Person of Interest

One of my favorite movies is "The Dark Knight," I also think it was probably the best film of the 21st Century to this point. So it's fair to say I hold it in high esteem, and the same goes for its creators. Christopher Nolan was the driving force behind that film — and in fact the whole series — but among his collaborators were his brother, Jonathan.

When I heard that Jonathan Nolan was developing a series for TV, I was naturally excited. By all accounts, "Person of Interest" seemed like one of the most promising new series of the fall. But the pilot falls a little short, perhaps in part due to the concept.

The premise feels genuine. In our modern, post 9/11 world, there are few places that the government can't see. The paranoia surrounding national security led to the creation of a super computer that inputs images, telephone calls, and e-mails from every person, every day in an attempt to get out in front of the next attack.

But the man who created that super machine, Finch (Michael Emerson), found it had another use. In addition to predicting major attacks, it can predict who is going to be the victim/perpetrator of a violent crime as well. He recruits a former secret agent, Reese (Jim Caviezel), to help him figure out what is going to happen and stop it before it does.

If that plot feels a little familiar, it's more like an authentic, 21st Century reality take on the concept featured in "Minority Report." That might be an over simplification, but certainly the way the first show played out that felt like a fairly apt comparison. It just has the Nolan spin, the same way the new "Batman" series connects to the mythology of the hero while adding a more grounded in reality feel.

The show is also blessed with two talented performers. Emerson and Caviezel work well in the lead roles, and the basic idea of the show is fascinating. I also have hope that it will continue to grow and improve under slow boil conditions. The question posed at the outset — what happens when you are stripped of the personal connections and relationships in your life that made you a better person — is a fascinating exploration as well. It's an idea that has been a running theme through the films Nolan has done with his brother — "Batman Begins," "The Dark Knight," "Memento," and "The Prestige."

Still, it's fair to say I expected more from the pilot. It's a mixture that has all the right elements to succeed — including coming from Executive Producer J.J. Abrams — but just doesn't quite put it all together. Time will tell if all those pieces can coalesce into something great or if it will remain a beautifully missed opportunity.