Thanks for the memories!

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Karen Sisco (Carla Gugino) is a US Marshal in Miami. Her father Marshall Sisco (Robert Forster) is the only one she unequivocally trusts. Amos Andrews (Bill Duke) is her boss.Based on the character portrayed by Jennifer Lopez in Elmore Leonard's Out of Sight, Karen Sisco is a smart, sexy, and tough character. Carla Gugino plays her with gusto. It never really took off and lasted only 7 episodes with 3 unaired remaining. I think there were two main problems.The first is they shot this is L.A. If they could do it in Miami, it would add so much more local flavor. There is a difference and the audience can feel it. The second is the need for edginess. Seeing the successful 'Justified' (another Elmore Leonard adaptation), it seems obvious that Karen Sisco just doesn't have the grittiness in both style and substance. It just isn't Elmore Leonard enough.

After having seen and greatly enjoyed Carla Gugino in various limited parts in relatively minor movies, I was overjoyed to see that she finally got some real recognition and was given her own TV show. And when I saw it, I wasn't disappointed. The show is smart, attractive and funny; clearly aimed at a fairly youthful, intelligent and predominantly male demographic. In short, it's everything a show should be in order to succeed. Only, for some inscrutable reason, it failed. What a great pity. What's wrong with audiences today? In a just world, this show would have rocketed Carla to true stardom.For me, being a huge Carla Gugino fan, watching this show is pure joy. The writers and/or producers clearly adore Carla as much as I do, and put her squarely in the limelight, both in terms of loving camera angles, story and dialog. For someone of Carla's talents and charms, it's long overdue. At least with these 10 episodes, a devoted fan of Carla Gugino can get his fix, losing himself in a witty and charismatic action show captained by one of the dreamiest actresses currently working. What more can anyone ask?

I knew I had seen something special. After the hour-long episode 5 (Nostalgia) I knew I had not imagined it. Yes, this was a critics' favourite, and yes, they all gave the same reasons and impressions I'd had. There's no coincidence here.What is it that gets you to not turn the channel? When you see something intriguing already in the opening titles? Les Paul used to say that an audience will never remember the first song you play - they're busy making up their minds whether they like you or not, and they make up their minds in those first two minutes.So with Karen Sisco. This is well acted, well directed, and above all well written. More and more it's become apparent to me how vital a good teleplay is: without it the directing and acting will fall apart, lacking a foothold.I imagine this crew has a lot of fun. Yes, there's violence, and I don't like that, but there's a coziness and a sense of adventure too. And the humour - or should I say wit?Enjoy.

I've only seen the pilot of Karen Sisco, but I think that it's got real potential. TV shows today seem to be becoming more and more like movies, and while watching this I had trouble remembering that it was actually a TV show. Since TV shows generally have cliff hangers, I found myself eager for more of this great new show. Carla Gugino, Thomas Kretschmann, and Xander Berkeley were exceptionally good, and all I can say is that I can't wait for more! :)