Would Manotti have gotten away with his plan if Bobby and Alex weren’t on the case?
Is it cruel of Bobby and Alex to confront Manotti in front of his first wife and daughter?
Does Manotti deserve any sympathy?
Is this story disrespectful to Stephen Hawking?
Was Alex’s “genius” comment directed at Bobby? Is Bobby a genius? Does being really good at one thing make a person a genius? And are geniuses lonely?
Comments:
Just as bad casting can really hurt an episode, good casting, and the resulting good performance, can make one. Austin Pendleton’s superb performance lifts INERT DWARF beyond the usual LOCI for me. Admittedly, the usual LOCI is pretty good TV by my standards, but this story does have some holes in its depiction of how Manotti poisons his assistant. But the why, while certainly unusual, is completely believable because of Mr. Pendleton’s depiction of Manotti. The part is also exceptionally well written. Manotti is so charming, so self deprecating, so vulnerable, that I didn’t want to believe he was capable of such a horrible murder (and radiation poisoning is an awful way to die, not to mention the danger of the source poisoning other people).
I also enjoyed the writing and depiction of the nurse who fled the Manotti home. The actress playing her is exceptionally beautiful and effective.
And Goren and Eames are working very well together in this episode. I like Goren’s dance around the second Mrs. Manotti as he shows the email to Dr. Manotti in the hospital. I like the way Eames takes the lead in interviewing the victim’s widow, and the way she and Goren conspire to interview the second Mrs. Manotti. And, of course, their final tag teaming to trap Manotti.
Submitted for your consideration and comments, as always.
Patcat
