REALLY SHORT PILOT REVIEW: SMITH
Rawked. \^^/
Critics have complained of Smith's lack of likeable characters. I like Smith for that very reason. Screw characters being likable. Just make them interesting. Simon Baker's Jeff is a functional psychopath. I fear what he might do next. After a string of crappy heist-based TV shows that try to make us root for them by making us understand them, Smith (pilot on innertube at CBS.com) just lets them be as they are. You don't get this much, and even less on prime-time American TV. We may come to understand them and identify with them, but not today.
Herc at Ain't It Cool News called this a "stupid attempt to do Tarantino TV without Tarantino." I think this is a gross generalization. Herc is apparently crediting QT with the entire idea of following the bad guy at all. This is nothing like Tarantino (nor should it be). In fact, I see more of Michael Mann in the style of this show. If this is Herc's rationale for his dislike of the show, then I think he came into it tainted and his off-base comparison discounts the entirety of his opinion.
I just hope it doesn't go all pear-shaped in the very next episode.
Unrelated: My Heroes (P)review at comicbookresources.com
Critics have complained of Smith's lack of likeable characters. I like Smith for that very reason. Screw characters being likable. Just make them interesting. Simon Baker's Jeff is a functional psychopath. I fear what he might do next. After a string of crappy heist-based TV shows that try to make us root for them by making us understand them, Smith (pilot on innertube at CBS.com) just lets them be as they are. You don't get this much, and even less on prime-time American TV. We may come to understand them and identify with them, but not today.
Herc at Ain't It Cool News called this a "stupid attempt to do Tarantino TV without Tarantino." I think this is a gross generalization. Herc is apparently crediting QT with the entire idea of following the bad guy at all. This is nothing like Tarantino (nor should it be). In fact, I see more of Michael Mann in the style of this show. If this is Herc's rationale for his dislike of the show, then I think he came into it tainted and his off-base comparison discounts the entirety of his opinion.I just hope it doesn't go all pear-shaped in the very next episode.
Unrelated: My Heroes (P)review at comicbookresources.com
6 Comments:
I'll check out Smith, Shark looks liek crap though.
I watched the pilot of "Smith" last night, thanks to the glory of TIVO. I thought it was pretty good.
I thought it borrowed a lot from "Heat"(I noticed you mentioned Michael Mann in your review), and I liked that they didn't try to force some reason why we should "like" these characters. I look forward to seeing it again, actually.
I dug it.
I'm going to watch the pilot tonight, but I wanted to address the idea that Herc is faulting the series for what it isn't rather than what it is.
It's wrong.
It's sloppy.
It's sad to think that some people may not watch because the reviewer didn't do his job properly.
I liked Smith too. I apreciate what they're trying to do, I totaly saw the Michael Mann thing too.
It's nothing like a Tarantino version would be at all. I don't know where he got that.
I like SMITH.
I wrote on my blog, the best part of the show was when he intimidates his "manager", the manager leaves, shaken, and Ray Liotta smirks.
The weakest part, IMO, is when the gambler dies and his cousin gets teary eyed.
I'm definitely going to be watching this one!
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