Writer: Fred Golan
Director: Peter Werner
Cast: Jeff Goldblum (Detective Michael Raines), Nicole Sullivan (Carolyn Crumley), Matt Craven (Captain Daniel Lewis), Madeleine Stowe (Dr. Kohl), Linda Park (Sally Lance), Dov Davidoff (Remi Boyer), Steve Hytner (Milt Traeger), Donna Cooper (Neighbor), Tony Rivard (Homeless Man), Andrew Patrick Ralston (Scott Bills), Riki Lindhome (Tammy), Cheryl White (Helen Mullen), Rachel Winfree (Crystal), Alejandro Furth (Sal Martinez), Christopher Shea (James Milton), Jim Parrack (Deputy Mark Jessup), Todd Giebenhain (Jason Kitman), Mike Genovese (Mickey Russo) & Laurie Metcalf (Alice Brody)
Raines investigates the shooting of a homeless woman in an alley, leasding him into more complicated areas than he first suspected...
It's a funny thing to review episodes of a now defunct TV series, particularly one that only aired 7 episodes over a year ago in the US. You tend to examine each episode, looking for reasons why it didn't grab a mass audience. Is Raines' concept just too similar to shows like Dead Like Me, despite the fact Michael Raines (Jeff Goldblum) isn't actually talking to the dead, just his own imagination? Or were viewers just turned off by Goldblum himself, who's at his best when bouncing off other actors – but plays a lonesome character here?
It's probably a combination of both, really. The premise is certainly intriguing, although I'm already accustomed to Raines chattering away to "thin air", and it seems like the Pilot did pretty much everything you can with the idea. I'm just slightly intrigued about what would happen if Raines had to solve multiple murders – can the human mind hallucinate an abundance of people with as much clarity?
Reconstructing Alice is a very solid episode, certainly more appealing than last week's tepid instalment. Raines is called in to solve the murder of a homeless bag lady called Alice Brody (Laurie Metcalf), and the storyline takes you down some interesting avenues (a bank, a TV show) as Raines' investigation once again touches on Los Angeles' underclass – homeless people this week, illegal immigrants last week...
There's also an interesting subtext throughout this episode; of homeless people being "invisible" to regular people, although Raines' unique ability means he can't do anything but "see" Alice! The murdered bag lady appears as a 3D construct of his mind: first as an irritating, ugly stereotype... but eventually becoming a tragic maternal figure as the story progresses. It's this gradual transformation of imagined victims that I really like about the show. It's such a brilliantly simple idea – but one that doesn't make it easy on the writers' remit to construct a compelling mystery.
Fred Golan's script hits most of its plot marks, although there were times when the investigation got a little difficult to follow, or care about. What I enjoyed most was the more amenable performance of Goldblum after last week's lazy dip. He's given more opportunities to sidetrack himself with bumbling jokes and banter with witnesses and contacts here, delivered in his amusing staccato style.
In fact, Goldblum is so synonymous with funny eggheads that perhaps that's the reason Raines didn't connect with US audiences? The show's premise revolves around murder and mental illness, only sweetened by Goldblum's quirkiness. I'm enjoying seeing him in a fresher dramatic context, but maybe audiences just expected a lighter show because of his involvement?
The supporting cast are still thinly drawn, with Goldblum shouldering every scene, although I'm looking forward to more appearances from Madeline Stowe as Raines' psychiatrist Dr. Kohl. It's just a shame her enjoyable session with Raines is so short here. But, it's an even greater shame the plot conspired to get Linda Park into hot pants -- but only for one measly shot!
Overall, I'm beginning to sense repetition could creep into Raines, but this was an enjoyable mystery (with a fun Sherlock Holmes steal at the end), although an allusion to Alice In Wonderland didn't really work in a "mad tea party" dream sequence for Raines and Alice.
Like last week, any occasional drabness is forgotten by the time the emotional and quite touching finale arrives. Reconstructing Alice certainly did a good job keeping its storyline moving swiftly and wisely played to Goldblum's natural peculiarity.
11 February 2008
ITV3, 9.00 pm
Director: Peter Werner
Cast: Jeff Goldblum (Detective Michael Raines), Nicole Sullivan (Carolyn Crumley), Matt Craven (Captain Daniel Lewis), Madeleine Stowe (Dr. Kohl), Linda Park (Sally Lance), Dov Davidoff (Remi Boyer), Steve Hytner (Milt Traeger), Donna Cooper (Neighbor), Tony Rivard (Homeless Man), Andrew Patrick Ralston (Scott Bills), Riki Lindhome (Tammy), Cheryl White (Helen Mullen), Rachel Winfree (Crystal), Alejandro Furth (Sal Martinez), Christopher Shea (James Milton), Jim Parrack (Deputy Mark Jessup), Todd Giebenhain (Jason Kitman), Mike Genovese (Mickey Russo) & Laurie Metcalf (Alice Brody)
Raines investigates the shooting of a homeless woman in an alley, leasding him into more complicated areas than he first suspected...Alice: That's about your tenth cup.
Raines: What are you, the caffeine police?
Raines: What are you, the caffeine police?
It's a funny thing to review episodes of a now defunct TV series, particularly one that only aired 7 episodes over a year ago in the US. You tend to examine each episode, looking for reasons why it didn't grab a mass audience. Is Raines' concept just too similar to shows like Dead Like Me, despite the fact Michael Raines (Jeff Goldblum) isn't actually talking to the dead, just his own imagination? Or were viewers just turned off by Goldblum himself, who's at his best when bouncing off other actors – but plays a lonesome character here?
It's probably a combination of both, really. The premise is certainly intriguing, although I'm already accustomed to Raines chattering away to "thin air", and it seems like the Pilot did pretty much everything you can with the idea. I'm just slightly intrigued about what would happen if Raines had to solve multiple murders – can the human mind hallucinate an abundance of people with as much clarity?
Reconstructing Alice is a very solid episode, certainly more appealing than last week's tepid instalment. Raines is called in to solve the murder of a homeless bag lady called Alice Brody (Laurie Metcalf), and the storyline takes you down some interesting avenues (a bank, a TV show) as Raines' investigation once again touches on Los Angeles' underclass – homeless people this week, illegal immigrants last week...
There's also an interesting subtext throughout this episode; of homeless people being "invisible" to regular people, although Raines' unique ability means he can't do anything but "see" Alice! The murdered bag lady appears as a 3D construct of his mind: first as an irritating, ugly stereotype... but eventually becoming a tragic maternal figure as the story progresses. It's this gradual transformation of imagined victims that I really like about the show. It's such a brilliantly simple idea – but one that doesn't make it easy on the writers' remit to construct a compelling mystery.
Fred Golan's script hits most of its plot marks, although there were times when the investigation got a little difficult to follow, or care about. What I enjoyed most was the more amenable performance of Goldblum after last week's lazy dip. He's given more opportunities to sidetrack himself with bumbling jokes and banter with witnesses and contacts here, delivered in his amusing staccato style.
In fact, Goldblum is so synonymous with funny eggheads that perhaps that's the reason Raines didn't connect with US audiences? The show's premise revolves around murder and mental illness, only sweetened by Goldblum's quirkiness. I'm enjoying seeing him in a fresher dramatic context, but maybe audiences just expected a lighter show because of his involvement?
The supporting cast are still thinly drawn, with Goldblum shouldering every scene, although I'm looking forward to more appearances from Madeline Stowe as Raines' psychiatrist Dr. Kohl. It's just a shame her enjoyable session with Raines is so short here. But, it's an even greater shame the plot conspired to get Linda Park into hot pants -- but only for one measly shot!
Overall, I'm beginning to sense repetition could creep into Raines, but this was an enjoyable mystery (with a fun Sherlock Holmes steal at the end), although an allusion to Alice In Wonderland didn't really work in a "mad tea party" dream sequence for Raines and Alice.
Like last week, any occasional drabness is forgotten by the time the emotional and quite touching finale arrives. Reconstructing Alice certainly did a good job keeping its storyline moving swiftly and wisely played to Goldblum's natural peculiarity.
11 February 2008
ITV3, 9.00 pm
