"Life" (2007)
Rated: unknown
Starring: Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Brooke Langton, Adam Arkin
SUMMARY: After twelve years into a life sentence, a Cop framed for murder is released and given a very large settlement that makes him a detective in addition to an undisclosed amount of money.
No, the show has nothing to do with the classic board game. The title comes from the show's tagline, "Life was his sentence. Life was what he got back." It also connects to the main character's new zen philosophy on life and its interconnectedness.
Damien Lewis' quirky detective is pretty unique even in the sea of new "quirky" detectives. USA (which is owned by NBC Universal who also owns NBC Network) has made a name for itself with its quirky detectives. The obsessive compulsive "Monk" is a great success, and "Psych"'s fake psychic Shawn Spencer is my personal favorite. But Charlie Crews is unique. He's prison hardened but constantly spouts zen philosophy while driving his new Bentley coup, and there is almost nothing cooler than a cop pulling someone over while driving a Bentley coup! Also, for an extra splash of comedy, he's a total fish out of water in our modern, technologically advanced decade. He forgets his phone is as small as it is. He's never heard of an IM. And when his $170,000 car answers his cell phone for him, he has no idea where the voice is coming from.
Still, it is a detective show. The case was pretty standard, if a bit disturbing. A show that's first episode deals with a murdered kid definitely deserves to be in the 10/9c timeslot. An interesting twist on the genre, though, is the insertion of documentary like interviews with the people around Crews. His lawyer, his ex-wife, his ex-partner, his financial advisor, etc. While interesting, I'm not sure if it works. It doesn't add much to the show, and generally, I think mockumentary interviews like that belong in comedies such as "Waiting for Guffman" or "The Office." But we'll see.
Content wise, it can get pretty rough. From jailhouse beat downs to a kid lying dead, the violence is definitely a powerful presence. Language, mild. Sexuality and nudity, a woman's bare back, the same woman in the shower with her clothes ON, and another girl being playfully chased by Crews through his mansion in her underwear with clear intentions. Again, it's in the 10/9c timeslot. Not for kids.
All in all, it's a solid show with an interesting character that makes for an enjoyable watch. It comes on right after the new "Bionic Woman" on Wednesday nights, so there's a good chance I'll watch it.
OVERALL: 7
LANGUAGE: 1
VIOLENCE: 2
GORE: 2
SEXUALITY: 2
NUDITY: 2
