Starring: Patricia Charbonneau Directed By: James A. Contner, Gary Sinise, Peter Medak, Abel Ferrara, Mark Rosner Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Box set, Color, Full Screen, Surround Sound Label: Starz / Anchor Bay Number of Items: 4 Region Code: 1 Release Date: September 20, 2005 Running Time: 1280 minutes Theatrical Release Date: September 18, 1986
Description: It was hailed for its realism, condemned for its violence and ended with a climax that shocked millions. Though it lasted only two seasons, fans and critics still consider CRIME STORY to be one of the most uncompromising and influential action dramas in television history. In this stunning final season, obsessed lawman Mike Torello and his street tough strike force pursue mob kingpin Ray Luca from the neon battleground of Las Vegas to the corrupt killing fields of Latin America. Experience the explosive closing chapters of the acclaimed crime epic that New York Newsday calls "A genuine work of art... a masterpiece in a classic genre"
Amazon.com: When the first season of Crime Story ended spectacularly in the Nevada desert, it was anyone's guess what season 2 would do for an encore. With low first-season ratings and conservative watchdogs complaining about its violence, the show received a surprise renewal that necessitated the "miraculous" return of mob-boss Ray Luca (Anthony Denison) and his dimwit sidekick Pauli Taglia (played by former Chicago burglar John Santucci). Moving from 10:00 p.m. Fridays to a new 10:00 p.m. Tuesday-night timeslot on NBC, the Michael Mann-produced series continued its ratings decline, and this lent the series a giddy, go-for-broke quality that held plenty of surprises. The year is 1966, and Chicago Police Lt. Mike Torello (Dennis Farina) and his close-knit Major Crimes Unit continues to track Luca's criminal activities in Las Vegas, where additional complications fueled a number of dynamic, stand-alone episodes, beginning with season opener "The Senator, the Movie Star and the Mob," guest-starring Kevin Spacey (in his first major TV role) and Jenny Wright (Near Dark) in a sordid, mob-connected plot with obvious parallels to Bobby Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. This established the neon-lit, casino-and-nightclub milieu of the season, and Luca's reappearance set the season in volatile motion.
The series' daring, pulp-fictional style attracted an impressive array of guests stars and newcomers, some of whom (like 24's Dennis Haysbert) would later appear in Michael Mann's films. Ted Levine (The Silence of the Lambs) reprises his role as burglar-turned-rocker Frank Holman; Margaret Avery (The Color Purple) and NYPD Blue's James McDaniel are superb in the racial-tension plot of "Seize the Time"; Laura San Giacomo (sex, lies, and videotape) aces her role as Luca's former flame in "Protected Witness"; and Elias Koteas delivers a fine performance in "Roadrunner," an exciting road-thriller episode that showcases Farina's skill with hardboiled comedy. (For the record, other noteworthy guest stars include Pam Grier, David Hyde Pierce, Billy Zane, David Soul, Steven Weber, Michael Jeter, and recurring performances by Andrew Dice Clay and Rolling Stone editor Jann S. Wenner.) "Pauli Taglia's Dream" is an outrageous experiment in all-out delirium, focusing on Santucci's scene-stealing character and providing a wacky lead-up to the season's climactic story arc, which leads Luca and Torello to their ultimate showdown in an unspecified Latin American country full of corruptible drug-trade politicians.
Of course, any innovative series has a few drawbacks: The violent shootouts turn somewhat redundant as the season progresses, and while Torello's gun-toting crew is brought to life by a perfect supporting cast (Bill Smitrovich, Ray Butler, Steve Ryan, and a young Bill Campbell), there was never enough time (or episodes) to properly develop their characters. The turncoat betrayal of lawyer David Abrams (superbly played by Stephen Lang) is never fully convincing (you just know he's not a bad guy), and when Crime Story's cancellation inevitably came to pass, the final-episode cliffhanger of "Going Home" (broadcast May 10, 1988) left frustrated fans with unanswered questions and nowhere else to go. It's especially regrettable, then, that this four-DVD set offers no extras whatsoever. The fact that Farina, Denison, Mann, and series cocreators Chuck Adamson and Gustave Reininger were not invited to do audio commentaries represents a missed opportunity of epic proportions. We can be grateful, however, that the series' pop-music soundtrack (chosen by the great Al Kooper, credited as "Guy Who Picks Music for the Show") remains intact and unchanged as an essential ingredient to one of the best TV shows of the 1980s. --Jeff Shannon
Crime Story - Season Two Great to see this title again. I caught this on its first run on TV and have watched it again on VHS, so imagine my joy when I saw that they (Season 1 also) had been released on DVD. This show was ahead of its time, even when depicting a history some of us have never known. Michael Mann's customary character tough talk and physical swagger effects every cast member and they say so much through their body language that the screen is packed with machismo from start to finish. Even the stoolies, rats and ne'er-do'wells have a sympathetic edge.
I love it, and recommend this to anybody who will listen.
Vegas, Baby! Just when I thought it was as good as it could be, the best cop show ever on TV kicked it up a notch by moving the action from the gritty streets of Chicago to the neon Babylon of Las Vegas. In the second season of Crime Story, Dennis Farina is as macho as ever, Anthony Denison takes evil to a whole new level, and the rest of the cast are unparalleled in acting ability. I gave seasons one and two to my husband as a gift over a month ago, and he hasn't stopped watching them since. If you like cop shows, the Sopranos, or even the sixties, you gotta see this!
Glad to have found this
When "Crime Story" starring Dennis Farina and Anthony Dennison came out in 1986, I was instantly hooked, and could not wait until the next episode. Once the show ended, I was disappointed and caught re-runs when I could.
Now, after searching for hard to find and expensive VHS sets, I opted instead for the DVD sets which have both seasons. This show was, IMO definitely a precursor to "The Sopranos" and other great crime shows and Dramas that have since won legions of followers. If you were/are an ardent fan of the series or any other crime/mobster films, these DVD sets are a must have for your collection.
Sensational As with Season 1 the action and intrigue is non-stop.It was such a pity that the show was cancelled after 2 seasons! We will be lucky to see another series as good as this in our lifetimes!
Absolutely Fabulous!! This DVD of Crime Story made me realize how great TV series can be. Dennis Farino is excellent as are the cast members. This was a totally unplanned purchase and it brought me back to fine television. I recommend this for anyone who appreciates good music, great plots and classic cars.
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