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American Gangster: The Complete First Season (TV)
R1 - America - Paramount Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak and Chrisana Love (29th October 2007). |
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The Show
 This is a truly exceptional series, made for TV, the format is a little uninspired but the stories themselves are so compelling it's easy to see past this minor quibble. The gist: 6 x 40 minute docu-dramas chronicling the rise (and inevitable fall) of some of the U.S.'s most notorious black gangsters. The majority was involved in crack "distribution" but there are also heroin kingpins, jewel thieves and gang leaders. The stories are depressingly similar. Most came from poverty and violence. Most also learnt a lot of the tools of their trade whilst serving time, and upon release put these lessons into good use. Out of six stories, two really stood out to me, mainly for the far reaching implications of the crimes committed. Heroin Kingpin Leroy "Nicky" Barnes, who flooded the streets of Harlem with heroin in the 1970's. The surprising thing about this story was that Barnes (himself a reformed heroin addict) studied law in prison, and used his good looks, charm and intelligence to effectively destroy his neighborhood and people for personal gain (a theme which is depressingly consistent throughout). "Freeway" Ricky Ross, also stepped up the hypocrisy by simultaneously funding and supporting his local community (South Central L.A) with the money made from exploiting its weakest members with crack. Using a wealth of historical footage, interviewing many of the foot soldiers (and some of the children) of the crime kings and having actual correspondence with the subjects of some of these stories really gave this weight. Handwritten letters from various penitentiaries full of first hand explanation (and remorse) really hit home. The wider social and political ramifications are perhaps the most mind-blowing aspect of this series. It affected whole State's economies, changed State and Federal laws, affected popular culture and destroyed entire communities, the devastation of which continues today. There are many "cameos" from some (then) fledgling politicians: who knew that former NY mayor Rudy Giuliani got his big political break lobbying for Leroy "Nicky" Barnes to be released or that John Kerry (then a senator) instigated an investigation into the American Government and C.I.A's secret funding and supply of drugs to overseas cartels... Although (it has to be said) the real bad asses here would have to be the defense lawyers. I'm sure there is a special area in hell that spawns these guys, they are smart, morally bankrupt and ruthless and every career criminal needs one on his side. It would seem that money and power are truly the most addictive drugs of all...I can not recommend this series highly enough.
Video
Presented in the show's original broadcast ratio of 1.33:1 full screen. This series appears to have been shot on digital so all the new interviews appear nice and crisp, clean and sharp. The program also features some archival stuff which isn't in great shape but you can forgive that being archival. The colors are nice and blanched and flesh tones appear natural. Aside from some compression artefacts I couldn't spot any wrong with this transfer and suits the series quite well.
Audio
A single audio track is included in English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and for this series it's more than enough. The dialogue is clear and distortion free, minor ambient sounds are placed within the mix and adds some depth but just enough to remind you it's a stereo track, music featured in this series also comes across well. A full 5.1 track would have been a waste as this stereo track is more than adequate. This series does not feature any optional subtitles.
Extras
DISC ONE: First up we've got an exclusive interview with the Son of Stanley "Tookie" Williams which runs for 51 minutes 19 seconds. In this clip he talks about the name "Tookie" and the reaction to the name, the stories people told about his father and how they always showed his compassionate side about loving the community and things like that. He also comments on his father being convicted for his crimes and how the Governor denied clemency among other things such as the last conversation he had with his father and what about him that he admires. The only other extra on this disc is a bonus trailer for "Paramount TV Box Sets" that runs for 1 minute 49 seconds. DISC TWO: The first extra on this disc are some extended interviews which runs for 28 minutes 36 seconds and feature some additional talking head material from several of the episodes, these interviews were obviously cut for time reasons as each episode runs around 40 minutes as there's some additional information among them for anyone that's interested. Rounding out the extras is a season two sneak peek which runs for 10 minutes 34 seconds and is a highlight reel of what audiences can expect in the next season of the series.
Packaging
This 2-disc set is packaged in two slim amarays housed in a cardboard slip-case.
Overall
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