Earthly Possessions

By William Tynan

It's easy to see why Susan Sarandon chose this adaptation of Anne Tyler's quirky novel as the vehicle for her first TV role in a decade. Charlotte, a coddled housewife taken hostage by Jake, a punk bank robber, is a dream part, with the sort of sly comedic opportunities Sarandon hasn't had since Bull Durham. On the lam, Charlotte and Jake (a sweetly bumbling Stephen Dorff) are soon on the road to self-discovery. If their inner journey becomes too predictable (she loosens up; he starts to pull himself together; they sort of fall for each other), never mind. Sarandon and Dorff are a sexy, odd pair, and you almost hope they buck common sense and set up house.

--By William Tynan