#6.20 “Noir” Review

NOTE: I should have tried to come up with some snappily spoiler warning worded like it had come out of the mouth of Humphrey Bogart, but I’m not quite that clever so I’ll just keep it simple. Don’t read any further if you want to be spoiled because this review reveals major plot points.

In first hearing about this episode, I really thought it could either way. It could be really, really bad or it could be really, really good. Despite the visual feast they dished up, I liked Noir, but ultimately I was wrong because it basically split the difference.

The script wasn’t the best effort ever put out by longtime Smallville scribes Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders but perhaps it wasn’t entirely their fault. They seemed to have been given the chore of stuffing in a lot of tidbits that were more tied to upcoming episodes rather than having anything really to do wit this one. On top of that, this episode depended on the Noir-ish section succeeding and I’m not sure it did. Partially because I think they were trying too hard.

As much fun as the idea was, and as good as everything and everyone looked (and I do like to take a dip in the shallow end from time to time), the idea didn’t work as a cohesive whole.

Jimmy’s dream-world was interesting the way it reflected his view on the relationships in Smallville. I found it funny he called it Chloe life a “soap opera” since teen angst and somewhat overwrought melodrama is a hallmark of the show, but the events in the dream had no real connection to anything real except for that cigarette case. However, was that really revelatory about anything? I don’t think so since the link between the two versions of the cigarette holder broke down completely because Jimmy never solved the mystery of why Lana had it or why it was so important someone nearly killed her for it. But would he really be allowed to solve the mystery on a show where Aaron isn’t in the credits? No, I suppose not. Otherwise, why did they give the job of finding out more to Lois?

While we’re on the topic of Lois, why even have her be in this episode at all except to look really fabulous? Maybe Lois finding that video was useful and kept this episode from being nearly a complete waste of time, as beautiful as it was. Her discovering that case (and the video it contained) certainly seemed like a set up for further complications down the road. It gives her a juicier story than krypto freak fight clubs to investigate anyway. Also, a reason for Lois to look deeper into Lex’s Project Ares seems like it will build into the next episode, “Prototype,” but still… She felt shoehorned into the episode becoming just an expedient bit of arm candy for Lex.

However, Clark finally finding out that Lana wed Lex only to protect him was a huge reveal. It gives Clark another thing to feel guilty about but I’m glad he knows. I hope it helps them both get the resolution they need for the relationship.

The story, even though I found myself confused at times at what was going on, did seem to move well and the act break cliffhangers were good. A couple of new storylines were introduced, Lionel now working with Lana to find dirt on Lex and Lex working with that shady Senator, and others were moved along substantially but I wasn’t happy with the script. At the end, I felt frustrated because it seemed that nothing had been resolved and it seemed like it stopped more than having a real ending. It really wasn’t Kelly and Brian’s best effort.

Despite the acting being uneven overall, Tom Welling turned in yet another terrific performance. Anyone who thinks he’s not a good actor should see him in episodes like this. He played several different people in this episode. First he was the version of Clark we know and see every week. He was all heroic and wanting nothing more than to protect the people he cares about…

Then Tom was the dorky-rookie-reporter-Clark and he was cute as could be. It might be the only glimpse we get of what Tom could do with that part of Superman’s life and he was perfect. That little scene at the Planet with the Bumbling Reporter Clark probably made me largely forgive this episode for all its other faults.

Then Tom played the smooth and cool man about town, very much at home in that club. Looking elegant in that suit and sipping whisky while sizing up the situation around him. They should dress him in suits more often, by the way. He finally looked like the adult he is.

Later, he was the professional detective on the job. That Clark killed Lana without batting an eyelash. Tom played that version of Clark as cold and very down to business. He played each version of Jimmy’s dream Clark believably and perfectly. Later, it was wonderful seeing Clark so casually save Chloe’s life, even joking about the last second save. Yet all he needed for thanks was to see her alive and well and in the arms of the man she loves. His affirmed look as Chloe mouthed her thanks was wonderful. His face conveyed so much, without Tom speaking a single word. Too bad there wasn’t more of him in this episode.

Allison Mack was terrific in this, aside from her sporadic use of the distinctive fast talking accent that was common in Film Noir movies from the 40’s and 50’s. However, for the most part she was spot on, ever the loyal friend and plucky sidekick. The first scene between Chloe and Jimmy was sweet and romantic. They have terrific chemistry together.

Aaron Ashmore was terrific in the real life parts of this episode, but I didn’t completely buy his performance in the dream parts. He was still too… I don’t know… Jimmy-like. I didn’t buy him as the smooth as silk investigative reporter-slash-hatchet man, maybe I wasn’t supposed to, but something about his performance seemed off.

As good as Kristin Kreuk has been lately, she was a disappointment in this episode. Although she had her moments, for most of the episode she actually looked uncomfortable. Was it the clothes or was it the story? I don’t know, but I hope she shrugs off whatever funk she was in. She’d been doing so well the second part of the season and there are only two episodes left in the season after this…

As little as Erica Durance’s Lois was in this, she was terrific despite her less than successful singing. Maybe that was by choice. I mean, perhaps only a Luthor mistress could get a job singing that poorly. She looked awesome on top of that. Too bad Lois doesn’t get much of a chance to dress up now that Oliver is out of the picture.

Michael Rosenbaum really owns the role of Lex Luthor. Again, he wasn’t in this episode much (it was more the Jimmy and Chloe show) but what he did do was terrific. He was a little stiff in places, especially in that scene with Jimmy just before Lex got shot, but I loved the little bit of him talking to Lionel in the club. That smile after he had insulted his father and was about to take another puff on his cigarette, he looked like a gangster. That was an awesome moment.

The lighting and photography were both outstanding. Glen Winter really knocked this one out of the park. One pet peeve of mine are modern black and white films that are supposed to look like they were filmed in the past and just don’t. Films just looked different back then and it’s more than just not being filmed in color. More modern films that are filmed in black and white mostly look just gray; there is usually very little true black in them. The contrast ratios were much higher and the lighting was more dramatic and less even.

Glen’s high contrast photography combined with the chiaroscuro (or Rembrandt) lighting was perfect. His clever use of that old fashioned style eased the use of the archive footage in the establishing shots and that car chase. He did such a good job, I had trouble telling whether it had really been filmed in the past or not. I also really liked the old fashioned wipes at the end and beginning of each act…

The production designer, James Philpott, did a wonderful job redressing the sets and Carolyn Cranstoun did an awesome job on the costumes. Aside from the sometimes apparently uncomfortable Kristin, everyone looked awesome in the dream sequence scenes. In the Daily Planet scene, I loved the choice of having Clark wear suspenders. It not only made him look slightly klutzy, in a very cute way, but it was also historically accurate for the period. They made him look dorkier, as if those heavy glasses weren’t enough. In the later scenes, Tom was the epitome of male beauty, masculine yet refined, and the suit and trench coat he wore were perfect. Michael looked awesome in that overcoat with the white silk scarf and the fedora. He looked very elegant and Erica was a standout in that white satin dress. Her hair and make-up were also perfect. Allison was cute as all get out with that curly do pushed to the top of her head, looking very much like Greer Garson.

I did see a few gaffs in the episode. One was the wound on Lana’s shoulder. It would switch sides almost every time she was on camera, it was first on the left then on the right and then back on the left and then the sling she wore in the hospital was on the right.

Speaking of the hospital, since when do the medical specialists work in Smallville? Had Lex brought in so many to the small town over the years that some decided they liked it better than Metropolis? But I think it’s more likely that the producers didn’t want to pay to redress the Smallville Med Center set to look like a Metropolis hospital? If that’s the case, I hope trimming the budget was worth it. Lana getting medivac’d to a tiny town like Smallville for specialist care just doesn’t make sense.

Despite the outstanding lighting, photography, sets and costumes this episode was just okay. I give “Noir” 3 silver cigarette holders out of a possible 5.

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