Fancy Footwork

[maggiethecat]

greenbeing said:

And I totally agree with the freaky ahhing sounds in MB--egad. Does he honestly think she'd moan like that?--GB

As I recall, the moaning sounds in Marlon's Brando were special effects, designed to accompany Jim's "visions" of Christie as victim -- sparked by his imaginings of Condell's victims -- and, as such , were not meant to be realistic.

Both the bleached-out images of Christie as victim and the accompanying sounds were meant as a kind of heightened reality, and represented Jim's mounting frustration at not being able to protect the women in his life: Christie and Karen. And that's the core issue at the center of the episode, as I see it.

"Special effects," not the real deal.

[Katryna]

maggiethecat said:

greenbeing said:

And I totally agree with the freaky ahhing sounds in MB--egad. Does he honestly think she'd moan like that?--GB

As I recall, the moaning sounds in Marlon's Brando were special effects, designed to accompany Jim's "visions" of Christie as victim -- sparked by his imaginings of Condell's victims -- and, as such , were not meant to be realistic.

Both the bleached-out images of Christie as victim and the accompanying sounds were meant as a kind of heightened reality, and represented Jim's mounting frustration at not being able to protect the women in his life: Christie and Karen. And that's the core issue at the center of the episode, as I see it.

"Special effects," not the real deal.

Has anyone on the board watched the British series Second Sight? I have recently watched it. It was made prior to Blind Justice and is about a detective who is losing his sight. It also uses similar "woman moaning" type sound effects. I agree - not supposed to be realistic.

[Duchess of Lashes]

If you are tuning in for an insightful interpretation of a scene from Fancy Footwork, I am going to sorely disappoint. Although I must profess my absolute displeasure for the ending, I still left feeling like I had just watched something extraordinary come to a very fitting conclusion.

All these months later, we are fully cognizant that the most probable cause of the ultimate demise of this fine offering was the inability of its viewing audience and the critics in general to move beyond the "gun issue." Even Ron Eldard admitted when the idea was first pitched to him that "it will never fly."

And yet, in retrospection, it is that exact issue that gifted us with some of the finest, most memorable and touching moments of the entire series.

Giving it up is one series that still tears at the heart strings. No words are necessary; who needs words when you have those eyes, that set of the jawline, the hands and the touch to convey the emotion of the moment.







www.geocities.com/lldh02/FancyFootwork36.jpg[/img]




If it isn't obvious by now, one of my favorite descriptives for Ron Eldard is riveting. The scenes above have to be held up as absolute proof. I think they say it all!

longlashes

[rducasey]

You're right Lori, that is a scene I find myself returning to often. It just gets me everytime, especially with the absolutely perfect background music. His acting is impeccable and he was able to convey all the emotions Jim was feeling at that time. He is such an incredible actor and that was an incredible scene. And of course, knowing what could have been, with another season, only added to the emotion of that scene to the viewer. Thank you for posting those screencaps.

[bjobsessed]

rducasey said:

You're right Lori, that is a scene I find myself returning to often. It just gets me everytime, especially with the absolutely perfect background music. His acting is impeccable and he was able to convey all the emotions Jim was feeling at that time. He is such an incredible actor and that was an incredible scene. And of course, knowing what could have been, with another season, only added to the emotion of that scene to the viewer. Thank you for posting those screencaps.

I really don't have anything to add to that since you said it so well. The only thing I will say is that it gets me everytime I watch it as do a few scenes throughout the series. Knowing the struggle that it was for Jim to give up the gun, and the importance of that to a cop or detective, it was obviously a very hard thing for Jim to do. Ron displays all of the thoughts and emotions of the moment in one short scene without uttering a single word.

That's not an easy feat and shows the depth of his talent.

[Duchess of Lashes]

rducasey said:

You're right Lori, that is a scene I find myself returning to often. It just gets me everytime, especially with the absolutely perfect background music. His acting is impeccable and he was able to convey all the emotions Jim was feeling at that time. He is such an incredible actor and that was an incredible scene. And of course, knowing what could have been, with another season, only added to the emotion of that scene to the viewer. Thank you for posting those screencaps.

I just finished watching this episode again - it's been awhile - but even on the tenth go round, I still find myself so moved by what Ron Eldard was able to convey, how much emotion he captured with very subtle changes in expression. Although his eyes are unmoving and seemingly unfocused, there is such an ache reflected there too. That whole sequence is absolutely remarkable.

And, of course, this episode also affords us a glimpse into Jim's past, an interest once held, although it is never fully explained. No matter, it still makes for a very entertaining diversion. Since I know this is one of the aspects you particularly enjoy, Mary, the following are for you:











Ah, yes, the speedbag - I often wondered, and still do, how much of this was scripted and how much of this was a direct result of Ron's background!

longlashes

[bjobsessed]

She's gone to bed Lori, but she's gonna love you in the morning!

Thanks from me too. I love that scene as well.

How did you manage to count the punches, Mary? I've tried and I lose count every time because he goes so fast.

[mlm828]

I have always been moved by the scene where Jim gives up the gun -- especially remembering what he said to Christie at the end of the preceding episode, about having had to give up so much already, and his feeling that he's losing who he is. And he still does it.

As LL has already said, a very memorable and touching moment, with an absolutely riveting performance by RE.

[rducasey]

longlashes said:

rducasey said:

You're right Lori, that is a scene I find myself returning to often. It just gets me everytime, especially with the absolutely perfect background music. His acting is impeccable and he was able to convey all the emotions Jim was feeling at that time. He is such an incredible actor and that was an incredible scene. And of course, knowing what could have been, with another season, only added to the emotion of that scene to the viewer. Thank you for posting those screencaps.

I just finished watching this episode again - it's been awhile - but even on the tenth go round, I still find myself so moved by what Ron Eldard was able to convey, how much emotion he captured with very subtle changes in expression. Although his eyes are unmoving and seemingly unfocused, there is such an ache reflected there too. That whole sequence is absolutely remarkable.

And, of course, this episode also affords us a glimpse into Jim's past, an interest once held, although it is never fully explained. No matter, it still makes for a very entertaining diversion. Since I know this is one of the aspects you particularly enjoy, Mary, the following are for you:











Ah, yes, the speedbag - I often wondered, and still do, how much of this was scripted and how much of this was a direct result of Ron's background!

longlashes

Oh Lori, thank you for that, and let's just look at it again. 55 punches....sigh. I always feel too, that the writers, knowing Ron's past as a boxer built this in to the script and why not? It certainly was fun.

[Katryna]

Lori, I was happy to wake up this morning and see all of these screencaps from Fancy Footwork. I also recently re-discovered this episode and have watched it three times this past week. To me, this episode has an entirely different feel to it. I agree about the ending dance sequence - not my favorite. But there are three scenes that I love and you have posted screen caps from two of them. The third is Jim's final interview with Bo. The dialogue is a little transparent with the comparison of Bo giving up his gloves to Jim giving up his gun, but... I love the way Ron acts this scene and the fact that he looks so darned good in it doesn't hurt. So, if you have nothing else to do today - how about a few caps from that one???

[Duchess of Lashes]

kathy said:

Lori, I was happy to wake up this morning and see all of these screencaps from Fancy Footwork. I also recently re-discovered this episode and have watched it three times this past week. To me, this episode has an entirely different feel to it. I agree about the ending dance sequence - not my favorite. But there are three scenes that I love and you have posted screen caps from two of them. The third is Jim's final interview with Bo. The dialogue is a little transparent with the comparison of Bo giving up his gloves to Jim giving up his gun, but... I love the way Ron acts this scene and the fact that he looks so darned good in it doesn't hurt. So, if you have nothing else to do today - how about a few caps from that one???

Kathy, you are so right in that this is another sequence in which expression conveys so much. The changes in expression are not so much as the dialogue is being spoken, rather in the reaction to what has been said and Jim's contemplation of what it really means if he allows Bo to catch that flight to Germany; the consequences are obviously not lost on him.


"Could you put your cop hat aside for one second here?"


"Hey, you're one punch away from dying in the ring."


"You don't want to go out like this."


An honest reaction to Bo's admission that "Putting on those gloves and getting into that ring is the only thing I know how to do."


"After I got shot, I had to start all over again."


"And you know what? 99% of the people in this world have to start all over again at some time in their life."



The expression on Jim's face says so much about what he is feeling and thinking, after Bo asks, "So what? Are you going to hire me?"


And again, when Bo asks "if he can get outta here."


"You can go."


As the door of the interview room clicks shut. How much more can possibly be written in one change to his facial expression?


The interview is over - Bo is gone.

[bjobsessed]

I think I'm going to have to watch this episode after all these riveting screencaps. The emotion of the moment is driven home even more when you can look at it frame by frame. Who needs music and spoken word when you have RE's incredible expressions?

Thank you so much Lori.

[Katryna]

longlashes said:

Kathy, you are so right in that this is another sequence in which expression conveys so much. The changes in expression are not so much as the dialogue is being spoken, rather in the reaction to what has been said and Jim's contemplation of what it really means if he allows Bo to catch that flight to Germany; the consequences are obviously not lost on him.

Thank you, Lori. Great screen caps and great interpretation of the scene. And a big thank you to Ron. I agree with you - His facial expressions in this scene are much more powerful than the dialogue. I can hardly wait to see him on stage!

[hoosier]

I noticed that Bo Matheson and Warren Doyle said almost the same thing when it seemed that they were going away for a murder they didn't commit...

Bo--"I'm thinkin' that Anthony got me...he got me good."

Warren--"He did a very good job of setting me up."

Of course, Sam Berglass went so far as to kill himself to get Doyle. Anthony Knowles wanted someone else to take the fall after he got majorly pissed and beaned his uncle with a statue. Did that statue remind anyone else of some film award, like the one from the Screenactors Guild???