Interesting. I had a completely different reaction to seeing Jeff Goldblum on Law and Order for the first time; I was convinced that he melted into the show in the same way a person slides into their favorite pair of jeans. And his "eccentric detective" character runs rings and figure eights around Vincent D'Onofrio's Robert Goren. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Goren, however I can't shake the feeling sometimes that D'Onofrio is working hard at Goren, whereas Jeff Goldblum inhabits Nichols like a man possessed. Which makes sense, given the facts included in the article about his method.
-- mlisaoverdrive
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Goldblum can't hold a candle to Vincent D'Onofrio. Goldblum is a cartoon character. D'Onofrio is flawed and personal. I like Goldblum in broad character roles like Jurassic Park and Independence Day, but they are all the same characters.
D'Onofrio is on the level of Robbie Coltrane in Cracker. Goldblum? Just quirky. Americans like broadly quirky though, anything that hits a little too close to being personal and real makes them nervous. That's why Americans screw up excellent TV shows like Cracker and Prime Suspect when they try to remake them.
-- Adrasteia
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Your review is exactly right except it only impliedly answered its question: What is Goldblum doing on Criminal Intent? It is obvious why Criminal Intent's producers wanted him -- he has added a truly original, twisted character to the formulaic Law & Order series. He has added stature.
From his own point of view, in light of his career choices described in your piece -- challenging a formula program is its own campy reward. Goldblum is known as a better actor than his movies are known as good movies. He has never been too pure to take on a commercial project with little artistic merit. Nor has he been afraid to take on an artistic project with zero commercial potential.
In his most memorable and representative role (the People magazine writer in The Big Chill) he introduces core character traits that have animated his entire career. In a nutshell, he lives within his own quirks and takes reality as it comes, one day at a time. The result is that rare Hollywood result -- art.
-- john adkisson
(To reply, click here)
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Interesting. I had a completely different reaction to seeing Jeff Goldblum on Law and Order for the first time; I was convinced that he melted into the show in the same way a person slides into their favorite pair of jeans. And his "eccentric detective" character runs rings and figure eights around Vincent D'Onofrio's Robert Goren. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Goren, however I can't shake the feeling sometimes that D'Onofrio is working hard at Goren, whereas Jeff Goldblum inhabits Nichols like a man possessed. Which makes sense, given the facts included in the article about his method.
-- mlisaoverdrive
(To reply, click here)
Goldblum can't hold a candle to Vincent D'Onofrio. Goldblum is a cartoon character. D'Onofrio is flawed and personal. I like Goldblum in broad character roles like Jurassic Park and Independence Day, but they are all the same characters.
D'Onofrio is on the level of Robbie Coltrane in Cracker. Goldblum? Just quirky. Americans like broadly quirky though, anything that hits a little too close to being personal and real makes them nervous. That's why Americans screw up excellent TV shows like Cracker and Prime Suspect when they try to remake them.
-- Adrasteia
(To reply, click here)
Your review is exactly right except it only impliedly answered its question: What is Goldblum doing on Criminal Intent? It is obvious why Criminal Intent's producers wanted him -- he has added a truly original, twisted character to the formulaic Law & Order series. He has added stature.
From his own point of view, in light of his career choices described in your piece -- challenging a formula program is its own campy reward. Goldblum is known as a better actor than his movies are known as good movies. He has never been too pure to take on a commercial project with little artistic merit. Nor has he been afraid to take on an artistic project with zero commercial potential.
In his most memorable and representative role (the People magazine writer in The Big Chill) he introduces core character traits that have animated his entire career. In a nutshell, he lives within his own quirks and takes reality as it comes, one day at a time. The result is that rare Hollywood result -- art.
-- john adkisson
(To reply, click here)