NYPD Blue - Season 1
by Brad Silberling, Charles Haid, Daniel Sackheim, Dennis Dugan, Eric Laneuville
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Amy Brenneman, David Caruso, Dennis Franz, James McDaniel, Nicholas TurturroDirector: Brad Silberling, Charles Haid, Daniel Sackheim, Dennis Dugan, Eric Laneuville
Brand: 20th Century Fox
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 1078 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-03-18
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of NYPD Blue - Season 1
Movie Review: The First And the Finest Blue
Summary: 5 Stars
Now that this series has run to its conclusion, one can look back on it and analyze what we have seen with much more clarity. Does it rank up there with the best police television series of all time? Did it change considerably during the course of its run? Can we honestly say that it will stand the test of time?
There were other police series before and there will be others after...one of the best examples of this would be Hill Street Blues, in which Dennis Franz also had a role, which was ground breaking in its day but doesn't really stand the test of time now.
One could argue with Blue that it stands up more because it was still running original episodes until 2005. That, however, doesn't explain the first season of the series, filmed in 1993-94 and how, even today, it comes across as fresh as it did then.
Funny thing, though, it is the latter episodes that probably won't stand up...when the show became less about grit and the characters and more about the catch em and intimidate them in the interview room...in other words, it became more predictable.Not bad...just predictable.
In season one we're treated to the dark, below the surface leadership of Detective John Kelly, as portrayed by David Caruso. To imagine and think of what direction the show would have taken had Caruso stayed past episode four of season two would be pure conjecture. Here, though, it is apparent that this is his show. Dennis Franz makes a capable second lead, showing us much of what was to come, but it's Caruso's below the surface darkness that resonates in these shows.
The cast would change considerably in season two, but they were letter perfect in season one. I thought Amy Brennerman as Officer Janice Licalsi stood out more than some people gave her credit for. In the first three episodes alone, she goes to bed with Kelly, is told to kill him, kills the people who ordered her to kill Kelly and loses her father, who commits suicide. She would eventually be blackmailed by the mob and arrested for murder.
Franz as Sipowicz shows many of the traits we will become familiar with during the seasons to come, stubborn, racist, angry and sometimes out of control, it's fascinating to observe this character as played by one of the true nice guys on television.
Franz, of course, is the only original cast member to remain for the entire series run, though Gordon Clapp as Detective Medavoy shows up in episode three and throughout the first season...but not as a series regular.
I always found Nicholas Turturro's James Martinez a bit much but he also brought a wide-eyed energy to the show. Martinez is eager to learn from the best which, despite their differences, Kelly and Sipowicz are.
James McDaniel's Lt. Arthur Fancy is the show's other enduring character and it is clear that he and Sipowicz don't care very much for each other (that crack about going out for ribs was typical of their relationship)but recognize that, on some level, they need to work together.
Sherry Stringfield's Laura Hughes Kelly is good as the reason for a lot of John Kelly's problems...it was the job that tore their marriage apart.
We also see the Medavoy-Donna Abandando dance, the downfall of Andy Sipowicz Jr. and the beginnings of Sipowicz's relationship with Sylvia. We also see his ongoing battle with alcoholism and the other demons that possess him.
It's unfortunate that Caruso left after a mere 26 episodes, but he made his mark and later admitted he made a big mistake. He thought he could sign his own ticket for a big screen career after that, but it never materialized. Only when CSI:Miami came along was he able to resurrect his career.
It's disappointing that only this and season two have been released...and there seems to be nothing on the horizon for seasons three onward. But, if this is all to be released on DVD, they have released Blue at it's best, a collection no fan should be without.
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