Person of great interest

Shot in NY by Bad Robot in colaboration with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Jonathan Nolan, David Semel, Greg Plageman director, Semel author, Nolan.Reese - Jim Caviezel Finch - Michael Emerson Det. Carter - Taraji P. Henson Det. Fusco - Kevin Chapman CBS cleverly recycles its old cornerstones with modest twists, thus supplying comforting familiarity covered with a shiny exterior. That's largely the formula with "Person of great interest,Inch which recasts "The Equalizer" inside a publish-Sept. 11 package, informed by accusations about intrusive information-gathering technologically. "Lost" alum Michael Emerson certainly improves the fabric, but Jim Caviezel's taciturn operative is really psychologically removed that audiences do not have much, initially, that they are able to connect. Changing "CSI" because the network's Thursday linchpin, the show is really a shrewd otherwise terribly exciting wager on boosting the network's stylish quotient without straying off not even close to its procedural wheelhouse. Caviezel's former special-forces officer Reese -- introduced toughing up punks about the subway -- is upon the market and very harmful, in addition to bearded and destitute, when employed by Finch (Emerson), a billionaire benefactor going to turn him loose on the pet project. "You'll need a purpose," Finch informs him, recommending stated feeling of direction is based on helping people, offering all of them potential redemption. So how exactly does Finch's program work? As devised by author Jonathan Nolan, the crux is definitely an elaborate surveillance system the tech whiz devised within the wake of Sept. 11 the government continues to be using in the anti-terror efforts. But he still maintains use of the information, or at best some of it -- supplying him Social Security amounts for those who are generally going to behave bad or have something terrible occur to them. Because of the vagueness of this explanation, it's most likely best to not dwell an excessive amount of about the particulars, becasue it is all mostly an imaginative excuse to change Reese right into a type of avenging protector angel. The approach within the pilot, anyway, proves a little chilly -- offering without any interaction between your hero and the mark, though Nolan's script provides the chance to show such a serious badass he is able to be on several occasions. Producer J.J. Abrams might call his company Bad Robot, but that is an uncomfortable description for the series lead. The experience is crisp, and Emerson is among the most watchable entertainers on tv. Additionally, Taraji P. Henson is onboard like a detective, though what she'll provide the party remains as murky because the technology undergirding Finch's creation. Indeed, it's tough to flee the sensation the high-tech plot device is only a high-fallutin' way of developing a well-funded vigilante -- to gain access to a writing credit Nolan distributed to his brother Christopher: Batman, without the cape and cowl -- and turn him loose on evildoers with procedural precision. With that measure, "Person of Interest's" premise triggers some interest but tend to be hard-pressed to sustain it on the very competitive evening -- unless of course Finch's miracle machine can manipulate Nielsen's to goes favorable amounts.Camera, Teodoro Maniaci production designer, Kalina Ivanov editors, Dorian Harris, Farrel Levy casting, April Webster. 60 MIN. Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com