One of the reasons I decided to become a "prolific" reviewer for the IMDb (aside from the once-a-year thank you notes from the founder, each with no return address) was that I was gob-smacked at how primetime TV had suddenly became (on average) BETTER THAN THEATRICAL RELEASES.
Way back when dinosaurs walked, I was a professional critic (as in, people actually paid me) and I never thought I would see the day when TV quality surpassed big-screen productions.
I was wrong, I admit it, and it is episodes like this that underscore the point.
This episode is so tight it squeaks, barely has one false note or one missed edit or one line of dialog lacking zing, and more suspense than a dozen recent big-name movie releases I could mention.
(CASE IN POINT -- a recent Hollywood release about an ex-Air Marshall on a plane where he knows there is a killer on board, but not who, does not even come close to capturing viewer attention to the degree this episode does.)
Two other notes:
* Jim Caviezel has been kept in reserve for the last few episodes. But unleash him, and his charisma, unshaven or not, still hits the bullseye each time. He owns this episode. And he is re-defining cool.
* in an earlier review I applauded JJ and Nolan for re-thinking "on the fly" a series which was already a hit. This episode shows enormous skill and craft, and continues the notion of taking POI up a notch.
Boy is this great TV
Way back when dinosaurs walked, I was a professional critic (as in, people actually paid me) and I never thought I would see the day when TV quality surpassed big-screen productions.
I was wrong, I admit it, and it is episodes like this that underscore the point.
This episode is so tight it squeaks, barely has one false note or one missed edit or one line of dialog lacking zing, and more suspense than a dozen recent big-name movie releases I could mention.
(CASE IN POINT -- a recent Hollywood release about an ex-Air Marshall on a plane where he knows there is a killer on board, but not who, does not even come close to capturing viewer attention to the degree this episode does.)
Two other notes:
* Jim Caviezel has been kept in reserve for the last few episodes. But unleash him, and his charisma, unshaven or not, still hits the bullseye each time. He owns this episode. And he is re-defining cool.
* in an earlier review I applauded JJ and Nolan for re-thinking "on the fly" a series which was already a hit. This episode shows enormous skill and craft, and continues the notion of taking POI up a notch.
Boy is this great TV