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Category:    Home > Reviews > Drama > Politics > Commander In Chief – Part One

Commander In Chief – Part One

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Episodes: B

 

 

A few years ago back in 2000, Rod Lurie was responsible for the film The Contender.  It was a weak film, but Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges received Academy Award nominations for their roles for both political reasons and performances that raised a somewhat formulaic film to a higher level.  Now, Lurie has returned with another tale of a women finally running the U.S. in Geena Davis and the TV series Commander In Chief.  The show has had mixed success, but is actually a very strong hour-long drama that is ripe for rediscovery and this new 2-DVD “Inaugural Edition” demonstrates how good the show really is.

 

David gets to the top office starting as Vice President when her President dies from a terrible health crisis.  It is assumed by all that she was just a token and many ask her to forget it and step down.  She stays, foiling the aspirations of a veteran politician and speaker of the house (a great performance and character for the great Donald Sutherland) to become the title character.  He starts to plot way to get rid of her and it is not pretty, yet she is busier with her family and running the country well.  Then there is the unexpected crisis and unexpected personal attacks, but the show has more.

 

This is the best role Davis has had in years and she or any other big screen feature film actress of her caliber would have been foolish to pass up because it is a great role.  Lurie has done an uncanny job of reflecting the political state of the country without getting heavy-handed and directly addressing “today’s headlines” in a way that keeps it from dating or breaking the compelling suspension of disbelief it establishes so well and quickly.  Whether the show kept this pace is something we’ll save for the next DVD set, but this is the strongest hour drama in part by just not being a police procedural, about doctors or police.  That it is a really good show is the rest.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is a little soft and likely shot in digital High Definition.  It still looks good, but can be underwhelming when the scripts are so good.  The same for the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, which has clear dialogue, but subdued surrounds.  The combination is good, but not as strong as it should be.  This set has no extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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