Good complex stories intertwined masterfully by Sorkin, directed with usual greatness, and acted perfectly EXCEPT for Felicity Huffman. Ms Huffman has a relatively limited career on TV, and we see why. She seems stuck in 'stage' mode - acting for theatre audiences. Sorkin probably likes her, inasmuch as she was a lead in Sportnight, which was Sorkin's entreé into TV years earlier. Sportsnight was ahead of its time in several ways - it was remarkable, driven by powerful, breathtaking dialogue.
Sorkin's dialogue here in The West Wing is, of course, stunning and even more refined and subtle. Huffman's acting, however, is, as usual, just Huffman acting. She delivers her lines in a way that shows how much she prepared to deliver them. Everything is thoroughly practiced and delivered with stilted deliberation. She seems to have overlooked that her lines are part of conversations, not monologues. She doesn't have the sense of pace, and certainly lacks an ability to seem as though she is actually listening and this participating in a conversation.
She also seems excited to be 'here' - on The West Wing! It's like an electrical energy flowing beneath her words and smirks. And, it's distracting. She seems like an over-excited cast wannabe. I'm glad this is her only appearance.
Sorkin's dialogue here in The West Wing is, of course, stunning and even more refined and subtle. Huffman's acting, however, is, as usual, just Huffman acting. She delivers her lines in a way that shows how much she prepared to deliver them. Everything is thoroughly practiced and delivered with stilted deliberation. She seems to have overlooked that her lines are part of conversations, not monologues. She doesn't have the sense of pace, and certainly lacks an ability to seem as though she is actually listening and this participating in a conversation.
She also seems excited to be 'here' - on The West Wing! It's like an electrical energy flowing beneath her words and smirks. And, it's distracting. She seems like an over-excited cast wannabe. I'm glad this is her only appearance.
