November 21, 2007 Archives

I've been catching up recently with "Saving Grace," Holly Hunter's vehicle on TNT, in which she plays an Oklahoma City police detective who, "Joan of Arcadia"-like, gets regular visits from a messenger of God. Her communication with the Higher Power is about all Hunter's character has in common with that earlier show's sweet, small-town teen. Grace Hanadarko (the character's first name is so overdetermined that we're bound to plumb the significance of that last name before the show runs its course) is dealing with a serious alcohol problem, smokes, drives too fast, and is sleeping with a married man.

What's intriguing about the show is that, once she becomes convinced that her guardian angel is no dream or bad practical joke, she doesn't immediately clean up her act. She's too weak, and strong willed, to change her ways just because she has physical proof (including, charmingly, crime-lab analysis on the sand from holy ground) that there is a God. This is, after all, how many of the believers I know act, and it makes the show compelling, even if some of the theology gets mushy and the angel effects a little corny.

Hunter, also, can flat-out act, and it's almost frightening to watch this self-destructive, willful lawwoman chase the baddies and compensate for a rough upbringing in a large Catholic family. Hunter isn't the first film star to take up with TV, or even the most accomplished--Glenn Close and Alec Baldwin have both appeared on the small screen this past season--but none of her big-screen colleagues have chosen as risky a role as Grace. The more daunting risk for such a big-name actress was making religion such a large element in her own show (Hunter produces as well as stars).

Here on Idol Chatter, I'll be following her episodes as we get toward Christmas to see if Hunter can keep the grit and realism as the sappy season comes our way.

The plastic surgeons of McNamara/Troy have left Miami this season and are making a fresh start in Los Angeles and the move has, as plastic surgeons say, rejuvenated "Nip/Tuck." It's as if the show has gotten an injection of Restalyn and filled in all the frown lines from Sean's child with polydactyly, the Carver and the internal-organ stealing Madame thanks to rediscovered humor, thanks to Rosie O'Donnell's Dawn Budge and Oliver Platt, director of the fictional "Hearts and Scalpels" show on which Sean is guest-starring.

But the show has also returned to some of its more spiritual storylines, exploring Dr. Troy's internal struggles, amidst the more unbelievably salacious plot points. On last night's episode, a young nun comes to see Christian, who has now taken to turning kinky tricks for some extra
cash, for a breast reduction. She tells him that, she wants to "inspire people with her faith, not her bustline."

As she goes under the knife, the Sister hands him her St. Christopher's medal, telling him to keep it and not to doubt the power of prayer. He explains that he gave up praying as a child when God didn't answer his prayers to stop his foster father from molesting him. Apologetic, the Sister replies that she cannot know God's plan for everyone, but that "There's a good light in those eyes and I can see it fighting for a place at the table."

It was my favorite movie of the summer, it will probably make my top ten list of movie favorites for the entire year, and now it is the perfect choice for a feel-good movie to rent this Thanksgiving week. Yes, movies about Big Important Issues are needed, and so are movies that Make Us Think, but sometime we need a break from cynicism, doomsday prophecies and pseudo- important social and ethical controversies. That’s why “Hairspray” stands out as a joyous, hopeful celebration of life that shouldn't be missed.

And best of all, if you rent the two-disc deluxe "shake and shimmy" version, you can work off your turkey day dinner learning those really keen "Hairspray" dances.

Whet your appetite with this clip, the opening song in the movie, "Good Morning, Baltimore."