The Closer – The Complete Third Season (Warner DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: C Episodes: B-
Whether
it is on film or on television Kyra Sedgwick definitely has a presence. The
Closer depicts Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Sedgwick) as a strong female
lead in a male dominated world. The
drama takes Chief Johnson through a maze of mysterious crimes with her team
from the Priority Homicide Division. The
rough and tough style that Johnson utilizes is not always looked so favorable
upon by her peers, but after transferring from Atlanta to LA in Season One to head up a team as one of
the world’s finest interrogators, nothing is going to stop this quirky yet
strong lady.
In Season Three we see Sedgwick’s
character develop more and more with each episode, seemingly having found a
solid grasp on who she wants her character to be. The high profile crimes can be quite
emotional as much as they are outlandish; with Sedgwick investing anything from
a Serial Killer resurgence too Homeland security getting a little too friendly
with the edge of a cliff. All in all
Sedgwick is great in the role and is the main reason the series is captivating
and successful. As the episodes progressed
this reviewer began to like the series more and more; firmly grasping why the
series was a breakout hit.
The
technical features on this 4-Disc complete season are better than the Season 2 release, but not much closer
to being perfect. The picture is once
again presented in a 1.78 X 1 Widescreen, just as on the television broadcast,
and whereas the High Definition filming still has issues with depth and clarity
the colors seem to be vastly improved and upgraded. The sound in its Dolby Digital 5.1 Surrounds
continues to be heavy from the front, this being a dialogue driven series, but
has seen improvement in the areas of using the full surround spectrum more;
though still not perfect.
The
extras are lackluster at best offering fans some unaired scenes that neither
add nor detract from the series, a gag reel that was not very funny, and a
featurette entitled The Art of
Interrogation, which dives into the series in greater detail with its
motives, inspirations, and style. The
featurette was probably the best extra, but even at that it has little of
rewatchable quality and was a tad drab.
The Closer is a good series that this
reviewer had never previously viewed, except in passing on television. The series is reminiscent of many other crime
dramas that are character driven with a splash of situational mystery. Overall,
the evaluation of the series would be to say that it is an entertaining way to
waste some time, somewhat like the CSI series.
The viewer does not have to have too much previous knowledge to
understand the series, so do not be afraid to just jump right into any
season. Kyra Sedgwick is easy on the
eyes and has a screen presence that demands you attention, a good combination
to have. In the end, The Closer is a nice series without too
much baggage to get caught up in.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
