Homicide Life on the Street Complete Series Review

Law and Guild set the standard of constabulary procedural shows while creating an unabridged generation of armchair experts, but information technology was the Baltimore-based cop drama, Homicide Life on the Street, that pushed the envelope and boundaries of network television. Now the landmark series has returned to DVD in one impressively sized box set from Via Vision Entertainment.

Chronicling the work of a Baltimore homicide unit, the Emmy Award-winning series, is, as the championship suggests, a street-level view of criminal offense in a major U.S. uppercase that delves into the nitty-gritty of police piece of work, often exploring the moral grey areas attached to various cases.

Heading up the 9-character cast is the late Yaphet Kotto as the African-Italian American, Helm Al Giardello, a no-nonsense individual who holds his unit to a high standard. Working together in pairs are our loveable scruffy detectives, beginning with Richard Belzer as the dry out and sarcastic John Munch with his disenchanted partner, Stanley 'The Big Man' Bolander, played by pic actor Ned Beatty, who sadly passed away recently at historic period 83. Kyle Secor is the rookie of the unit as Tim Bayliss, formerly part of the mayor'south security detail, whereas his partner, the very capable Frank Pembleton (Andre Braugher), is the superstar who'd rather work on his own. Clark Johnson and Jon Polito equally the very conversational Meldrick Lewis and Steve Crosetti, who, despite beingness the first faces nosotros see, aren't quite as defined, only they bring a lighter quality to what is often a harsh viewing; and finally, Daniel Baldwin every bit the family unit-oriented Beau Felton is partnered with the unit's only female person detective, the tough-every bit-nails Kay Howard, played by Melissa Leo.

Season 1 mostly revolves around Bayliss' get-go case, the brutal slaying of an African-American child, Adena Watson; and the enormous pressure information technology brings. With the lack of first-hand experience, Bayliss is constantly tested by having to navigate proper procedures while dealing with foul-ups that land at his anxiety. The emotional toll the instance extracts from our first-time detective, I feel, is well presented, showing how difficult it is to institute a split up between work and one'due south personal life. The evidence's creator, Paul Attanasio, and managing director Barry Levinson were more or less given free rein in terms of what they wanted to present to TV audiences, which was something far more confronting and graphic than what was commonly accustomed during primetime. I think the fact that this box set is classified MA 15+ is very telling. However, after a successful nine-episode run, NBC had other ideas that would bring Homicide more in line with competing programs.

Homicide? We work for God. – Sgt. Kay Howard

Opting for a more episodic arroyo, the unusually short second season, which aired only four episodes in January of 1994, of Homicide: Life on the Street dials back on the continuing narrative the previous season followed. Although, the show does remain impactful with the more familiar bookended manner, such every bit the premiere episode, "Bop Gun", guest-starring Robin Williams as a husband and father, whose wife is murdered in a senseless shooting. Williams gives a very sincere operation, conveying the sense of helplessness left in the wake of such a horrific deed. Screen fourth dimension for our characters isn't as counterbalanced in the post-obit seasons and it's articulate who the network was favouring, but the deep chemistry remains among our sets of detectives.

VIDEO AND AU DIO

Homicide certainly hasn't lost any of its 16mm dust with the four:iii transfer sourced by Via Vision. Although, information technology'due south a shame the evidence hasn't been remastered as I think an Hard disk drive scan of the original negatives would produce an amazing result, even on DVD. Thankfully, the video format is NTSC (Region four) and not the slightly sped-upwards PAL, which was the norm here in Commonwealth of australia for many years. Sound is a rather bones 2.0 stereo mix with no accompanying subtitles, but the volume is decent despite the rail coming through a footling flat.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Audio Commentaries with the bandage and coiffure on select episodes
"Homicide: Life At The Start" – An interview with Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana
"Homicide: Life in Flavor 3" – An interview with Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana, David Simon, James Yoshimure and henry Bromell (Narrated by Daniel Baldwin)
"Homicide: Life in Flavour 4" – An interview with Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana, David Simon, James Yoshimure and henry Bromell (Narrated by Isabella Hofman)
"Inside Homicide" – An interview with David Simon and James Yoshimura
Characteristic-Length Documentary "Beefcake of a Homicide"
Live Panel Word with Tom Fontana, Barry Levinson, James Yoshimura and David Simon
HOMICIDE: THE Picture show – the serial finale

Naturally, you would expect some bonus material with a box prepare of this size, merely I was honestly surprised by the sheer amount of content that broadly covers the series. Spread evenly over the 35-disc ready, commentaries and interviews requite insight into the edgy network program along with the changes that occurred during its six-year run. Homicide: Life At The Start is a nice ten-minutes topper after watching Seasons i and two. I would avoid the commentaries until subsequently you've finished the series, every bit they are given in hindsight, which results in a number of spoilers.

Homicide: Life on the Street lives up to its reputation and remains a cornerstone of television; a precursor to the high standard that'due south at present a common practise among the cable networks and streaming services that now reign. Before diving in, I would consult the episode guide on IMDb as some episodes are in a unlike order for reasons unknown to this viewer.

HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET
(Goggle box 1993-1999), creator: Paul Attanasio)