Tuesday, April 4, 2000

TV opens the books on Soprano-inspired mob dramas

This week TV is all mobbed up as CBS airs the 10-hour miniseries "Falcone" for eight nights (skipping only Sunday), starting at 8 p.m. today.
   The series is based on the real-life exploits of Joe Pistone, an undercover FBI man who operated inside a New York organized crime ring for seven years. "Falcone" stars Jason Gedrick in the title role and Titus Welliver as mob boss Sonny Napoli, who works him into the crew. Pistone's saga also was told on the big screen in the film "Donnie Brasco."
   Comparisons to "The Sopranos," HBO's peerless wiseguy drama, made the cast and producers bristle during recent interviews in Los Angeles.
   "I think the audience is pretty sophisticated. I don't think they're going to say that we're some sort of rip-off of 'The Sopranos.' Hopefully, we get judged on our own merits. We're a lot different," said "Falcone" producer Bob Singer.
   Gedrick, veteran of the well-reviewed but prematurely canceled series "Murder One" and "EZ Streets," said he hoped "Falcone" would catch on and returns as a weekly show. And he frowned at comparisons to Johnny Depp, who played Pistone in "Donnie Brasco."
   "If I try to imitate another performance, like Johnny Depp's, it becomes a different show. I have to give (Falcone) his own identity. It's based on this man's fascinating life, but my job is to really make it my own and make it believable," said Gedrick.
   Pistone works as a consultant on the show, clueing in Gedrick to little details about FBI protocol and how an undercover man would behave in the presence of made men.
   The authenticity also extends to the violence on the show. Not as bloody or profanity-laced as "The Sopranos," "Falcone" does blow away some of its baddies with startling ferocity.
   "While I won't say we're not a violent show, I wouldn't say that the selling point of the show is violence," said Singer. "This world clearly has violence in it and what strikes me is that it's sudden and comes out of nowhere. We probably have (fewer) acts of violence per episode than a lot of shows currently on television."
   "Falcone" continues at 9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; and 9 p.m. April 10-12.
   High on "High Fidelity"
   John Cusack is the only movie star who should ever be allowed to talk directly to the camera. He does it with such ease and affability, moviegoers feel like they're part of a personal, two-way conversation.
   In the new film "High Fidelity," he carries on a long chat with us about his failing love life and his devotion to the LP. Cusack plays the owner of a quirky record store (yes, records, not CDs) who's re-evaluating his entire romantic history. Abandoned by his latest girlfriend, he thinks his only redemption will come from contacting each of his old flames, dating back to seventh grade, to ask them what he did wrong.
   And isn't that a fantasy we've all indulged in?
   Co-written by Cusack (based on Nick Hornby's novel) and directed by Stephen Frears, this little movie packs a big comedic punch and pays off with an endearing, highly musical ending. One cute recurring bit has Cusack and his uber-nerd record store clerks coming up with top five lists: songs to play on a Monday morning, worst break-ups, dream jobs.
   So, in the spirit, here are what I consider the top five John Cusack movies: "Being John Malkovich," "Say Anything," "The Grifters," "Bullets Over Broadway" and "Pushing Tin." All except the first are available on video.
   Springing forward
   AT&T Cable customers may have noticed that the time clock on their digital boxes didn't spring forward Saturday night for daylight saving time. The onscreen program listings were still an hour off Sunday and Monday, which made pre-set videotaping a real mess.
   A spokesman for the cable company said the resetting of the digital boxes is programmed in the Denver headquarters. They hope to have the right time displayed on the boxes and program data by today.
  
  
  

 
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