Random thoughts...

...on The Terminal (dir. Steven Spielberg)...

I think The Terminal would have worked if:

(A) It had been done like a Jeunet movie: a completely self-contained, fully-stylized fantasy world.

...or...

(B) It had been done in a rigorously naturalistic style, with lots of long takes, going for a brooding, art-house effect.

Either way, it would have needed to ditch the idea of Stanley Tucci as the "bad guy" and play up the notion that it's the bureacratic system that's the big problem and petty bureaucrats themselves only symptoms.

...on Andy Barker, P.I....

With this and My Name is Earl and The Knights of Prosperity, I have to wonder: is it too much to ask for a fully-baked "one camera" show instead of these half-hearted attempts to move out of the sitcom ghetto? Enough with the wacky ethnic characters!!!

...on Prime Suspect...

Is this the best show about institutional/departmental politics since The Sandbaggers? If so, why are the Brits so good at this kind of thing?