ESPN has a history of producing awful movies/tv series from the hideous Bobby Knight movie (he swears alot!) to the embarassingly bad Playmakers (an pro football movie with 100% Canadian content and no sign of Warren Moon is complete horseshit).
TILT had been promo'd like crazy the last two months and I had no idea of what to expect. I have always liked Michael Madsen since Reservoir Dogs. An actor friend of mine says Madsen's acting style is based on one particular device--a guy who's constantly looking for his keys (i.e., he's always scanning the room and rarely looks at the person he's interacting with).
It wasn't bad, but the one thing that shocked me was the AWFUL performance of Norman Chad. Norman is quick-witted and funny on the WSOP broadcasts and I have always enjoyed his writing (Washington Post, The National, his book Hold On Honey, I'll Take You To The Hospital At Halftime: Confessions of a Sports Junkie), but his line reading was so bad I couldn't believe it. It's no big deal as it was 30 seconds of the show, but it was the only thing that stuck in my mind. It kind of reminded me of in the movie Major League when they did the American Express commercial and everybody was relaxed and natural and Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) was a total stiff (with announcing/TV/movie aspirations no less).
(edited by NickBockwinkelFan on 14.1.05 1525) "Well, you can't involve friendship with business. It has to be one or the other. It's either business or friendship, or hit the bricks!" --Life Lessons from "The Tao of Bobby the Brain Heenan" Uncensored 2000 preview
"As long as the check don't bounce, I guess he's okay with it!" --Former All Pro Giants LB Harry Carson on Bill Parcells joining the hated rival Dallas Cowboys
I am kind of disappointed with it, but I'll watch it regardless.
I think they could have made a much more compelling show by focusing more on personalities and less on this overarching plot about The Matador and his scams. Instead a show on the crazy folks who play the high-stakes stuff like the Big Game at Bellagio would be more intriguing. This isn't bad, it's just too conventional I think.
I liked it, but I think has an ongoing series it is very limited. It won't be long til the Kid joins Matador's ranks and then he will have to choose between taking the money from Matador or screwing over his partners which is something he feels kinda comfortable with. I think they already screwed themsleves by having Matador already know Seymor, the older guy, was in town. I like the idea of the Casino and star player faction against the kids, the older veteran and now the cop. The acting is really off though, Madsen is chessey in the role so much so, my wife was amused about it. There are nice touches with everyone who works for the Casino wears a watch like the local sheriff. I'll give it another go around, I do disagree with your commment about Playmakers, I enjoyed it and thought it was a nice dark side to pro football that gets too losed in the Remember the Titans era we live in.
"All faith reguires is giving into the possibility of hope."
I could watch Michael Madsen sitting in a chair in an empty room reading War and Peace and I'd like it, so I obviously like this.
I completely misinterpreted the plot, though. From the promos, I got the idea that Madsen was a lone wolf, heroic gambler type and that the young-uns were villians trying to bring him down. Imagine my surprise when, in the first ten minutes, you see him plotting with the hotel manager to sucker some poor sap out of his money while getting a blowjob.
Originally posted by NickBockwinkelFanNorman is quick-witted and funny on the WSOP broadcasts
If by "quick-witted and funny" you mean "able to have lines written months after the original tape date and unfunny"...then yeah, I guess you're right...
Originally posted by NickBockwinkelFanNorman is quick-witted and funny on the WSOP broadcasts
If by "quick-witted and funny" you mean "able to have lines written months after the original tape date and unfunny"...then yeah, I guess you're right...
See, I think that Norman is hilarious, however long it takes him to come up with his stuff. His riffs on Hellmuth and other blowhards like that are tremendous.
WADSWORTH: The games up, Scarlet. There are no more bullets left in that gun. SCARLET: Oh, come on, you don't think I'm gonna fall for that old trick? WADSWORTH: It's not a trick. There was one shot at Mr. Boddy in the study. Two for the chandelier, two at the lounge door, and one for the singing telegram. SCARLET:That's not six. WADSWORTH: One plus two plus two plus one. SCARLET:Nuh, uh. There was only one shot that got the chandelier. That's one plus two plus ONE plus one. WADSWORTH: Even if you are right, that would be one plus one plus two plus one, not one plus TWO plus one plus one. SCARLET:(thinking) Okay, fine.One plus two plus one--(angered) Shut up!
20TH CENTURY FOX Teen Wolf: Season 6 / Part 1 (The W at Amazon) ARROW VIDEO Stormy Monday (2-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray + DVD] BEL AIR CLASSIQUES The Pharaoh's Daughter (7/21)