Welcome To Elizabeth's Place!: Sutherland vs. Monsters and Aliens

Kiefer Sutherland's Return To Television Gets Cautious Praise

Kiefer Sutherland can't have felt anything but pressure as his first major TV role since 10 phenomenal years spent on '24' aired for the first time last night (26 January 2012).
Fans and critics were certainly eager to see how the Canadian actor was going to follow up what has come to be known as one of the iconic TV characters of the 21st century in secret agent Jack Bauer.
'Touch,' which sees Sutherland playing a single father of a mute son who sees things other cannot, aired last night for the first time - and the answer to whether he's managed to follow up what may be career defining role successfully?
A cautious yes, according to the critics.
Newsday was effusive in its praise, saying the program was "A bit melodramatic, a bit manipulative, Touch is still one of the best pilots of the 2011-12 season to date," and others were similar praiseworthy though understandably a little more cautious given it was the pilot episode.
"It's Mr. Sutherland's portrayal of the father--unyielding in his effort to break through to his mute child and grasp what he's trying to say with his numbers--that is the heart of this story, the power likely to sustain this promising enterprise," said the Wall Street Journal, whilst
TV Guide said "[Touch is] emotionally compelling but wildly fantastical and undeniably manipulative."Not all were enthused though, The New York Times commented "The 11-year-old boy at the center of the story has never spoken and is also the show's narrator.
It's a perfectly acceptable device, if not a particularly interesting one in this case," whilst the Los Angeles Times weren't fans at all, stating "Ironically, given a show that so clearly wants to touch its audience--from that weighty one-word title on down--we have met, apart from Martin, hardly a single character who incorporates more than the hint of an actual person.
"Contactmusic

Friday, March 27, 2009

Sutherland vs. Monsters and Aliens

He's the star and mainstay of 24, a groundbreaking television series.

Furthermore, despite the gruelling demands of portraying Jack Bauer on the small screen, he still finds time for other acting opportunities - most recently in supplying the rasping voice of a jingoistic American general in the animated Monsters vs. Aliens.

But if you tell Kiefer Sutherland that he has it made, you're in for an argument. This most personable of Canadian actors believes in tough self-analysis. Forget those acting awards and the international stardom and the million-dollar pay cheques. He still believes he's capable of more.

"I still feel at the age of 42 that I haven't made the film I want to make. I still feel there is so much to do."

He reminds you of the many bumps along the way, both professionally and personally, since he first attracted attention in the 1984 Canadian film, The Bay Boy.

"It's up and down," he says matter-of-factly. "That's exactly what it has been. I started up and managed to do films like Stand By Me, Lost Boys and Flatliners - things that took off very well. Then there was a bit of a lull, and then I got to do things like A Few Good Men and Dark City. It has gone up and down."

But he never stopped working.

"Work breeds work in our business, and it still does," he says. "But there were huge disappointments."