Acting Revelation When Up Personal With Close

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday October 3, 2007

Lenny Ann Low

DAMAGES, 9.30pm, Nine: Few people doubt Glenn Close is a great actress. As the scheming Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons she tore psychological strips off John Malkovich's Vicomte de Valmont with barely a crease in her kilograms of face powder. That famous bunny-boiler role in Fatal Attraction didn't do much for the feminist cause, or, indeed, any woman fancying a social drink with a near stranger, but it was memorable and mighty. Close's character, Patty Hewes, the revered and disliked lawyer in Damages, allows us to discern what it is that makes her so scary and powerful. She stares really well. Whenever Hewes pauses and looks at someone, her stare is more than a meditation, it is reminiscent of an oil drill plunging into the earth's core. Pity poor Tom (Tate Donovan). Close stares at him quite a lot in this episode. Will he crumble? The scenes featuring Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) sitting shocked and blood-spattered in a police interview room that precede and interrupt the show's narrative keep things edgy but this show would go nowhere without Close.

DATELINE, 8.30pm, SBS: Should you forgive someone who steals from you? Or pulls a knife and threatens your child? Forgiveness may be the only tool left for those trying to stop violence and drug-dealing by youth gangs in Auckland, New Zealand. Video journalist David O'Shea meets members of the Killer Beez, formed in 2003 and now boasting more than 50 members aged 15 to 25. One of many juvenile gangs - police estimate there are 70 such groups in Auckland - it was formed by bored teenagers with no money and little opportunity. Inspired by the wealth and fame of American hip-hop artists and Los Angeles gang culture, they mimic rappers' clothing and language and carry guns and knives. Gang culture has been part of Auckland since the 1960s but the new wave of youth gangs is proving a massive problem for police. O'Shea talks to the Killer Beez, established gang Mongrel Mob and the youth workers trying to help.

INSIDE AUSTRALIA: PARENT RESCUE, 8pm, SBS: In episode two of this insightful series, Kerrie, pregnant with her second child, seeks to set a better eating plan for her toddler, John. Dear little one-year-old Cameron's erratic sleeping has driven his mother, Jenny, to leave the marital bed for the spare room to hush him back to sleep. Once again, the staff of Karitane dispense wisdom and patience as sleep-deprived and bewildered parents fight anxiety and frustration.

SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH, 9.30pm, ABC: Mr G's musical is nearing completion (hampered only by the mums' speed at making the costumes and a principal with equal opportunity on her mind.) Witness his extreme attempts to stop special education students being part of the cast. Glorious and gobsmacking. As are the perennially optimistic efforts to accommodate Jonah's behaviour, this time via a program giving him authority over five year 7 students with "social problems". Ja'mie trumps everyone with her fight for a year 11 formal.

SPICKS AND SPECKS, 8.30pm, ABC: Anyone who spent hours in their bedroom as a teenager dreaming of British pop star Lloyd Cole should tune in to see him as a guest tonight. A talented and articulate songwriter he proves the '80s spat out more than New Romantics with frilly shirts and meaningless lyrics.

Doug Anderson is on leave