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Meloni's character is is a self-righteous hothead prick who likes to beat up pervs before they're found guilty by due process of law. D'Onfrio's character is some weird Asperger's who inexplicably also understands human motivations. Waterston's character is an ethical lawyer.
The most entertaining parts of the show are when Waterston's ethics come in conflict with a desire to convict, or the politics of his elected bosses. By entertaining, I mean thought-provoking, because that's what entertains me.
I'll take Michael Moriarty over Waterston. Meloni over D'Onofrio, barely (Ohrbach, or Belzer, over either one of 'em). Meloni was great in Wet Hot American Summer, though.
And you didn't mention Steven Hill vs. Dianne Weist vs. Fred Thompson because it's just too obvious, right?
and ortho has a point, D'Onofrio's character has this borderline-autistic thing going on that's really interesting. he's an awesome actor (I mean, Full Metal Jacket). too bad his ex-wife says he's an asshole in real life. but then, she went on to marry her first cousin, so who knows
Hill's the best of 'em, but some of his cliches wore thin. Whenever he appeared on screen, me and pips would intone "Make a deal," in a vaguely Yiddish accent.
too bad his ex-wife says he's an asshole in real life...
Supposedly D'Onfrio's also a rabid-Bush hater in real life, so much so he'd curse Bush on the set, so I say good on him.
Well, I guess the final verdict on D'onofrio comes down to whether you find holding the right politics or actually being a good human being more important.
anecdotal evidence: my mom, a woman usually uninterested in television except for the news, but who became the greatest L&O fan evar, can't stand D'Onofrio, likes Meloni A LOT, worships at the altar of Waterston, whom she'd like to run for President of the United States
The right politics affects the world, jon! Being a good human being usually only affects your immediate circle of acquaintances.
John Adams was an irascible, arrogant, and disliked; Thomas Jefferson allowed his own bastards to be enslaved; Martin Luther King an adulterer; Cicero an anti-Semite.
sarcastic? who the hell cares if somebody I'll never meet is an asshole or not? I'd much rather know he's not voting to put a bunch of war criminals and war profiteers in power and keep them there. his being an asshole didn't kill any Iraqis, didn't kill any US soldiers, didn't bust the Treasury. votes (well, American votes) have global consequences. personal assholishness? not so much.
it's not like he's a friend of mine, you know? my friends I'd judge on character, Hollywood actors not so much
I'm a big Oz fan, so I have a hard time accepting Meloni as a good guy. Every time he bends a perp over the hood of a car, I think he's going to...well, you know.
I'll take Michael Moriarty over Waterston
My theater director in college once worked with Moriarty and LOATHED him. Every time we got the man drunk we were guaranteed to hear a collection of stories about what a pompous ass he was. (We suffered through it hoping for the occasional anecdote about smoking dope with Tobe Hooper. Those were priceless.)
it's not like he's a friend of mine, you know? my friends I'd judge on character, Hollywood actors not so much
I see your point. But generally, if I find out someone (even someone I'll never meet) is a prick in their private life, my admiration will lessen. Human nature, I guess.
I own a Law & Order 'fan book,' and the bio indicates that while Moriarity has a full six-pak, he lacks the plastic thing holding it together, so to speak.
I don't like how Waterston swallows the last half of each of his sentences, nor his beady little eyes. On the other hand, my ex-boss was named Michael Moriarty, and he was a real asshole, so I can't like the actor by the same name, either.
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