Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Dramma Giocoso (2006) User Reviews

Sands, Krige Give Good Guest Performances

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 1 August 2008]

Julian Sands really puts on a great guest performance here as the extremely-arrogant "Philip Reinhardt." He was fantastic to watch, very believable and so intense he "chewed the scenery," as the old cliché goes.

Alice Krige also was good as "Gillian Booth," another off-the-wall character in this operatic (literally) episode. What "Gillian" did in this story certainly qualifies her for off-the-wall status.

The crime story revolves around a violinist working an opera, who is killed during an intermission break. Who would kill her and why? That's what Chris Noth ("Det. Mike Logan) and Annabella Sciorra ("Det. Carolyn Barak) attempt to figure out. Sciorra finally is given some funny lines and Noth is excellent in here. Also, Leslie Hendrix adds to this show, as she always has, as the medical examiner. She usually has something interesting to say.

In fact, the show ended with a very profound statement by "Det. Logan," who puts things right in case we viewers were tempted to feel sorry for "Gillian." Logan reminds us about how often we forget about the real victims.

Good but NOT representative of the opera world

[mtnoboe · 8/10 · 16 April 2021]

Any "maestro" that actually behaved in this manner would NEVER be tolerated by any opera company, much less have any kind of conducting career. Also,the victim would not be "promoted" to first violin. In their, ostensibly, union orchestra there would be an advertisement placed for a first violin vacancy, resumes would be received/screened then the audition would take place. As a current member of the orchestra she might have been given the courtesy of being advanced into the semi-final or possibly final round of the audition. The "partying musicians" stereotype is kinda true.

Drama with jokes

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 23 December 2020]

Just in case anybody is wondering, that summary is the English translation of the episode title, referring to classical opera and a popular 18th century type of opera. There is actually nothing jokey about "Dramma Giocoso" at all, with the story being as serious as they can come and merely used as a dramatic title for an episode centered around music and set in an opera house. It is certainly a title that intrigues and makes a big impact though may puzzle those with little knowledge of what it means or not sure of its relevance.

The Logan and Barek episodes of 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' were a bit mixed in quality. As was the character of Barek, sometimes she was fine and at others she was too subdued. Have never had a problem with Logan and actually like their different chemistry, with a couple of exceptions like "Wasichu". Both are fine here as is their chemistry, and "Dramma Giocoso" actually was very solid and easily one of their better outings.

"Dramma Giocoso's" ending personally did not surprise me. The episode mostly actually did do a great job making one think that it was one person and the one with the motive that made the most sense, but then part of me started to suspect another person about midway through and was proven correct. The motive is also on the predictable side and is rather silly too

Also there is an interesting subplot regarding drugs, that was interesting and cleverly done but under-utilised and more could have been done with it.

So much is done brilliantly though. As always, it's a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). There is more music here, both the usual scoring of the show and a suitable dose of pre-existing music (i.e. 'Lucia Di Lammermoor') and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole.

Furthermore, the script is well written. Being both thought-provoking and entertaining, as well as agreed ending on a surprisingly profound note (Logan never had a more profound final line in any of his appearances in the whole 'Law and Order' franchise). It was nice to see more of a humorous approach to Logan, such as his disdain at Rogers' choice of music, and Rogers steals her screen time. Barek's role here is one of her more interesting, not only is she perceptive but she is also amusing at times. There is little dreary about the chemistry between her and Logan.

While the story for "Dramma Giocoso" is not perfect, it is absorbing and captures the spirit of the operatic world in not a bland or cartoonish manner. It is also not too far off the mark in accuracy, it is glamorous and exciting but is prone to nastiness behind the scenes. The supporting characters are well done, having worked with a few conductors similar to Reinhardt (the worst case being near exactly) the way he is written is quite eerily accurate. The performances are very good, with Julian Sands and Alice Krige in their element. Sands is so good in fact that it was easy to oddly root for Reinhardt's guilt.

In a nutshell, very good. 8/10

Look at you. A mad cow

[Mrpalli77 · 10/10 · 20 September 2017]

A soprano's daughter is killed during a rehearsal break; she plays the violin and "maestro" gonna make her soon the first violin in the orchestra. Anyway there's something hidden behind scene and it takes time to Logan and Barek to figure out. The singer (Alice Krige) has a lot of medical issue due to a disease inherited from his father and she has to find the right person who could take care of her situation that already starts to degenerate (she forgets things, falls down while running and she's unable to find her way out). Her only child doesn't seem too supportive, she just wants to pursue her career, so mother's choice fall upon another person. Is he willing to do that?

Medical examiner (who stated having a date with Lennie Briscoe) performs some verses of "Rigoletto" much to Logan disapproval. I discovered in this episode a new way in smuggling drugs by soaking stage costumes.

A bunch of divas

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 6 July 2018]

This CI episode is the story of 3 divas, a mother and daughter diva Alice Krige and Marin Ireland and if one can be a male diva than conductor Julian Sands would qualify.

At one time Sands and soprano Krige were a hot item in the classical set. Now Ireland is busy forging a career of her own as a violinist.

It's Ireland who goes hurtling off a balcony in the opera house and one thing that Chris Noth and Annabella Sciorra are certain of was it wasn't no phantom that did this deed.

Sands emerges as one of the most narcissistic personalities that ever was on a Law And Order franchise show. As for Kriege she's hiding a terrible secret about herself.

These are not the most attractive personalities around, but murder was done and Noth and Sciorra have to play the two off against each other to discover the truth.

Though I think Bobby Goren would have been a better fit as the detective.