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Post by jeffan on Nov 24, 2008 17:54:42 GMT -5
Sherlock Holmes is the archetypal detective. Little wonder that he can be found in other fictional detectives.
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Post by caitlen on Nov 25, 2008 6:55:45 GMT -5
From a review of the television show THE MENTALIST in the November 24 NEW YORKER (p. 123) "And what of the mentalist's method? It turns out to be a combination of careful observation and advanced hunchology, which puts Patrick Jane squarely in the tradition of Adrian Monk (from "Monk"), Robert Goren (from "Law and Order: Criminal Intent"), and, for that matter, Sherlock Holmes." Patcat Myself, i like to view something personally before criticizing it, just to be fair. To quote an article of a media writer isnt a fair comment either. They view the "premiere" episode, and that is not good enough, besides, isnt every new cop show compared to both Monk & LOCI As for the canceling of the show, i read it as it was written, why say it anyway. It came across to me as, everybody copies Goren, so get rid of it! People will watch a show if they like it, and not if they don`t, this show to me, is different from others, so no wonder its doing well. What do real detectives and forensic people do at a crime scene? Its ok, i know, i have friends in that circle! These shows are researched for procedure as we know, but have a personal character touch to them for obvious reasons. Every new cop drama that graces our screens, ends up a copycat of sorts of D`Onofrio . I have not yet seen anything in this show, of this actor, portraying or copying the acting of the actors in Monk or LOCI of sorts! I don`t think anybody here saying he is, will do so when they watch the full season of it. I will be interested on your thoughts after viewing the show though. Then we can discuss the finer points of the shows, the characters, the acting, and, the actors as a whole over the three shows, for a fair outcome and interesting observations of sorts
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Post by Patcat on Nov 25, 2008 9:29:03 GMT -5
I meant no criticism of THE MENTALIST from me. I haven't seen it. I was only providing the quote from the NEW YORKER because it spoke about the subject of this thread.
As for Sherlock Holmes, I'd argue he's the source for nearly every fictional detective.
Patcat
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Post by caitlen on Nov 25, 2008 9:49:14 GMT -5
Like all media writers, they get a preview of a show, and they are either for or against an actor/show or for it. How many negative write ups have you read on CI over the years, and how many positive? To me, its not fair the way most write about actors, films or tv shows, they come across as biased and personal. Simon Baker was just on Letterman, he is still that shy, good looking Aussie bloke. With his Aussie accent ever present, which surprises me with him living there for years now
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Post by dragonsback on Nov 29, 2008 6:19:50 GMT -5
Boy, the reviewers I've read have been The Little Sisters of Mercy to The Mentalist. Positively kind-hearted and generous, IMO, to what is the most syrupy crime show to air since Murder She Wrote and possibly the most derivative show of all time. More inbred than a Hapsburg, this one.
Donna, yes there is a faint whiff of Goren here, but then there is a lot more of NCIS, Monk, Dexter and even House. It's as if Bruno Heller and his team had combed through every prime time hit, jotted down bits of character schtick and and dialogue and quirks from the winners , and stuck 'em on to TM.
Perversely, the two seminal characters the Mentalist producers/cast allude to in interviews are Sherlock and Columbo; not a trace of either one here (except as Patcat says, the lineage almost all fictional detectives can be traced back to Holmes)
The supporting characters you will recognize instantly from NCIS - the likable big lug, the wisecracking, waspish brunette, and the Nice Girl/Tough Cop. My god, they even say "Will do, Boss, and "I'm on it, Boss". Only amusing novelty is the Asian guy who does a nice job of playing a light-ish Marvin the Paranoid Android role.
Visually, the thing looks contrived, mannerist, flat and highly coloured, like Monk, and like Monk it has a loner protagonist whose family has been killed by a psychopath still on the loose. The brunette female lead (they're everywhere!) has a familiar pedigree: think the brunette on NCIS, and a dash of Lisa Cuddy type, minus the maturity and deep wit, and two tablespoons of of Alex de Garza's character.
The murders are supposed to be shockingly grisly, a la Dexter. Unfortunately for that plan, the writers and directors confuse mere gory details with true gruesomeness.
The plot thins. Is it a who-dunnit or a why-dunnit? Neither. Who did it is obvious in the first scene in which the murderer appears - and that giveaweay is not by design, just crinkum-crankum stuff , and you don't need to be a mentalist to work it out. Why he/she/they did it is usually explained by the perps themselves in a shallow, pro forma blathery confessional coda. Motives are pretty standard.
In all, this is a trite, nearly stupid program. I still can't believe it comes from the mind of Bruno Heller, who gave us "Rome".
And how have I formed all these cranky opinions?
Well,see, I just watched eight episodes in a row. I haven't been glued to the screen for that long since I was a teenager. Couldn't stop watching this very stupid show, God help me. Simon Baker makes it irresistible and his Patrick Jane is a ensorcelling character. Not remotely like Goren, but the charisma is 1000-watt. Too bad he's trapped in this formulaic fluff.
I await your own opinions with interest.
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