'CANTERBURY' HAS LEGAL TALES TO TELL.Byline: David Kronke TV Critic The title "Canterbury's Law  This article or section contains information about a scheduled .It may contain non-definitive information based on commercials, a website or interviews. " title would seem to reference Geoffrey Chaucer's lawyer's yarn from "The Canterbury Tales Canterbury Tales: see Chaucer, Geoffrey. Canterbury Tales pilgrimage from London to Canterbury during which tales are told. [Br. Lit.: Canterbury Tales] See : Journey ," except that doesn't really scan -- its heroine survived travails due to her devout belief in prayer. But ascending Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. defense attorney Elizabeth Canterbury (Julianna Margulies Julianna Luisa Margulies (born June 8, 1966) is an Emmy award winning American actress best known for her role as Nurse Carol Hathaway on the NBC medical drama ER. ), the protagonist of "Canterbury's Law," boasts no such virtue. As tonight's episode opens, it's revealed she's sleeping with Frank (James McCaffrey For the software engineer and author, see James D. McCaffrey. James G. McCaffrey (born 1960) is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the television series Rescue Me, as Tommy Gavin's dead cousin, Jimmy Keefe. ), whom she's defending against a murder charge. Liz is married, albeit tenuously, to Matt (Aidan Quinn), who turns up just enough to offer exposition about how troubled their marriage is. Their relationship's torment stems from the fact that their young son disappeared a few years ago -- and yet, Canterbury seems to represent a lot of clients suspected of having a hand in killing the children of grieving parents (in fact, she does so in both episodes offered for review). That she's willing to do so doesn't smack so much of brazen provocation as it does of abject psychological self-abnegation. There's a lot about "Canterbury's Law" that's not bad, but much of it feels just slightly off. A lot of the performances feel manufactured, even Margulies': She just doesn't quite exude ex·ude v. To ooze or pass gradually out of a body structure or tissue. the charismatic brass that such a character would need. And while no one could credibly handle a line like "You feckless feck·less adj. 1. Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective. 2. Careless and irresponsible. [Scots feck, effect (alteration of effect) + -less. puppet! Where do you get the stones to accuse me?," Terry Kinney, playing her nemesis, prosecutor Zach Williams, appears to have been cast more for his shifty shift·y adj. shift·i·er, shift·i·est 1. Having, displaying, or suggestive of deceitful character; evasive or untrustworthy. 2. looks than his acting chops. It doesn't help that the soundtrack is filled with yowling guitars in an effort to make the show seem "edgy," or that frenetic editing and woozy camerawork seem borrowed from dozens of previous cop and lawyer shows. And it certainly won't help that just after Fox announced it was picking up the show, Margulies announced she was pregnant. Even without the aforementioned misgivings, "Canterbury's Law" doesn't offer enough to be more than a run-of-the-mill legal drama. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke(at)dailynews.com www.insidesocal.com/tv/> CANTERBURY'S LAW - Two stars >What: Julianna Margulies stars as a defense attorney whose brazen tactics win cases but win her few friends. >Where: Fox (Channel 11). >When: 8 tonight. >In a nutshell: Casting feels off, story lines feel off; the whole thing just doesn't quite work. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Juliana Margulies |
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