The long-awaited American remake of Channel 4's long-running chav soap opera. Starring William H. Macy.
brilliant...I wasn't expecting to like 'Shameless USA' as it's billed over here, as I have enjoyed the British original for so long. I don't think it's just because the original version appears to be running out of steam (and Gallaghers), but the remake seems so much better and more enjoyable on many levels. Following the first series of the UK version pretty faithfully to begin with, USA soon becomes its own beast with new storylines and incredibly fun performances - and it never descends into the pantomime that the UK series has become. The emphasis is on the drama in this comedy-drama, but there's still time for laughs.
Every cast member is so good you forget their British forebears, and they're not just great actors, most are much prettier too, particularly Lip (Jeremey Allen White), Steve (Justin Chatwin) and Ian (Cameron Monaghan) - the latter's gay storyline is particularly endearing. The transition to Chicago from Manchester makes for stark differences in style and setting, with perpetually snowy streets and a poor white trash sensibility that feels utterly authentic. Even Macy is a great Frank Gallagher, who could sit comfortably alongside David Threlfall's excellent original. Joan Cusack is wonderfully dippy as agrophobic Shiela too. The heart of US Shameless is undoubtably Emmy Rossum's Fiona, the eldest sibling who holds the family together, puts food on the table and also has to deal with Steve's overtures for her affection. Rossum brings much raw emotional depth to the character and thus the series and I hope she stays with the show, and that it continues for a long time without sacrificing the drama.
but...While Cusack is a gem, I wonder what Sheila would have been like with the incomparable Allison Janney in the role, as she was in the (unbroadcast) pilot?
briefly...
An American remake that is every bit as good as the original series, and compared with the current output of its progenitor, its even better.
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