The best cop show ever made? Absolutes are hard to prove, but The Wire - gritty and realistic, with great performances and a story that completely sucks you in - is certainly a strong contender.
Set in Baltimore, the title refers to a wiretap, the key ingredient of a surveillance operation initiated by homicide detective Jimmy McNulty (Brit Dominic West - The Forgotten, 28 Days) amidst indifference in the police department and against political opposition. The target of the wire is faceless drug baron Avon Barksdale and his distribution operation, led by 'Stringer' Bell (played by another Brit, Idris Elba, whom some with good memories may recall from short-lived UK vampire show, Ultraviolet), and the story is told from both sides - that of the police and their suspects.
This 13 episode show is from US cable channel HBO - who brought the likes of The Sopranos and Deadwood to our screens, and the creative minds behind it are that of David Simon, the man responsible for Homicide:Life On The Street, and Ed Burns, himself a former Baltimore police officer. With that sort of pedigree, you know you can expect quality. 'The Wire' delivers just that - with high production values, and great writing. The performances are universally excellent, but standout are Andre Royo as drug addict and informant Bubbles, and Clarke Peters as Lester Freamon, the detective who may not be quite as over-the-hill as he appears. Also worth a mention is the theme-tune - a truly bluesy rendition of the Tom Waits-penned 'Way Down In The Hole' by The Blind Boys Of Alabama.
There are no stereotypes here - every time you think you have spotted one, you find out a little more about the character that makes them real, and the dialogue always feels authentic. The story itself will always keep you guessing.
If you like your good guys whiter than white, and your villains unequivocally evil, look elsewhere - everyone here is painted in many shades of grey. Similarly, if you are looking for all-out action - explosions, rains of bullets, and constant blood-spatter - then this series is probably not for you. Obviously there is violence (often gruesome, but never gratuitous), drug use, and sexual content as befits it's BBFC rating of 18, but it is how these events shape and affect the characters that is the focus. There is swearing, as you would expect, but the dialogue is not peppered with expletives unnecessarily. This is a show that builds: it builds tension, builds pace, and builds the characters, drawing you in bit by bit until you are completely immersed in this world.
The boxset itself is nicely presented with 5 discs. The menus are suitably atmospheric, and each episode has a short written summary with it (be careful of these though if you wish to avoid spoilers). There are a couple of audio commentaries, but little else by way of extras - but something this good does not need bells and whistles.
This is a series well worth a look - I highly recommend it.
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Production Year: 2000 - Drama - Director: Giuseppe Tornatore - Original Language: Italian - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Television really doesnt come much better than this. Criminally ignored by far, far too ... more
many people,The Wirehas proven itself to be that rarest of things: an intelligent, clever, character-driven show, thats lasted more than one season.This boxset brin...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Television really doesnt come much better than this. Criminally ignored by far, far too ... more
many people,The Wirehas proven itself to be that rarest of things: an intelligent, clever, character-driven show, thats lasted more than one season.This boxset brin...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
From David Simon creator and co-writer of HBO's triple Emmy-winning mini-series 'The ... more
Corner' this unvarnished highly realistic HBO series follows a single sprawling drug and murder investigation in Baltimore. Told from the point of view of both the ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
On The Drug-Infested Streets Of West Baltimore, There Are Good Guys And There Are Bad ... more
Guys. Sometimes You Need More Than A Badge To Tell Them Apart.From David Simon, creator and co-writer of HBO's triple Emmy Award-winning mini-series The Corner, this ...
Advantages: Is an excellent programme with some excellent characters and an even better story Disadvantages: The episodes are 1 hour long and it can be hard to get into.
Advantages: Amazing storyline, incredible characters, so so so gripping Disadvantages: You won't leave your house for days if you buy the series on DVD!
![The Wire : Complete HBO Season 1 [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78489399.jpg "The Wire : Complete HBO Season 1 [DVD]")
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