Goodbye Joan Girardi

It's official, CBS has pulled the plug on Joan of Arcadia after two seasons. I know it may seem weird for a black guy to be pissed about this but I am. This was a good show, it wasn't great but then aside from The Sopranos, Arrested Development and The West Wing there aren't many great shows on TV. It was just good, but really good. The show was honest, so honest that when compared to every other teen show on TV it often seem overly sweet. Then I would shake my head and remember what high school was like for me. It wasn't hanging out at the beach, or wild parties every weekend, or sex all the time, or flashy clothes. It was failing a test and getting your driver's license and getting your first job that paid minimum wage but made you feel like an adult every two weeks. This show had all of that, yes there was time devoted to the rest of the family:The policeman father, the teacher mother, the cripple older brother and the nerdy younger brother; but Joan was always the anchor. Her character spoke to God but the show wasn't religious although it did at times seem to be. It was about choices, the choices that exist all around us that we are oblivious to, or simply too lazy to explore. Joan through some prodding from God faced those choices every episode and every week we got to see her grow as a person. Many critics said that this past season lacked focus but I disagree completely. This season, more than the first showed how even the smallest choices can affect one's life in great ways. If I had to sum up the theme of the show it would be that you can be happier, you can be more fulfilled and satisfied with your life, you can make a difference. All that is required is patience,risk,confidence and ultimately faith. Sounds easy doesn't it?

Crash

Paul Haggis' "Crash" is a movie that makes us ask the worst questions about ourselves and our own racist inclinations. Where do these thoughts come from? Are these thoughts inborn or are they learned? A beautiful ensemble piece, Crash examines modern day Los Angeles in a 36 hour period where several events have the lives of about 15 characters converging.

This ensemble piece has yielded several great performances, notably Matt Dillon as a racist cop and Thandie Newton as the wife a black socialite who is violated during a police frisk. Dillon's character is so multi-dimensional, that you hate him, empathize with him and identify with him. Superbly acted, Dillon never misses a beat.

Newton's performance is exceptional as well. Showing gut-wrenching emotion is tricky because you have to straddle that line between believability and maudlin. Some people can do it. Some people can't. Newton can.

Also to be noted is Terrence Howard's performance. It's good to see this great actor, who's had a lot of small roles in films over the years, finally get a chance to show his acting chops in his role as a black television exec who must deal with racism on the job, and from LA cops.

The best way to describe this film is "Magnolia" or "Requiem for a Dream" save all the melodrama and entropic tragedy. "Crash" is different in that all or most of the characters find some peace or at least some realization. And that is a lovely thing.

3 and a half stars.

Arrested Development renewed

The president of FOX has announced that the show has been renewed for a third season. Start spreading the word now. read more