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| Customer Reviews: Read 55 more reviews...
 Damian Lewis can act. Could go either way as a series September 13, 2007
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
"Life" is a curious rewrite of the detective show genre, with the potential to be either very good or very bad depending on what the writers do with it. The show itself is really 3 stars, but I'll give it 4 because of Damian Lewis dominating the screen, and will update this review once the series begins and we know more.
In a sentence, the series is about a cop framed for murder who gets exonerated of the crime, gets an awful lot of money for being framed, and goes back to work as a detective. Damian Lewis is a fine choice as the badly scarred Zen-spouting Detective Crews; his utterly quirky (if not bizarre) character may be his best acting job, and could easily replace D'Onofrio's Goren and Shalhoub's Monk as the most interesting cop on television. Lewis can do more with his facial expressions than most actors can shouting, and Crews is a wonderful vehicle for him.
The supporting cast is ok but not in the same league, and it looks like there's already been some recasting with Claudia Black likely replaced as Jennifer Conover, Crews' ex-wife (Jennifer Siebel seems to have taken over her line in the pilot). Sarah Shahi is just as stunningly gorgeous as you'd expect from a Maxim 100 girl as Crews' partner, but seems almost two-dimensional and overwhelmed by Lewis in their scenes together. (Her other scenes are better, and part of the problem is that the character isn't written all that well - the recovering addict set to watch and perhaps trip up Crews is hard to mesh with the straight shooting cop she's periodically asked to play against Lewis.) Adam Arkin has much better chemistry and is solid as Crews' financial advisor/best buddy ex-con. The remainder of the cast (his CO, various other cops, his attorney) don't really have enough scene time early on to tell one way or the other, although unsurprisingly the most solid sequence of the pilot comes with the help of Michael Cudlitz, Band of Brothers' Sergeant "Bull" Randleman, as a very angry inmate whose son's death is the first case for Crews.
The question here is whether or not the potentially interesting underlying frame job plot will get enough play so this doesn't become generic detective show #17193. There are certainly glimmers of hope in the pilot - how they nail the perp is funky, for instance - but there's also some below-average cop show writing here that if continued could easily sink this. It's going to be a very tricky job weaving between the hook of the conspiracy plot and the day-to-day detective work of Crews that could easily make this just another bad cop show.
I'll give it 4 stars in the meantime just for Lewis, and will at least watch a couple more episodes.
 Life is EXCELLENT!! September 10, 2007
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
This show has something for everyone. Plenty of "eye candy" thanks to Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi. Wonderful performances from Damian (as always!), from Sarah and from everyone in it. A very clever, well-written script that will appeal to people who like television that is intelligent, engaging, entertaining, suspenseful, humorous, ... I am so-o-o-o hooked!
I'm looking forward to the official broadcast premiere on September 26, and for the weeks, months and years of Life that follow!
Life is great! September 10, 2007
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
Having viewed the Life pilot, I can honestly say this program has lived up to all my expectations. Damian Lewis never fails to deliver a top notch performance and his role as Charlie Crews is no exception. He comes to American television with a range of experiences that certainly help make this role fascinating. I doubt anyone else could play it this well. Sarah Shahi and Adam Arkin are expertly cast also and nicely round out the main characterizations in this program. It was fast paced, so interest was maintained, and it left me quite eager for the next episode. Two plots running simultaneously require a good script and actors focused on presenting both story lines with clarity. Such is the case with Life.
I shall be tuned in to NBC at 10 PM on Wednesdays very faithfully this fall
Best New show of the year! November 27, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Life is my favorite show of the season.
It is well acted, well written, with a fascinating and original premise.
The show is full of philosophy, i.e. mans search for meaning and justice.
Add to that a couple of beautiful actresses thrown into the mix, and "Life" is a thinking man's perfect show!
03/01/08
I just rewatched all the pre stike episodes this week...
And again, I think this is the best drama of the year and one of the best ever on TV. If you haven't seen this show yet, do yourself a favor and start at the beggining and get addicted like me.
Now THIS is a show to watch September 16, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Finally...a show with an interesting but not forced premise and a strong lead actor. The dynamic between the leads is fun and interesting, the story of why this man came to this horrible point in his life is visual and engaging and it steers far from the 'TV mediocre style' of so much TV. It is told in a straightforward, engaging way. I highly recommend ignoring CHUCK and BIONIC WOMAN...Life is the ticket.
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