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
As i have said before, I don't mind that you give your opinion here.
But Please, don't attack another person for expressing theirs!
YOU WILL BE BANNED without any notice by ME or the Moderators of this site if we feel you are
In ANY WAY Disrespecting KIEFER or any Person on this site!
Thank you,
Elizabeth
Posts
21 comments:
Oh brother!
He didn't record this for America Health Care Now, he recorded this in 2006 regarding Canadian Health Care. The video with the url at the end is VERY misleading. He may very well support U.S. universal health care but he did not record this video for that purpose. It's an unfair manipulation of his image and words imo.
If he is talking about Canada then why does he talk about " American healthcare ". Also the lack of insurance would not be an issue in Canada as they have Public healthcare system.
Based on things he has said in the past, I think it's reasonable to assume (Sheesh! I sound like Mr. Spock!)that Kiefer favors Obama's plan for America's health care. I may take some heat for saying this, but I just wish Kiefer would stay out of America's political issues. Usually, he's very reluctant to comment one way or the other, but when he has commented, he's shown that he's really not very well-informed. Unfortunately, a LOT of people aren't well-informed on the issues.
I'm sure Kiefer pays taxes in the USA , so he has every right to comment.
Ro,
If you go to the actual source at You Tube and read the note that the guy who 'made' the clip wrote. You'd see that it was taped in 2006 as part of a tribute to his grandfather and in support of the Canadian system.
Yes, I agree that Kiefer would very likely support Obama's plan given his background. But that's not the point. The guy that 'made' this video has hijacked his words and image for his own political statement, not Kiefer's.
If Kiefer wants to speak out now about our health care debate, as a permanent resident he has the right to, but it should be 'his choice' and not some hack manipulating a video to make it look like he has. The you tube poster is a jerk.
The YouTube poster may very well be a jerk, and some may think that Kiefer has the right to opine on America's issues. I have the right to disagree with Kiefer doing that, and I stand by what I said. As much as I like Kiefer, I don't think he's as informed as he should be if he's going to express opinions on America's politics.
That's fine Ro you are right to your opinion. Just as I do to mine and Kiefer does to his. And as a Permanent Resident with green card Kiefer does have every right to weigh in on this subject IF he chooses too. So far he has NOT commented on record about it - the video is a hijacking of a 2006 video made for a Canadian audience and taking the message out of context. And for that the U-tube poster is a jerk.
But even if his comments were about today's debate Kiefer does have a LEGAL right to donate to political campaigns and by extension right to speak out on topics if he so chooses to. What happens in American politics has just as much impact on him as any citizen. He just can't vote his opinion.
He will also be just as affected (at least within the same income bracket)as any American and will be subject to whatever health care plan is decided upon and whatever cost that may mean to you, I OR him in terms of premiums and taxes.
By living and working in the US he doesn't have the benefit of his Canadian health care system. He has American Insurance and pays American taxes and therefore IF he chooses to speak for this cause he has every right to do so.
Not to mention that his daughters are American and I'm sure he's concerned for their welfare as well as any American parent might be for their children. So needless to say I don't subscribe to a narrow definition of who should and shouldn't debate American politics or American issues. Because it's often, as is the case here, not that black and white.
But again in this case he has chosen not to speak out publically or at least not yet. In general, he keeps his politics to himself. Which is why the U-tube is offensive to me in how it's being manipulated. But I guess that doesn't matter to everyone. *shrugs*
I think that you may be taking this whole thing too seriously. I merely expressed my opinion. I don't need a lecture about it. Frankly, I don't actually care what Kiefer's political leanings are. As usual, a person cannot say anything about Kiefer unless it's totally adoring.
My comment wasn't supposed to be "Anonymous".
Sorry that it comes off as lecturing. This probably will too. :) And it has nothing to do with Kiefer as much as it has to do with what is sometimes expressed by Americans that others who live here don't or shouldn't have a right to speak out on issues that concern them.
And yes, that does torque me, especially since as green card holders they do have every right to speak out and participate in the process sans voting.
I've never understood the 'your not American, you just live here, so shut the hell up' point of view.
Maybe someone here can finally enlighten me as to why permanent residents that make their life here but for whatever personal reason have not become naturalized citizens shouldn't have the right to speak out on issues that impact them just as much as they impact you and I. I'm sincerely curious.
P.S. I didn't plan on getting into such a long debate and had I'd known I'd still be posting here I'd have set up an account. Oh well, this will probably be my last post on the subject anyway.
I'm curious why my comments have you so upset. You don't agree with my opinion...fine. I'm not losing sleep over it, and I hope you aren't, either. My opinions are simply that...my opinions. I read a lot of things on blogs that I don't agree with, and I don't lose sleep over those things, either. I know, based on things Kiefer has said, that he really does like America. This country has been good to Kiefer. I merely said, based on things I've heard him say, or things I've read, that when it comes to some of the major issues concerning America, Kiefer is not well-informed. He's not the only celeb who isn't. Agree or disagree...that's fine by me. Life is too short to get upset by someone's opinions.
LOL! Definitely NOT losing sleep over it. :) And I was responding to your "I may take some heat for saying this, but I just wish Kiefer would stay out of America's political issues." comment which says to me that you think he should not express an opinion that he has the right to give. That's all. If I miss understood your words I apologize.
And while not upset that type of comment does bother me. Probably because I have relatives that are Canadian citizens (with green cards like Kiefer) who have lived here most of their lives and worked, raised families (American Children), pay taxes and are just as impacted by American politics as American's are. So I've never understood the 'they' should stay out of American politic issues opinion.
And there is a whole other conversation about being well informed or not based on which side of the coin you subscribe to so I'm not even going to go there. Except to say that for every one person that thinks he's not informed there would be another that believes he's very well informed.
I still stand by what I said. No apologies. I respect your right to express your opinion. I knew I would take some heat for my opinion. My feelings about Kiefer getting involved in America's issues really have nothing to do with him being a Canadian. He's also an English citizen. I have roots in England and Canada. My feelings that Kiefer is not well-informed is not a put-down of his intelligence, or anything else. Some people may think Kiefer is very well-informed on the issues. I don't think he is. But that doesn't change my affection for him.
That's cool. My original point, that may of been lost in all of this was that the in question video and thus excerpted opinion, was made to a Canadian audience about a Canadian issue.
The you tube poster hijacked it and manipulated it for his own propaganda. And I still think that is wrong.
Oh well we both stand by our opinions so no apologies all around then. Have a nice weekend.
Cheers :)
Well, in this particular clip, Kiefer sure does mention America a lot. All the statistics he's "quoting" concern America. Didn't hear him mention Canada once.
No different than many in the U.S. quoting 'Canadian Healthcare Facts' as to why we shouldn't have a single payer system here. Same song, different audience and different point of view being made.
The highlighted quote is single, select snippet of a LONGER clip and that's why I think it's wrong of the You Tube guy to post it out of context as he did. *shrugs*
Just for the heck of it, here is the url to the FULL video of what Kiefer said in 2006 introducing the Tommy Douglas Showcase. You'll have to copy and paste it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfEFwbRBupk&NR=1
Thanks for the clip link! I knew it was out there but couldn't 'find' it for the life of me. :)
Well, Kiefer shouldn't be surprised if he's quoted out of context, or if he takes some heat for his comments. That's what can happen, and often does happen, when a person voices his or her opinions. It happens to me all the time, and I figure it comes with the territory. The person who posted the video on You Tube may be a jerk, which has been alleged. But once someone puts their opinions out there, as Kiefer has done, they will find that some agree and some don't agree. I'm sure Kiefer can handle the criticism. What I've found is that there are some Kiefer fans who seem to agree with him, no matter what he says or does. I really like Kiefer, but if I think he's wrong about something, I'll say so.
*sigh*
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