Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Cruise to Nowhere (2006) User Reviews

Pucci: A Star In The Making?

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 6 August 2008]

This was a very interesting story involving a kid who begins the story as a very arrogant punk. You can't help but hate him. Slowly, we begin to hear about his life story and by the end, we feel sorry for him. "Detective Goren" (Vincent D'Onofrio) certainly does, You can see that. He usually has a lot more compassion than his partner "Det. Eames" (Kathryn Erbe.)

The "punk" is world-class card shark "Joey Frost," who is fabulous at reading people. That makes this gambler almost unbeatable at poker. On sports events, where he has no control over the outcome, Joey is a huge loser. Lou Taylor Pucci plays Frost as each scene he's in, is riveting. Only in his early 20s, I think Pucci has a chance to be a star in the movies. This kid has talent. His biography here at IMDb states "His favorite actors are Gary Oldman, Steve Buscemi and Vincent D'Onofrio."

Those are three pretty intense actors.

In a nutshell, Joey is being used by his uncle to win lots of money. Joey is has no clue this is happening, only that uncle "Phil" (John Pankow as "Phil Lambier" is a great guy. What Joey reluctantly hears at the end of this show is a killer.....literally.

This was a good, emotional story with intensity and good acting.

Teenage gambler

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 20 August 2017]

A really outstanding performance from Lou Taylor Pucci as a young and most immature gambling protégé highlights this particular Criminal Intent episode.

Jay Patterson is our victim here, a respected former Chancellor of the City Schools system who writes an advice column now who is a degenerate gambler. Pucci is brought in to clean the guy out which he does on a gambling ship. Shortly afterward Patterson's body is found in the water. He either he jumped or he had help going over.

Pucci is one of the most interesting characters ever on the series that Goren and Eames had to deal with. Check out the portrayals of both Michelle Pawk as his degenerate mother and John Pankow as his uncle who really raised him and taught him the trade. More than a hint of incest here. His father was a victim of a mob hit.

When he throws that tantrum in the interview room Vincent D'Onofrio starts working a whole new approach to Pucci. The truth as it always does on Criminal Intent comes out.

Definitely see this for Mr. Pucci.

The gambling prodigy

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 7 January 2021]

Absolutely love Goren and Eames' pairing, and Goren especially is the most fascinating of all the 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' leads. Do prefer them over the pairing that they alternated with throughout Season 5 Logan and Barek, and prefer and am more used to them as characters. Their episodes on the whole in Season 5 are better than the Logan and Barek-centric ones, although to me not every episode of theirs in the season was great.

"Cruise to Nowhere" though is one of the great ones, one of the better Goren and Eames episodes of the season, and is also one of the best episodes of Season 5 overall. It doesn't sound like the most exciting of stories reading the plot synopsis, but actually the execution is the complete opposite and the episode is especially worth watching for one exceptionally well written character and a guest star performances for the ages.

Sure story-wise "Cruise to Nowhere" is not one of the most original of 'Criminal Intent' and the final part of the episode is ever so slightly rushed.

But there is so much to love and the other aspects are executed so wonderfully that those not quite as good things aren't so bothersome. "Cruise to Nowhere" is well made, intimately photographed and slick with no signs of under-budget or anything. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse.

The script is a taut, constantly thought-probing, emotionally impactful and at times entertaining one. Don't be fooled by the title, the story here hardly goes nowhere. It starts off excitingly and uncompromisingly, raises a lot of interesting and well balanced questions in the middle act and even if the pace is slightly rushed towards the end the climactic moments are very powerful. Especially one of the most heart-wrenching reactions to finding out a truth (one that is enough to shock anyone) on the whole of 'Criminal Intent'.

Vincent D'Onofrio has terrific intensity in his acting while Kathryn Erbe plays off him beautifully and entertainingly. The supporting performances are on their level, but the episode is to be seen for the simply stunning performance of Lou Taylor Pucci. His character is fascinating and a character that actually develops, a character one hates at first but by the end he ends up being the only one worth feeling sorry for. Pucci delivers that with both intensity and nuance.

Overall, excellent. 9/10

One of the best episodes, especially for the wonderful acting of Lou Taylor-Pucci

[UNOhwen · 31 December 2011]

CRUISE TO NOWHERE - a great episode of L&O: CI, is really a place for Lou Taylor Pucci (Joey Frost) to shine.

I first became familiar with Lou through this episode. His character - a young poker-playing genius, with the mentality of a little boy is riveting.

One reason I love this series, Is Vincent D'Onofrio's brilliant portrayal of Det. Robert Goren. His off-kilter performance, is what ensnared me, originally, and, I'm sure a lot of other faithful L&O:CI watchers.

It is nice to see a performer with Mr. D'Onofrio's skills work with someone else, such as Pucci, whose work is just as riveting.

Since this episode, I've tried to better familiarise myself with Pucci's work, one of which, is the film THUMBSUCKER, in which Pucci's character, a shy, introverted young man, is the polar opposite of the brash, Joey Frost.

As an episode of this great series, and, in particular, a tour de force for great acting, CRUISE TO NOWHERE is at the top of my list.

He wants you to stay broke

[Mrpalli77 · 10/10 · 21 September 2017]

Joey Frost (Lou Taylor Pucci) is a smart kid. He can't lose any poker game because he has got a gift in reading other people feeling by watching them. Anyway he spends all the money he gains because he's not capable of save money; the reason is related to his mind: he's actually 20 years old but he acts like he's still a child (he eats only junk food, he's unable to tell lies). An avid gambler saw his potential 10 years before, exploiting him ever since to his personal matters. I feel pity for the boy drunken mother, who is still gripped with grief and sorrow originated from his husband murder.

The fat WASP killed at the beginning is a real peace of work, how could you steal money from your children trust just to gamble? He went to the cruise to meet his fate.

Stunning Demonstration of Acting Talent

[bpholter · 10/10 · 15 December 2021]

Of all the Law & Order series I've always preferred "Criminal Intent" because of the incredible acting. This cast is next level, and in each episode they bring characters to life who use a core individual talent (Deakins: experience, Goren: insight, and Eames: instinct) to find the best way to lean on one another for the ultimate answer. They tackle each case with a more nuanced approach, which is appreciated since so many police dramas these days go for gadgets and new world forensics. On CI everything starts within their minds.

I love CI and have watched every episode, but this episode gets perfect marks as a result of a hidden weapon: Lou Taylor Pucci. In the role of Joey Frost, Pucci brings acting chops that will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor (at the time he was only 21). His performance alone brought this episode up near the top of my all time favorites list!

Not to mention, for a good portion of this episode Pucci is acting across from Vincent D'onofrio, who may quite possibly be the most brilliant actor of his generation. Yet Pucci stands toe to toe with a titan and at times he's so convincing you forget which one is the acting legend! Pucci sells the roll of Joey Frost with such vigor and commitment that you hate knowing the episode has to end.

If you like Criminal Intent or other police procedurals then this is a MUST see episode. Or even if you have no interest in this genre of television but you appreciate great acting, it is MORE than worth it!

Good episode, great acting

[jimcheva · 7/10 · 16 July 2014]

I think the whole "Law and Order" franchise is consistently a model of story-telling. So this is again a well-written episode. This said, I don't know that I would rate it overall one of the best (that's a high bar). But I certainly agree that Lou Taylor Pucci holds his own with d'Onofrio, and for similar reasons - a kind of controlled edginess that bespeaks a far more complex character beneath the surface. The scene where Goren is sitting on a small table with one leg folded under him is exquisite.

I'm surprised Pucci hasn't done more in recent years. But he's got time.

I also loved the thug who's always worried about his wife (couldn't track the name); really compelling in his anxious stupidity.

Some fine acting overall; but the series has had better stories.