Unordered List

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Person Of Interest: The man in the suit.

Person Of Interest is three different genre shows stuck together. For Detectives Carter and Fusco it's a police procedural drama, whereas John Reese lives in a spy thriller and Harold Finch's story is gradually edging towards being a full-on dystopian cyberpunk sci-fi. Overall it's marketed as a crime show, more or less, which is what it mostly looks like on the outside. Like the majority of characters in procedural cop shows Carter and Fusco have very boring dress-sense, for practical and professional reasons. In costume design terms, the real interest lies with Finch and Reese.
Before I even saw the show, Reese had been described to me as a man who wears his clothes like a uniform. When he first appears he has nothing: no home, presumably no money, no real identity... until Finch comes along and sets him up with his very own apartment and a wardrobe full of identical black suits. Mysterious benefactors are a popular theme in fiction -- who doesn't wish a nameless billionaire would show up and randomly gift you with a new house? -- but Person Of Interest has a refreshing way of tackling the subject. Rather than twisting himself up in knots about receiving so much help from a total stranger, Reese just takes it.

What with his CIA training, subsequent betrayal, homelessness and total lack of friends or family, Reese is a man who has been stripped down to his bare bones. The things that normal people care about just do not bother him any more. Actually, Finch is like that as well, but for him it's more because he's been elevated beyond ordinary society thanks to his wealth, genius, and devotion to the Machine. With Reese there are scenes in almost every episode where you see him just fail to react to things that would have any normal person shying away in discomfort.
He doesn't care about people touching him or getting in his personal space. He doesn't care about money. He doesn't care about being watched and tracked constantly via CCTV. He doesn't care about getting beaten up, except in the sense that it's an inconvenience. When Finch picks him out of the gutter and sets him up in an enormous loft apartment with his own private arsenal, the only thing Reese is openly thankful for is that Finch has given him a purpose again. When you get right down to it, the only thing he really cares about is efficiency, which is why he wears the same outfit every single day of his life -- barring necessary disguises. Not having to think about clothes or look in the mirror every morning just removes another obstacle between him and his mission.
From a purely practical standpoint, Reese's monochromatic wardobe of identical suits is a stroke of genius. For all that you can compare the John Reese/Harold Finch duo to Batman and Bruce Wayne, Reese's main strength lies in his complete lack of distinguishing features. Although he's definitely good-looking enough to get by with a little superficial charm when the need arises, Reese is forgettable enough to be the perfect spy. The fact that his nickname during the police manhunt was "the man in the suit" tells you all you need to know, because as soon as he changes out of the suit? They don't even have a physical description. The sheer boringness of the outfit just amplifies how forgettable he can be, never mind how ridiculously easy it is to get into almost anywhere when you're a white, middle-aged man in a suit.
Finch's attitude to clothes is the polar opposite of Reese. Just by looking at him you can tell that he really enjoys dressing up -- even before you find out that he's a tailoring nerd. While Reese dresses to look as forgettable and generic as possible, Finch dresses for himself. Despite the fact that he spends most of his time alone in a disused library, he wears a three-piece suit almost every day, often including a pocket square. He definitely has different grades of suits, though. When he's just going to be sitting in front of a computer he wears softer, more comfortable outfits in warm colours like brown and maroon, whereas on days when he's going undercover in one of his millionaire personas he wears suits that are more obviously businesslike and luxurious in appearance.
Both Finch and Reese's suits have been cleverly matched up to the physical appearance intended for each character. Jim Caviezel, who is in reality beginning to look rather thicker around the middle than is ideal for a elite special-forces agent, looks far slimmer in his black suits than in anything else he wears on the show. His jackets are very rarely buttoned, both because an open jacket allows for more flexibility during fight scenes and because it's far more flattering to Caviezel's broad-shouldered frame. Finch's suits are typically quite soft by contrast and the waistcoats make him look a little rounder, which fits in with his list of harmless, birdlike cover identities: Finch, Crane, Wren, Partridge. Like most stories that focus on a partnership, the two characters have to balance each other out. While brains/brawn would be an unfair description considering Reese's skill as a tactician, it's certainly the case that much of Reese's strength lies in his ability to physically intimidate, whereas Finch relies on people mistaking him for the boring, fussy middle-aged man he appears to be.

41 comments:

  1. This is an informative post review. I am so pleased to get
    this post article and nice information. I was looking forward to get such a
    post which is very helpful to us. A big thank for posting this article in this
    website. Keep it up.


    damenfrost.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. combat gentlemen

      Delete
  2. Do you know the brand of dress shirt and suits that John Reese wears on Person of Interest? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://personofinterest.fandom.com/f/p/2153846088401213848

      Delete
  3. no idea, sorry

    ReplyDelete
  4. Can anyone tell me what the brown leather jacket is that Caviezel is wearing in the latest promo ads for POI?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very nice post. Thank you. And I agree, the costume choices for Finch and Reese are wonderfully appropriate for their personalities. And I must say, I am deeply enjoying Finch's suits. Plus, I got used to Memerson always looking a bit dirty and covered in blood and bruises on Lost so this is a nice change of pace for him. Though even as Ben Linus he seemed to have a certain... gentlemanly sort of dress sense. XD

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have yet to see on any fan sites for POI that anyone has noticed why Finch always uses bird aliases. His father was a twitcher (bird watcher). When we see Fitch say farewell to his father in the nursing home, he gives him a book of birds, and when Fitch was young and fixing the car, he asks his dad "What bird is that?"

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice article. Hope to see updated version soon! :)

    Regards
    Mens wear

    ReplyDelete
  8. The suit is Hugo Boss apart from when they are doing the fight sequences, then it's JC Penny. According to the Man in the Suit himself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahh,, thanks, Matt for the info! I don't suppose you know what brand of long (nearly knee length), winter, charcoal-to-black coat Reese wears in outdoor cold shots? Anyone?

      One more: watch as I might, I cannot tell whether Reese uses an inside the waistband, BTB holster, or just stuffs his carry pistol inside his belt. Anyone? Of course, when he relieves a bad guy of an "extra" pistol, he stuffs it inside his belt, typically. That you would expect.

      Delete
  9. Superb Article! I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Appreciate it!

    For further inquiry call us or Whats App on :: +919377222211 :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is the White Shirt: http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Regent-Fit-Tennis-Collar-Dress-Shirt/ME00140,default,pd.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very nice post. Thank you. And I agree, the costume choices for Finch and Reese are wonderfully appropriate for their personalities. And I must say, I am deeply enjoying Finch's suits. Plus, I got used to Memerson always looking a bit dirty and covered in blood and bruises on Lost so this is a nice change of pace for him. Though even as Ben Linus he seemed to have a certain gentlemanly sort of dress sense.......

    Branding Agency Singapore | Custom Ecommerce Development Singapore

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your website is terribly informative and your articles are wonderful.
    Designer suits for men

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have yet to see on any fan sites for POI that anyone has noticed why Finch always uses bird aliases. His father was a twitcher (bird watcher). When we see Fitch say farewell to his father in the nursing home, he gives him a book of birds, and when Fitch was young and fixing the car, he asks his dad "What bird is that?

    branding agency singapore | Brand Marketing Agency Singapore

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your website is great thanks for sharing. But, let's not forget to mention Fitch wears Bontoni shoes. https://shop.mitchellstores.com/t/designer/bontoni

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you for a wonderful post. Person of Interest was one of my favourite shows and one of its aspects was definitely the clothing that Reese and Finch wore on a regular basis. Clothes make the man, as they say.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for sharing this post. this post is a big help in finding good designer suits for men, Read my new post Go Online To Find Top Brand Suits For Men

    ReplyDelete
  17. I enjoyed reading this blog. in my opinion, everything was perfectly written there as well as few small tips are also can be taken as healthy suggestion. Descriptive informative content written in this blog is very useful.ร้านสูท

    ReplyDelete
  18. Glad someone else noticed the variety of Finch's suit, whereas Mr. Reese always wears the same suit. Just out of curiosity, does John ever wear anything other than a black suit (or is it a dark navy, some photos make it look like its not a black suit)?

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm not interested in Reese; rather, it's Finch who is the master of sartorial aesthetics. He is the one you should be doing a column on. Black is boring. Finch knows how to dress. Any ideas or comments on his attire? As a man who wears a waistcoat more often than not (except when the heat gets up), I am very interested in your opinions.

    ReplyDelete
  20. nice information.
    Thanks,
    avsome work
    https://www.vamikaa.com/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great article... Do you know the brand of the field jacket Reese wears? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for given us such a beautiful pictures to shown us we are also providing
    destination wedding at affordable price visit our website to know best offers
    https://www.blessourwedding.in/

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great article, for the women who want to check out Indian Fashion, you can check out this website madhuriexports.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hello Dear,

    I Like Your Blog Very Much. I see Daily Your Blog, is A Very Useful For me.

    You can also Find Tznius clothing online Miss Finch NYC is a modest clothing brand designed for modern women. Shop

    our trendy collection of best quality modern modest dresses, skirts and shirts for ladies of all ages, for casual everyday wear, business workwear and more.


    Please Visit at: https://www.missfinchnyc.com/



    ReplyDelete
  26. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love this show! It was so sad that the show ended in 2016 and left us hanging for more. Wanted to see the further adventures of Carter and Fusco. I also think this was a good start for Jim Caviezel as an action actor. If you're looking for stylish western dresses for women, visit AND Online Clothing Store to know more.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Khinkhwab brings you latest Handloom Banarasi Silk Sarees, Lehengas, Stoles & Dupattas, handwoven by finest weavers of the eternal city Banaras. Order now!
    banarasi saree
    banarasi silk saree online

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks for posting such a informative blog related to custom tailors. Also contact Picadilly Custom Tailors in Singapore, they are very professional in custom made clothing and they can do in easy way with less time

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thank you for sharing information. Wonderful blog & good post.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks a lot for sharing this info. It's an amazing blog and quality post.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks hellotailor for this informative blog. This blog is just what I needed to learn more about choosing the right suit design for men hanks for sharing your knowledge!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks for sharing this information. Our Plain Kurti for women effortlessly elevates your look with its timeless appeal. Embrace simplicity with a touch of sophistication and make a statement with this wardrobe staple that transcends trends and stands the test of time.

    ReplyDelete