Smallscreen Reviews

By April MacIntyre Jul 20, 2007, 20:07 GMT

Review: FX’s “Damages” a gripping thriller

High stakes litigator Patty Hewes is the quintessential WASP, she loves her dog, a snort of bourbon and is no fan of public displays of affection. She also plays her team of supplicant lawyers like a Stradivarius. 07/19/2007 - Glenn Close - Damages TV Series Premiere, Presented By Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions - Arrivals - Regal Theatre - New York City, NY © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

07/19/2007 - Glenn Close - Damages TV Series Premiere, Presented By Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions - Arrivals - Regal Theatre - New York City, NY © Janet Mayer / PR PhotosHewes is the top dog and called-upon legal pundit for the televised Greta Van Susteren’s of the world, if the Olympics honored mental acuity and cunning she would come up gold.The casting of Glenn Close in her first television series built around her character is a major coup for the FX network, combined with the precise writing of Todd and Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman. Casting director Ron Meyerson does a superb job filling in the great actors around Close, which include a feral and electric Ted Danson, sly Tate Donovan, and a nice addition of veteran actor Tom Aldredge with many other good choices.Their performances shine in the pilot I watched, with the deft camera work of director Allen Coulter and his DP Jonathan Freeman. The slight graininess effects, lighting and look of their lensing is outstanding. All the crafts, including the art department which encompasses production design and set decoration, and costuming and makeup too are top of their game."Damages" is an addictive and clever legal thriller created by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman that combine genres, both as thriller and a layered melodrama. The show premieres on FX at 10 p.m. EDT Tuesday.Glenn Close is Patty Hewes, a master of her profession, married to a solid, powerful man who understands her, and has a child who doesn’t live up to her expectations.Young attorney Ellen Parsons played by Rose Byrne, turns down a healthy offer from a rival legal firm, only to be uncharacteristically wooed at her sister’s wedding by Hewes herself, who plays the “you remind me of myself“ card and wins Parsons over to her camp.“Kids are like clients, they want all of you, all of the time,” she tells new legal recruit Ellen Parsons - the key in the series premiere to a mysterious murder linked to a high stakes class-action lawsuit pitting Hewes against Danson’s character, Arthur Frobisher. He is an unapolgetic steely, self made mogul with a whiff of Enron’s Ken Lay. Wide eyed Ellen begins to question why she was even selected by Hewes at all. By familial relations, we find out Ellen is related to the key witness in the Frobisher case, and the drama heats up as her soon to be sister in law’s life hangs in the balance, and a shock murder has a mentally traumatized Ellen running half naked, covered in blood into the 7AM streets of New York.Fans of Close’s portrayal of tough cookie Teddy Barnes in the legal thriller “Jagged Edge” will revel in the new series of Machiavellian legal shark Hewes. The writers do an excellent job of obfuscating the real intentions and full disclosure of Hewes game plan with regards to the Forbisher matter. In this respect, the they have outclassed anything Dick Wolf would have put forth. Fans of those legal drama franchises will be exhilarated by the clarity, intelligence and crafting of this tort-ilicious yarn. You’d be a fool to miss this one.The show premieres on FX at 10 p.m. EDT - July 24, Tuesday.Grade: A+

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MarkJul 22nd, 2007 - 15:20:36

I'm not really sure how you can say that this is GC's first casting in a TV series, when she played a central character in an entire season of FX's 'The Shield' only 2 years ago.

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A.M.Jul 22nd, 2007 - 15:56:27

I didn't say this was her first foray into television, but it certainly is her first series that she stars in and drives as the central character. FX scored with this show tailored for her.

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ShirleyJul 25th, 2007 - 22:03:48

I loved this show, it was edgy, sharp, splitting hairs between evil and good, the players are interesting characters as each layer comes down. This is a KEEPER!

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Jeremey TumanJul 31st, 2007 - 01:59:11

Ridiculous show to say the least. Glenn is over the top as always not to mention a waste of space. I was so tired of the build up for this show and was seriously let down. What a waste of time and money. Dont waste the time!

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dnewAug 1st, 2007 - 16:47:00

This is a lot like Murder One in it's format.

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elkidAug 2nd, 2007 - 01:35:58

Too much foreplay...

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ezwatchnAug 16th, 2007 - 14:46:43

Damages is far and away the best drama out there. Close plays the part superbly, as does Ted Danson. The plot; full of twists and turns, the acting, directing, and truly astounding camera work rival anything John Grishom brings to the big screen. Shame is, FX is still a relatively small player and many are missing this wonderfully intriguing show. I have always felt the same concerning another great offering on FX, 'The Shield'...

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ishdarulaOct 24th, 2007 - 20:18:05

Oh my God! What a GREAT show! Does season two starts next week???????

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frazMar 10th, 2008 - 15:54:15

Does anyone else think of the devil wears prada. the storyline is different but the relationship between the two main characters is very close. Not a bad series, shame it had glen close in it

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Review: FX’s “Damages” a gripping thriller

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