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Rating:  - Crime Story Season One
If I could give you more stars for this DVD, I would. When the program first aired in 1986, I enjoyed watching the 60's set in Chicago and Las Vegas. The music brought back great memories and the cars were those we used to dream about and wished we could have. (I wish I could have one of them to-day.) I was sorry when this "Classic" show ended but am happy to be able to enjoy it again. Reproduction is far greater to-day than it was when I first watched it and it's great to do without the commercials.
Rating:  - Great Show - where's the music?
Almost finished season 1 - what's the bottom line on the music? I watched these prime time and remember a really good soundtrack. Reviews are conflicting but my guess is most of the good tunes are gone.
Rating: - Original and best that started it all! Rey Luca Lives!!!
I can remember waiting a week to see the all new episode on Thursday nights. I'm glad to be able to see it anytime on dvd. This is The Godfather of all TV cop/mob series out there. I highly recommend this title for those who didn't get a chance to see it syndicated on air.
Rating: - Trailblazing Cult Classic
One of the most influential TV shows ever is also one of the most criminally underseen. 'Crime Story's' effect on film and TV is immense and it's influence of some today's classic's is vast and deep.
You'll be reminded of everything from 'The Sopranos' to 'LA Confidential' to Scorsese's 'Goodfellas' and 'Casino' and even 'Deadwood' plus many other great show's (even the dreadful film 'Mulholland Falls). All have drawn inspiration from 'Crime Story'.
Clever visuals, canny use of music and full story arcs for minor characters make 'Crime Story' a trendsetter. Creator Michael Mann would bring these styles and themes to full effect in his brilliant 1995 film 'Heat'. And there's the wonderful, often ironically black humour that courses through the series, again seen recently in both 'Sporanos' and 'Deadwood'.
'Crime Story' takes a few episodes to really find it's feet, but kicks into top gear with the 'Abrams for the Defense', a truly potent mix of social comment and slam bang crime, guest starring a young Ving Rhames. After that, the show is at it's best focusing on the endless struggle between Lt Mike Torello and the vicious, rising mobster Ray Luca.
The casting is magnificent and the performances are dynamite. Dennis Farina was born to play Lt Mike Torello and Anthony Denison has never been better as Torello's arch nemesis Ray Luca. Highlighting the show's great humour is the chemistry between Denison and John Santucci as his dim witted offsider, Paulie. It's a tribute to the actors and scriptwriters that Luca and Paulie can be have some hilarious moments-usually Luca berating Paulie's lack of brain cells- and be ruthless killers the next. Then there's strong work from Stephen Lang as lawyer David Abrams. No one quite does raging ethical and moral indignation like he does. And don't forget Ted Levine, whose almost supernaturally sleazey (he went onto be the killer in 'Silence of the Lambs') as another Luca henchman, Frank Holman, who's both comically pathetic and utterly deadly. Plus there's Andrew Dice Clay perfectly cast, Bill Smitrovich, Billy Campbell and many other familiar faces fill out the regular cast. Plus there's potent contributions from a stellar guest list from TV and film, everyone from Kevin Spacey, David Caruso, Gary Sinise and Julia Roberts, to perrenial bad guys Micheal Winncott and Stephen McHattie. And Dr No himself, Joeseph Wiseman is great as crime czar and Luca mentor Manny Wiseboard.
The show's a classic, but it gets woeful DVD treatment with no extras and some pretty ordinary transfers. That doesn't matter because 'Crime Story' is so enjoyable and so good that any shortcomings in the presentation are easily forgiven.
Ironically 'Crime Story' is much better than Exec. Producer Micheal Mann's big hit of the time 'Miami Vice'.
Rating: - Memories
I ordered both Season one and two. It brings back very fond memories of that time period. It was a happy surprise to see it available. I am afraid I may wear the disks out from playing and re-playing. I still love the characters as much as I did when the series ran. Everything else since then has been just a poor imitation. Miami Vice, The Shield, etc. Drivers, eat your heart out when you see the price of gas @.25 per gallon. Being a Chicagoan, it's fun to identify the places, and remember how many I have visited and enjoyed.
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