The wacky part is: CBS airs part one Sunday night opposite “The Sixth Sense” on ABC. Dead people will be seen Sunday night, but M. Night Shyamalan’s are almost certainly the more entertaining.
TV Guide says:
”Ted Danson gives a strong performance as a man who is able to talk with the dead in this sometimes chilling two-part 2002 TV-mystery, inspired by the life of medium James Van Praagh. As Part 1 begins, Van Praagh (Danson) is struggling to keep his failing business afloat while grieving the death of his mother (Diane Ladd). During this emotional time, he begins to ‘see’ the spirits of dead people who want to communicate with him, a phenomenon that also occurred in his childhood. The most disturbing vision is of a boy whose hands are tied, who, Van Praagh soon realizes, was murdered by a serial killer who may still be active. “
USA Today says:
“Apparently, the dead like 'em dull. Why else would they talk to the movie version of James Van Praagh, a man who, as played by a stupefied Ted Danson, may be the most boring person on heaven or earth? … pretty much everything that's of even minimal dramatic interest is complete fiction. The real Van Praagh has never helped the police solve a serial murder, which effectively undercuts the factual basis for the plot that occupies the second half of the movie.”
Variety says:
”Despite its emotional cuddliness, this is still about as tacky as "Celebrity Boxing," and a lot more predictable … No messages from those burning in Hell here, mind you, although that might be more entertaining.”
The Hollywood Reporter says:
“Maybe the reason ‘Living With the Dead’ works so well as a tale about paranormal experiences and, especially, as a murder mystery is because the main character, James Van Praagh, is almost nothing at all like he is in real life … Danson … brings us into the story time and again with an arresting, modest charm. …Director Stephen Gyllenyhaal brings out the best in the cast while using the camera to imbue the story with plenty of suspense and excitement.”
Our own “Roj Blake” offers:
This Sunday evening CBS kick-starts a new mini-series, “Living with the Dead”. The conclusion of the two-parter airs Tuesday, April 30th. I thought about sending in a full-fledged review, but it’s hard to do as certain behind-the-scenes facts overshadow the series itself.
The series is billed as “Inspired by True Events” and its main character (convincingly played by Ted Danson) is based on famed medium/channeler/huckster James Van Praagh - so much so that his name in the film is…James Van Praagh. So it would seem that such a film might have one foot in reality.
Do not be fooled by tags such as “Inspired by True Events” – if nothing else, this series should be the final nail in the coffin of that particular film tagline. The tip-off begins with the casting of Danson as Van Praagh. I’ve seen James Van Praagh and Ted Danson is no James Van Praagh. In reality, Van Praagh is an impish, troll of man who bears a striking resemblance to a dwarfed version of what the love child of Tom Selleck and Robin Williams might look like. Now this alone is not reason enough to loathe what the fine folks in the CBS marketing department want you to believe this drama represents; it’s everything else that stretches credibility - as much as Van Praagh himself does in the real world with his own brand of shysterism.
If I hadn’t known the truth behind the fiction, this series would have worked for me – and admirably, too. The story, in a nutshell, revolves around Van Praagh and his ability to communicate with the dead. They’ve been popping up on virtually every flat surface since he was a young boy – and there are loads of flashback sequences to his troubled childhood in the first half that show this. In his adult life, however, he tries desperately to maintain normalcy, shunning the dead when they appear to him. Fast-forward. One thing leads to another, and Van Praagh becomes embroiled in a police investigation concerning the connected disappearances of a string of young boys. The crime is too much for him to ignore and he’s put to the test by the muted pleas of the boys’ spirits. The real James Van Praagh was never involved in solving any serial killer cases and his background that does relate to police cases seems dubious at best.
This is really all you need to know about the series itself other than “Living with the Dead” is actually very good drama. Emotional. Tense. Moving. Solid. Well photographed. Good acting. Mary Steenburgen (surprise, surprise), Queen Latifah, Diane Ladd, and Michael Moriarty all turn in believable performances. The most peculiar casting, however, surely comes in the form of Jack Palance, playing Van Praagh’s father; the irony of having the man, who for years uttered the words “Believe it…or not”, playing in a film “Inspired by True Events” – a film that is not much more than a slick, bogus sham designed to further the reputation of a man who makes a living out of conning the grief-stricken…well, need I work this sentence any further? You get the point. The film credits Van Praagh’s book “Talking to Heaven” as its base, which is pretty silly in and of itself, as the book is not a narrative, but a collection of Van Praagh’s ideas, methods and other general nonsense he dishes out in order to justify his “contributions” to society.
Want to learn a few things about James Van Praagh? Click here to read about several different eyewitness accounts (including professional debunkers The Amazing Randi and Michael Shermer) of the real James Van Praagh. This reading is indispensable before you watch “Living with the Dead”.
Here’s a neat-o review of the book “Talking to Heaven”…
This is an analysis of a Van Praagh appearance on Larry King…
These links are a mere sampling of what a simple Google search on his name will bring up. Oh sure, you’ll find plenty of links that champion his work as well, but the reading isn’t nearly as interesting. If nothing else, you can always go to Van Praagh’s website – it’s well worth a gander…and a chuckle.
Dig that groovy picture of the man himself! All of 4’11” and coming up to somewhere around Danson’s knees! I love Hollywood. They never pass up a chance to distort reality well beyond the boundaries of believability.
Again, I stress that “Living with the Dead” is good entertainment, and you won’t be wasting two nights if you decide to tune in – but the crime here is the sell and it’s unfortunate that such solid, old-fashioned creepy storytelling is a mere front for this man and his position in society. Rumor has it (and I think this comes from Van Praagh himself, so who knows what to make of it) that he’s developed his very own “Crossing Over”-type TV series that’s set to debut this fall. Whether or not the ratings will warrant it a success is something the psychic is unable to foretell…and that, perhaps, is a mystery unto itself.
Roj Blake…Teleport, now.
