Marseille: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Marseille: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

A cancelled-too-soon Netflix soap featuring a strong performance by the legendary Gerard Depardieu.

Marseille is a Netflix original series. The series received critical disdain by critics in its countryside but found a loyal (if small) fanbase overseas. The program was created by Dan Franck (Carlos, Resistance) and was executive produced by Kelly Luegenbiehl (Dark, 3 ½) and Erik Barmack (Dark, The Rain). Filled with a glamorous cast, including the legendary Gerard Depardieu, Marseille is essentially a polished, high-quality soap opera. There is plenty of fun to be had, nonetheless. (As long as one actually enjoys soaps.)

Robert Taro (Gerard Depardieu) is the beloved Mayor of Marseille. Having served in the role for over 20 years, the role is no longer what it once was to him – as the politics of the position have led to intense drama behind the scenes. Competition has arrived in the form of the suave Lucas Barres (Benoit Magimel), who is determined to win the votes of the people and become the new mayor. Political scandals and rivalries take flight as Taro and Barres fight for the highest position of the beautiful Marseille.

Friction arises as the strain of the competitive election conflicts with the immediate needs of the family. Robert's spouse, Rachel (Geraldine Pailhas), a gifted musician, becomes diagnosed with an illness that prevents her from playing her musical instrument. Meanwhile, Julia Taro (Stephane Caillard), Robert's daughter, attempts to navigate her world as a journalist without causing undue friction for her father's political campaign – yet drama arises behind-the-scenes as steamy sexual encounters end up finding tabloid fodder. Making matters more complicated – the cocaine that Robert takes in on an ongoing basis. Could Robert lose re-election?

Lucas Barres will stop at nothing to win-it-all – in the election polls and in the sheets. Lucas is a hot-shot playboy of sorts who has a ongoing affair with the drop-dead-sexy Vanessa d'Abrantes (Nadia Fares) and his voluptuous assistant, the redheaded vixen, Barbara (Carolina Jurczak). Can Lucas manage to focus on the election and defeat Robert Taros in the polls? The race is on.

Julia must face her own difficulties in Marseille. Julia's ex-boyfriend, Eric (Guillaume Arnault), won't take “no” for an answer. Over the course of two seasons of Marseille, Eric continually finds new ways to stalk, harass, and obsess over his ex lover. Determined to win her back, Eric beats up every man who comes between him and Julia. The drama continues – until it implodes.

An underrated Netflix soap-opera.

Marseille is consistently over-the-top and melodramatic. The series is absurd – as absurd as a typical soap opera – but with better production values. The first season amps up the sexy drama with many edgy scenes while season two pushes the political elements even more-so than the first season of Marseille. Regardless, the show is clearly aware of the fact it is over-the-top – and the writers are jubilant in playing with the concepts episode-to-episode.

The cinematography by Maurizio Tiella (The African Game, Perfect Crimes) and Giovanni Fiore Coltellacci (French Cuisine, French Women) is intriguing. Though the visual aesthetic is not as pronounced as the production design by Philippe Chiffre (Tell No One, 22 Bullets), the visuals certainly add a distinctive flavor to the series. The first season is full of bright colors and vivid sequences. The second season is more down-to-earth – giving the production a more serious tone. Throughout the program, Marseille managed to look visually creative and engaging even despite the change-up in style. (Though season two undeniably appears to have had a bigger budget.)

The costumes by Mimi Lempicka (Nikita, The Big Blue) add to the production aesthetic as well. Each character seems to have been custom fitted to a perfect wardrobe that highlights the distinctive and engaging character personalities inhabited by the cast. The lovely ladies of Marseille look stunning throughout the program. The gentlemen wear slick and suave attire as well.

The series features music by Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). The opening theme by Desplat is fantastic and sets the perfect tone for the program. This is certainly one of the best creative choices the program could have made. Desplat is a creative genius – someone who always brings something special to the table (no matter the project). This is certainly the case on Marseille.

Direction by Florent-Emilio Siri (Hostage, My Way), Thomas Gilou (Would I Lie to You?, Black Mic Mac), and Laila Marrakchi (Marock, Rock the Casbah), Marseille is never brain-food. The series is remarkably silly at times (again, it is essentially a soap-opera), but that is also part of the charm. It surprisingly grabs hold and won't let go. The drama is compelling and exciting. It is unfortunate the program was canceled early as it leaves one wanting more.

Marseille: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Marseille is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original streaming aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The presentation quality is quite strong: impressive color reproduction, detail, and clarity. The first season of the series has a digital look that showcases the landscapes of the production in stunning detail while also retaining a naturalistic, documentary-like appearance at times.

There are many scenes during the first seasons which utilize shaky cam techniques and the style is highly sensational at times – even the way the erotic sex scenes are filmed. The second season looks strikingly different and has a darker cinematographic style: a more filmic and organic aesthetic which appears polished in comparison to the first season. The second season has a noticeable change in style while the encoding stays consistently strong – reproducing the cinematography in the style utilized throughout the production. While the first season colors are a little bit brighter and more varied in appearance, the deeper and richer colors of season two are more dramatic and enthralling. For a TV series produced for Netflix, the presentation quality is impressive and lush.

Marseille: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented with two lossless audio options: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The high- resolution audio sounds impressive on the set. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The music theme by Alexandre Desplat makes a big impression with a dynamic soundstage. The action scenes make good use of sound effects while the dramatic moments never seem overly sensationalized with regards to sound design. Props to Kino Lorber for a quality audio presentation.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

Marseille: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Marseille: Season 1 Trailer (HD, 2:16)

Marseille: Season 2 Trailer (HD, 2:02)

Marseille: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Marseille is entertaining from start to finish. The series is an over-the-top melodrama that borders on being a soap-opera (with better production values) but that is part of the reason why audiences found the series entertaining. The series was unfortunately canceled early by Netflix and doesn't have a true resolution to the story. Even so, Marseille has plenty of exciting drama, erotic sex, and fast-paced thrills to keep viewers engaged throughout. The cast is impressive (and the great Gerard Depardieu steals the show). Kino Lorber has delivered a noteworthy release for this under-rated Netflix series – with top-notch video-audio quality. Worth a watch. Recommended.