The X-Files Season 9

Tags

2000's, Annabeth Gish, Burt Reynolds, Cary Elwes, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Lucy Lawless, Mitch Pileggi, Robert Patrick, The X-Files, The X-Files Season 9

I thought it was about time I got back into my X-Files reviews again after a hiatus. So here is my review of last season of the original run. At this point in the show, it was running out of steam and becoming a bit stale. Season 8 was redeemed by an emotional finale, but I could sense that the show was running a bit low. With Season 9, there are obvious flaws here, but it still has moments that shine. Spoilers will be following in this review so be warned.

Mulder(David Duchovny) has gone into hiding after bring tipped off by Kirsch about the fact that he’s in danger. Meanwhile, Scully(Gillian Anderson) is taking care of her son William and is on maternity leave for the beginning of the season feeling she must protect her son from the possible dangers her work poses, before coming back slowly to work. Determined Doggett(Robert Patrick) is investigating Kirsch as he believes he has links to the conspiracy of creating super soldiers that has been referenced by many for a while. It turns out that Kirsch actually despite his own terse and shifty persona has been helping all the agents present even though those above him have been manipulating him. Doggett and good friend Monica Reyes(Annabeth Gish) continue investigating the X-Files and experience more strange cases, later being joined by Scully and often Skinner(Mitch Pileggi). There is also another new Assistant Director, Brad Follmer(Cary Elwes), who has history with Reyes and is something of an ambivalent character who you’re never quite sure what to make of. More evidence is discovered of the covert experiments to create indestructible beings within the darkness of the government. Scully’s baby begins exhibiting signs of powers far beyond logical explanation, that leads all the agents down into the conspiracy and how it holds links to baby William and the dangers that are posed to him. The main danger begins with a UFO cult who believe that William will lead the Super Soldiers and resort to kidnapping the child. Thankfully, Scully and Reyes manage to rescue him, but the experience leaves Scully having to make an important and painful decision.When Mulder comes out of hiding, more danger is sure to follow. So what will become of everyone in the story?

By this point in the scope of The X-Files, I believe it was obvious to many that the show had run its course. The absence of Mulder poses one of the biggest problems in Season 9. Season 8 can be forgiven because Mulder reappeared again in the middle and remained, but here his presence is limited greatly bringing incoherence and inconsistency to the mix. A lot of it has that disjointed feeling again that continues. Some Monster of the Week installments are good, but then there are those that start to feel dated and stale later. The various story lines vary in quality, with some very good and some sinking ships. The William story line was one of the better stories as it had some genuine emotion present. Plus, it led to some of the best episodes of this up and down season so it’s something to be grateful for. The Super Soldiers part of the story is good enough, but it never quite makes an indelible work where it really should have.

Despite mounting weaknesses and diminishing results, some shining moments of note can at least be gleaned. The two-part season opener has an excellent air of mystery and intrigue to it, that starts what becomes a very flawed season off very well. ‘Trust No 1’ in which a mysterious man who is in fact a Super Soldier plays on Scully desire to see Mulder in order to draw him out of hiding again is a nail-biting episode. This is an episode that really plays upon the fear of being observed without knowing it through black and white integration of camera footage prowling around the characters. It has a real flavour of The X-Files of old. Emotions run high in both ‘Provenance’ and ‘Providence’ as William is kidnapped and Scully is prepared to do whatever it takes to get her son back from the hands of the cult. It showcases Scully as a fierce matriarch going the distance and fighting with all she’s got to save her son. A comical highlight has to be ‘Improbable’ which guest stars Burt Reynolds as a most mysterious man whose card playing and numerology somehow chimes in with cases of murder revolving around the number three(luck, chance and fate play a large part too). Some of the situations in the episode are hilariously done with Reyes and Scully both having to play checkers with him before discovering something important. Reynolds has a blast in his part and steals the episode away from everyone with his amusing yet mysterious personality. ‘William’ provides sadness as Scully has to decide to give her son up for adoption as the powers of evil will never stop searching for him as long as he is with her. And I have to talk about the final two episodes ‘The Truth’ in which Mulder surfaces again after being accused of killing a military man, who was in fact a Super Soldier. A trial ensues with Skinner representing Mulder and a whole array of characters past and present being seen in various forms. An exciting getaway for Mulder and Scully is helped by those closest, where they must now ponder a unnerving future.  The use of flashbacks and past characters is a good touch to have as well as Mulder’s return. Yet while the finale answers some burning questions, it gives even more of them more convolution.  I just really wanted a bit more closure than anything in the finale, but as it was, the finale was pretty good albeit ambiguous.

Season 9 may be something of a nadir, but at least there is excellent acting to be found. Gillian Anderson once more provides the show’s emotional anchor as Scully and is as adept as ever portraying her as a maternal figure of determination. By this point, Anderson has fully embodied the character to such a degree that we believe every move she makes because we’ve been along on the same journey as she has over the course of nine seasons. David Duchovny is shortchanged this time around as Mulder, as he appears only twice and it is the finale. He’s still exemplary as Mulder, no one else could have played the character, but I just wanted more of him this season considering it was to tie up loose ends. Robert Patrick impresses as Doggett, whose skepticism brings out the stern yet sarcastic side to his character, even as he begins to come around to the idea of the paranormal. Doggett is a very by the book guy and Patrick captures this excellently, while revealing a vulnerability beneath his tough guy image. Partnering him is Annabeth Gish, who comes into her own as Reyes. Balancing logic with a curiosity towards things that defy natural laws, Gish plays Reyes as a determined yet caring agent. Doggett and Reyes are no Mulder and Scully, but then again I don’t believe there were meant to be. Mitch Pileggi is resolute as always playing Skinner, who finally added to the main cast. I liked seeing this touch as Skinner has proved a very good and purposeful ally to the show and the characters. Cary Elwes is a shifty presence as Follmer, whose loyalties are very much called into question during his time on the show. An underused Lucy Lawless manages to be intriguing and alluring as a renegade super soldier who passes on information to Doggett. The problem is I would have liked to have seen more of her character than what the show had.

 

1. Nothing Important Happened Today – B
2. Nothing Important Happened Today II – B+
3. Dæmonicus – C-
4. 4-D – D
5. Lord of the Flies – C-
6. Trust No 1 – A+
7. John Doe – B+
8. Hellbound – B
9. Provenance – A
10. Providence – A
11. Audrey Pauley – D
12. Underneath – C-
13. Improbable – A
14. Scary Monsters – C-
15. Jump the Shark – C
16. William – B+
17. Release – C-
18. Sunshine Days – D-
19. The Truth Part 1 – B+
20. The Truth Part 2 – B+

So the original run of The X-Files is a definite mixed bag, that sometimes over complicates itself. Still, there is some respite to be found, even though the show could have ended on a somewhat better note.

Though I must say I’ve enjoyed delving into the show and going to the beginning to full experience it after hearing so much about the show. I have found the show to be excellent and can see why it is so iconic, even if the quality slowly ebbs away as it goes on. And fear not, I will continue charting my X-Files watching with a review of the second movie and the six-part series from earlier this year.

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Mystic Pizza

Tags

1980's, Adam Storke, Annabeth Gish, Coming-of-Age, Conchata Ferrell, Donald Petrie, Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor, Mystic Pizza, Vincent D'Onofrio, William R. Moses

Film Title

Mystic Pizza

Director

Donald Petrie

Starring

• Annabeth Gish as Kat Arujo
• Julia Roberts as Daisy Arujo
• Lili Taylor as Jojo Barbosa
• Vincent D’Onofrio as Bill Montijo
• William R. Moses as Tim Travers
• Adam Storke as Charlie Gordon Windsor, Jr.
• Conchata Ferrell as Leona

An enchanting slice of coming of age drama, Mystic Pizza is delightfully directed and acted, crafting an entertaining and quite moving story of three girls growing up and learning about the unpredictability of life.

In the seaside town of Mystic, Connecticut that has a largely Portuguese-American population, three working-class young ladies are fresh out of high school. These girls are sisters Kat and Daisy Arujo and best friend Jojo Barbosa. All three of them work as waitresses at the eponymous pizza parlor that is run by Leona, who watches over the girls with a sagacious eye. Kat is the studious one, who has been accepted to Yale but is saving the money up to pay for it. She is seen by many as the sensible girl of the three. To help pay for university, the bright Kat(whose main passion is astrology) takes another job babysitting for Tim Travers and his young daughter. Soon enough, Kat falls hard for her employer as they bond over subjects and each other’s company, despite knowing that he has a wife and he is significantly older. Kat’s sister Daisy is the complete opposite; brassy, loose and wild. As much as the sisters are close, there is rivalry between them as Kat is held in high regard by her mother for her drive, while the feisty Daisy is chided for her lack of direction and immoral behaviour. Daisy catches the attentions of preppy Charlie Gordon Windsor, Jr, a recent law school dropout who is something of the black sheep in his affluent family.  Yet Daisy begins to wonder whether Charlie is really into their union or is just trying to rebel against his family by dating her. Completing the troika is Jojo, who is the wise-cracking kooky one. She was supposed to marry rugged and big-hearted fisherman Bill at the beginning of the film but couldn’t go through with it. She’s still seeing Bill, though he now doesn’t want to have sex until the two are married. This poses a problem for Jojo as she wants adventure, sex and to live life before settling down. Over the course of the film, the three girls will learn about life, love and friendship as each contemplates the future.

Donald Petrie directs with a real flavour for the material, bestowing Mystic Pizza with amusing anecdotes and sensitively observed lessons in love and growth. He knows when to use humour and when to imbue the film with poignancy as each of the three girls navigates changes and feelings that affect them deeply. It’s the keen insight into their journeys that makes Mystic Pizza a heartening experience as we grow to like these three ladies just on the cusp of womanhood. We relate to them and share their hopes, dreams and fears of what could lie ahead, both for their lives and their hearts. It helps that the script defines these characters as individuals and brings out all their idiosyncrasies in delightfully warm fashion, making them very well-defined. Sure some of it gets a bit mawkish on occasion, but Mystic Pizza is so heartwarming and arresting that this can be seen as a really minor flaw in what is a very well made and excellent story. A lilting score, infused with a Portuguese tint to establish the atmosphere of the town is beautifully rendered.

Annabeth Gish is engaging and subtle as Kat, a girl with a clear set of goals but not immune to the longings of the heart which she comes to realise. Gish imbues the part with a straight arrow intelligence and slight naivety as her character unexpectedly develops feelings for her much older employer. As the feisty and sassy Daisy, who wants to do anything to get out of Mystic and finds her love life changing and being challenged, Julia Roberts showcases star charisma, sensitivity and big personality which would all help her to become of the biggest stars on the planet in the ensuing years after the release of this film. Lili Taylor rounds out the female circle of leads with an eccentric performance as the free-spirited and slightly oddball Jojo, who is caught between settling down on experimenting with life before it. A real feeling of camaraderie can be seen in the work of the three main actresses and this chemistry is what makes the film work so well as we believe their bonds of friendship that they share deeply with one another. And while it’s the ladies that dominate the film, the men do well too, albeit in less interesting roles. Vincent D’Onofrio stars as the amusingly good-hearted gentle giant who wants to marry Jojo because he is so in love with her and continues to pursue her. William R. Moses plays the object of Kat’s affections good enough while Adam Storke portrays the blue-blooded guy attracted to Daisy, but constantly at the behest of his family who he tries to impress. In a sharp supporting turn, Conchata Ferrell is motherly and firm as the owner of the pizza place, who guards her secret recipe tightly, much to the girl’s annoyance as they attempt various ways to get her to spill.

Well played by the cast and observed with emotional clarity, Mystic Pizza is a feel-good movie that touches the heart, yet never forgets to shed light on the often difficult lessons we all must learn as we grow up and must make important decisions.

The X-Files Season 8

Tags

2000's, Annabeth Gish, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Nicholas Lea, Robert Patrick, The X-Files, The X-Files Season 8

Season 7 represented something of a weak point within The X-Files, despite some very good episodes and a redeeming finale that left us with a good few shocks. Now I’m on to Season 8, which from what I’ve read is not exactly most well liked season of the show as newer characters are introduced but absences are felt in what was at the time the penultimate season of the original run. With David Duchovny in a reduced capacity, some of Season 8 flounders as it misses some of the snap it had before. Yet, there is still some good to be found, despite the mounting flaws. This season is very much one of two halves. Warning, spoilers will be following in my review of the penultimate season.

We pick up with a pregnant Scully(Gillian Anderson) as she searches tenaciously to find Mulder(David Duchovny), who was abducted by aliens at the end of Season 7. She has to work with Agent John Doggett(Robert Patrick), who leads a FBI task force in search of Mulder, despite Scully’s reservations about him and preference to work with loyal Skinner(Mitch Pileggi). The search takes significant twists and turns due to the shape shifting Alien Bounty Hunter and interference from superiors, but somehow no one can find Mulder. Meanwhile, Mulder is alive but not well at all, as aliens perform gruesome experiments on him. Doggett is eventually assigned to The X-Files and slowly strikes up a comfortable enough relationship with Scully. By this point, Scully is now a somewhat reluctant believer in the paranormal, in stark comparison with the rational and straight arrow Doggett, who is similar to what Scully was in the beginning of her work. As they delve into the paranormal and unexplained, strangeness is never far from view. An old friend of Doggett’s and fellow agent Monica Reyes(Annabeth Gish) appears and begins to assist them both. Mysteriously, Mulder returns deceased before being strangely brought back to life, which surprises everyone. While Mulder returns against orders not to, he is then fired as pressure from the head director gets personal and he ends up helping Scully secretly with the cases. Scully’s unexpected pregnancy begins to play an important part of the story, as it becomes apparent through sources such as devious Krycek(Nicholas Lea) that the child is a special one that is to be in great danger once born. The prospect of more alien invasion and long-buried government conspiracy become a lot more prominent and looming as the season reaches its climax. What lies ahead for all involved?

The biggest criticism I can aim at this season is the up and down quality of episodes. Whereas past seasons were filled with some really stellar moments, Season 8 is a bit of a let down. Granted there are moments of quality, none quite measure up with some of the iconic and very memorable work that the show has produced in the past. There are some episodes that recycle old ideas in an unsuccessful way and this is really a shame as the show is often one of innovation. The past two seasons showed signs of slowing down, but here there are points when it borders on lethargic. The fact that Mulder is absent for large chunks of the season is a negative, as the relationship between him and Scully is the driving force behind the show. Once Mulder is back in the picture, things pick up. Also, the absence of Cigarette Smoking Man is felt as he always brings the villainy to the table no matter how long he’s on screen for. I just get the feeling that the writers and producers were running a bit low on ideas here and it definitely shows in many instances.

On the positive side, some themes explored are very well observed and as I previously mentioned, the latter half of the season really picks up. Death and resurrection play a big part of this season, adding a bit more dimension to this at times underwhelming season. The arc of Scully’s pregnancy and that her child could be special but in great danger was very well executed and brought an emotional pull to this season, which some of the other episodes lacked. The moment when the baby is born at the very end of the season is a really heart tugger and filled with a real joy, plus we get a passionate and warm kiss shared between Mulder and Scully. And once Mulder comes back into the story, a lot of things start to go right as his absence has caused a void. That being said John Doggett is a good enough character to watch. Sure he’s no Mulder(as there can only be one) but he is still a good addition to the show.

There are still great episodes and moments to be found, despite the overriding feeling of running out of ideas and sometimes lack of coherence. One of the creepiest parts of the season is found in ‘Without’ as Mulder is subjected to horrific experiments from aliens that will have you squirming in your seats due to how unsettling they are and the way they are shot. Stomach-churning contents continue in the unnerving ‘Roadrunners’, in which Scully investigates a murder that leads her to a seemingly amiable town. Yet the people in the place don’t want her to leave as they are part of a cult that worships a parasitic form that they infect strangers with; Scully it would appear is their next chosen victim. Lets just say things get nasty very quickly. ‘The Gift’, featuring a creature that takes disease from the sick but is exploited for it has a definite tragic quality that strikes you. A real highlight of Season 8 is ‘This Is Not Happening’, in which former abductees are returned to Earth, with Mulder being one of them, albeit seemingly diseased. Scully’s reaction to seeing Mulder’s body is a real gut punch and you really just want to comfort her. The following episode ‘Deadalive’ is a tense fight against the clock to save Mulder as it becomes apparent that he’s alive again, there are still dangers posing. Luckily, Mulder is restored to fine health and the fans rejoice. And I loved the throwback to old X-Files with government conspiracy becoming prominent again, after an absence of too long. And the last two episodes of the season in ‘Essence’ and ‘Existence’ are gripping and nail-biting television, complete with memorable scenes of Krycek being terminated and Scully giving birth.

It must be said that the acting from the main principles is typically great. Major kudos to Gillian Anderson for showing Scully’s emergence as a reluctant believer, keeping the faith in the unknown burning. With her delivery of emotion and strength, Anderson is remarkably effective this season. It truly is great seeing Scully firmly in believer territory, as there is no other explanation. Her growth over the years has been so well-played by Gillian Anderson who has infused the part with a deep memorability. I’m guessing the introduction of John Doggett was more than met with a bit of contention, but Robert Patrick does a credible job. Essentially an honest, determined former cop and marine, Patrick makes Doggett reminiscent of how skeptical Scully used to be and shows us how his mettle is tested by his brushes with the paranormal. Combining a toughness, discipline and haunted look due to demons of his past, I liked that Robert Patrick didn’t try to just play another Mulder, as that wouldn’t have worked. When he does appear, David Duchovny is also excellent as Mulder. Despite the wrangles with the plots when he isn’t there, Duchovny makes his present felt as everyone’s favourite Mulder. And it’s great whenever he’s on screen as it adds to the emotion of the show, viewing his bond with Scully and then their baby boy. His absence is deeply felt when he isn’t on the screen, but when he is there everything starts to click. Stalwart star Mitch Pileggi is on cracking form as loyal and dependable Skinner, who begins to take things into his own hands, despite the hazards that could befall him. Skinner is featured heavily in this season and I am thankful for that as he has emerged as one of my favourite characters. Nicholas Lea is as slimy as ever as Krycek, who at times becomes a reluctant ally to Mulder and Scully but is really in it for himself as he always has been. When he gets whats coming to him, it’s a cathartic moment considering all the damage he’s done to everyone over the years. Annabeth Gish appears a handful of times as Monica Reyes, and while some of her character isn’t well-developed enough yet, Gish brings a kooky charm to the character.

1. Within – B+
2. Without – A
3. Patience – D
4. Roadrunners – A
5. Invocation – E
6. Redrum – D-
7. Via Negativa – B
8. Surekill – C-
9. Salvage – D-
10. Badlaa – C+
11. The Gift – A
12. Medusa – C-
13. Per Manum – B
14. This Is Not Happening – A+
15. Deadalive – A+
16. Three Words – A
17. Empedocles – B
18. Vienen – B+
19. Alone – B
20. Essence – A
21. Existence – A+

A significantly weaker season than most in The X-Files, Season 8 manages to just stay interesting and gripping enough thanks to some really great stand alone episodes, the excellence of the last half and performances, especially from Gillian Anderson.

Double Jeopardy

Tags

1990's, Annabeth Gish, Ashley Judd, Bruce Beresford, Bruce Greenwood, Double Jeopardy, Thriller, Tommy Lee Jones

Film Title

Double Jeopardy

Director

Bruce Beresford

Starring

• Ashley Judd as Libby Parsons
• Tommy Lee Jones as Travis Lehman
• Bruce Greenwood as Nick Parsons/Jonathan Devereaux
• Annabeth Gish as Angie Green

If there was ever a film that was by the numbers and completely preposterous in the thriller genre, Double Jeopardy would probably take the title hands down. Filled with plot holes and too much time having to suspend belief, the only real saving grace of the film is Ashley Judd’s excellent performance that elevates it to at least being watchable.

Libby Parsons and her husband Nick are rich residents of Whidbey Island, Washington with their young son Matty. One weekend, Nick takes Libby sailing on a yacht he is borrowing from a friend. All seems tranquil until Libby wakes up covered in blood and with no sign of her husband. Once she gets to land, she is accused of murdering her husband and subsequently tried for this crime that she didn’t commit. Libby asks her best friend Angie to adopt her young son as she knows she will be imprisoned for a long time. At first out-of-place within the prison setting, the devastated Libby soon learns to survive. It is then that she inquires about  her son having had no contact with him for weeks. Just as the last minutes of her call run out, she hears her son exclaim “Daddy”. Reeling from this, she realises that her husband is very much alive and faked his death, thereby putting her in the frame for his ‘murder’. Filled with rage, she begins to toughen up some more whilst in prison. She is given a valuable piece of information by a fellow inmate, according to a constitution in law known as Double Jeopardy, Libby can’t be tried for the same crime twice. Which means if she were to track Nick down and kill them, there is nothing the law could do about it. Libby is then released on parole after six years in prison . Until the constraints of gruff Parole Officer Travis Lehman, Libby searches for the whereabouts of her traitorous husband. Tracking him to Colorado, she skips town and goes after him with revenge in mind. Sure enough, Lehman is on her tail as her search leads her to New Orleans. Nothing else in the world matters in the world to Libby except getting her son back and exacting revenge on her slimy spouse for the pain he has put her through.

Now I must say that Bruce Beresford is a very talented director and he does manage to capture some thrilling sequences here, but not even this can bring clarity or memorability to this jumbled mess of a movie. Most of the problem with Double Jeopardy lies with the questionable script and pacing. The script throws in moments that are just to ludicrous to accept, such as Libby committing crimes once out of prison and leaving a trail of evidence in her wake for Lehman to follow her, rather than nimbly keeping a low profile in her search for her husband. The pace is almost non-existent with scenes just bleeding into the next with no passage of time or structure to back them up. Some of the legalities of the film are hard to understand and while some are addressed, they seem to be discarded with no explanation whatsoever. The music score to be fair to it adds at least a layer of mystery and suspense despite being somewhat clichéd.

What can’t be faulted in Double Jeopardy is the performance of Ashley Judd as the wronged Libby. She radiates rage and tough determination after learning of betrayal at the hands of her husband. Some of the actions her character takes are questionable, but Judd rises above these flaws to make Libby a character to sympathize with. Judd is clearly the most interesting thing on display within Double Jeopardy and certainly one of the few things to keep to it being watchable. Tommy Lee Jones, though overshadowed by Ashley Judd and underwritten, at least gives his part a little depth behind the angry exterior. For the brief time that he is on the screen, Bruce Greenwood gives us oily and sleazy charm as the traitorous Nick. I just felt that he could have featured more in the story and that way his character could have been memorable. The same goes for Annabeth Gish as Libby duplicitous friend, her character could have been interesting if the movie had taken the time to expand on the depth of her deception towards Libby.

Save for an impressive performance from Ashley Judd, Double Jeopardy is a muddled and forgettable thriller that had potential that wasn’t expanded upon.