TV Boxed Sets

By: Kevin Filipski

Wednesday September 20, 2006

From the sublime to the ridiculous, DVDs of TV series and movies run the gamut from the continuing misadventures of four crudely-drawn cartoon characters to the real heroes and heroines of our continuing misadventure in Iraq.
To begin with the latter in Iraq, there's Baghdad ER (HBO), which may not be for the squeamish, but it's necessary viewing for everyone else. This hour-long documentary simply chronicles the daily nightmare that medical personnel have to deal with as their comrades return broken, bloodied and worse. Without making any obvious political statements-beyond the clear-eyed but general observation that war is total hell-the directors Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill avoid polemics as they record the matter-of-fact, unblinking bravery of the many men and women we've sent over there to attempt to save their fallen comrades. No extras are needed to underscore this powerhouse documentary.

With her customary brilliance, Annette Bening brings star power and first-rate artistry to her portrayal of Jean Harris, who murdered the Scarsdale Diet doctor, Herman Tarnower, in Mrs. Harris (HBO). Bening-much as she did in her recent Oscar-nominated role in Being Julia- chews up the scenery with delight, even though her opposite number is Ben Kingsley, no slouch in the hamming department. Here, Kingsley's relative restraint allows Bening to take control-the movie's rather slight, but Bening keeps it percolating. Extras include commentary by Bening, Kingsley and writer/director Phyllis Nagy, as well as a short featurette about Harris.

Some wags are calling this Helen Mirren's year: she's being touted as an Oscar candidate for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in Stephen Frears' The Queen, and she already won an Emmy as Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth I (HBO) for a performance as solidly flawless as any she's given in decades, including her multi-faceted Inspector Tennison from the mid-90s mini-series Prime Suspect. Nearly her equal as the Earl of Leicester is Jeremy irons, who inhabits his role with a raw intensity rarely seen in his acting. The costumes, sets and supporting cast are all first-rate, but it's Mirren who crowns this queen's story. Extras are disappointing: two 15-minute making-ofs that appeared on HBO during the movie's initial showings.

Strangers with Candy: the Complete Series (Paramount) is an odd duck: starring three hilarious comedians in Amy Sedaris, Steven Colbert and Paul Dinello, it's only a fitfully funny series, which may be why-its cult status notwithstanding-it's no longer being shown on Comedy Central. Each episode of this scattershot comic look at an ex-drug addict/hooker/loser who returns to high school at age 46 has its share of laughs, but it never hangs together; each episode seems like it's inventing the wheel all over again. Far more entertaining are the audio commentaries by the three stars on 9 of the 30 episodes: they're having so much fun reliving their magnum opus that their laughter is infectious. Too bad it doesn't fully rub off onto the series itself, or onto the failed movie version that disappeared with barely a whimper.

The Simpsons Season 8 (Fox) finds a classic series at the crossroads: by 1996, many original writers and directors had left, and their talented replacements don't always have the same original insanity. More shows are parodies of movies, musical acts and other TV series; they're hilarious, but in an "I get that reference" way. Still, with such priceless Simpsons episodes as "Treehouse of Horror VII," "Mountain of Madness" and "The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show," it's another season worth having. The usual blow-out assortment of extras includes audio commentaries, deleted scenes, TV spots and "The Simpsons House" featurette.

We all know that America is not yet ready for a female president-especially if her last name is Clinton-but, based on the premature cancellation of Commander in Chief (Buena Vista), we're not even ready for a fictional female president. And that's too bad, for Geena Davis is one of the few level-headed actresses, and if she can't sell herself as a credible COC, than what American actress can? (Of course, there's Helen Mirren, but she's British and so should stick to playing monarchs.) It's true that the plotlines became truly warped as the show's ill-fated first season progresses, but through it all, Davis holds onto her dignity in what becomes an unfunnily farcical repeat of the unfunny farce currently playing itself in the real White House. But only in the show can we blame the woman in the Oval Office. Buena Vista released all 18 episodes in two sets, and the bonuses include deleted scenes, commentary by the series creator and an interesting-if too-brief-interview with Davis.

The Boondocks: the First Season (Sony), the animated version of the politically incorrect-but sidesplitting-comic strip by Aaron McGruder, has its jagged heart in the right place as it sends up anything and everything in the ongoing war of the races, including both black and white stereotypes. The problem: each episode has a hit-or-miss feel as it moves among its targets. Still, the strip's raucousness is amplified in the TV version, and on DVD, nothing is bleeped out, so we hear the kids and their foul mouths in all their f***ing glory. The terrific voice cast includes Regina King and John Witherpsoon. Excellent bonuses include an interview with and audio commentaries by McGruder, a behind-the-scenes look and deleted scenes.

Morgan Spurlock, who brought McDonald's to its knees with his documentary expose Super Size Me, is back with a high-concept TV show, 30 Days (Fox); the first season shows that Spurlock's concept is more interesting in theory than execution. Each episode of 30 Days places someone in a situation he'd rather not be in for a month: to take the most prominent example, in the second-season finale, Spurlock himself spends 30 days in the slammer. In the first season episodes, there are intriguing ideas: a devout Christian lives with a family of Muslims, a homophobe gets a gay roommate-in San Francisco, and Spurlock and his girlfriend try to survive on the minimum wage. A measly six episodes is now considered a "complete season," but for fans of Spurlock, 30 Days is a smooth continuation of Super Size Me. Extras include commentaries on four episodes and outtakes from all six.

What else can be said about South Park: Season 8 (Paramount)? If you love the four boys and their antics-masterminded, of course, by those two grown-up children, Trey Parker and Matt Stone-then you already own this set. If you haven't yet succumbed to this impish, who-cares-whom-we-skewer hash of lowbrow comedy that hits harder than it has any right to, then maybe you owe it to yourself to give it a try. For the record, Season Eight includes the infamous "The Passion of the Jew," a rip-roaring lambasting of Mel Gibson. The extras are, as usual, five-minute mini-commentaries by Parker and Stone on each episode: they always say that they don't have much to say about their show, but their short discussions simply tease true fans. How about full-length commentaries next time, guys?