Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Flesh and Bone Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 23, 2015

Of the many great, and a few not-so-great, concepts for gritty adult-centric TV shows -- amongst them everything from worldwide apocalypse to random historical figures, from chemistry teacher turned drug dealer to tales of 18th century piracy -- one might not immediately consider the ballet world to be the source of compelling drama. Yet Flesh and Bone, a Starz miniseries that premiered on November 8, 2015 and, at time of this review's publication, has yet to air its final episode, is just that, and more. This is easily the surprise TV hit and event of the year. It's a wonderfully detailed and organic picture of grit, determination, raw emotion, and high drama that make for a legitimately compelling program. Engaging from its opening minutes froward and never straying from its established world of cutthroat competition and take-no-prisoners approach to authentic storytelling, Flesh and Bone satisfies as one of the most gripping shows of 2015.

"Impress me."

Claire Robbins (Sarah Hay) has escaped a difficult family life. She's run away from home, packing what she can carry in a bag and a suitcase, and traveled to New York where she hopes to live her dream of becoming a top ballet dancer. She finds quick success in a top studio called the American Ballet Company, run by a determined man named Paul Grayson (Ben Daniels) whose uneven temperament is legendary, but so too is his ability to get the most out of his dancers. Though he initially dismisses Claire, she dazzles him, time and again, beating his expectations and becoming the person around whom he wants to build his company. But she finds herself disliked amongst her peers, competing with the likes of her roommate Mia (Emily Tyra) and the company's older star dancer Kiira (Irina Dvorovenko). As she struggles to overcome the odds -- both in the studio and in her personal life -- her brother, a combat veteran named Bryan (Josh Helman), travels to the city in search of his sister.

Flesh and Bone, no surprise, dazzles with its casts' dancing ability and expert choreography, but the art of the dance, dramatically, gives way to the art of human interaction and emotion. The show's primary focus is the darker underbelly of deeply rooted ambition and cutthroat competition, both on the dance floor amongst the performers and as experienced through Paul's own determination to find success for his school, at any price. The show expertly, methodically, and captivatingly explores the emotional tolls that both success and failure -- and everything in between -- take on the dancers, their bodies most immediately noticeable but, more apropos to the story, their souls. There's a fantastic dichotomy at play, then, with the absolute grace and beauty of the dance on one side and the ugly behind-the-scenes realities of it on the other. Flesh and Bone is fascinating in its rawness and brutality, but at the same time it quickly builds and always maintains an approachability, at least for audiences prepared to travel down the dark path of personal sacrifice in the name of success.

The show blends its expert drama with perfectly constructed characters and impressive performances. Real-life dancer turned leading lady Sarah Hay is terrific as the lead, displaying an interesting juxtaposition of vulnerability and staunch determination. Her emotional ebbs and flows create much of the drama and propel the show forward, and her ability to put it all together into a single deeply wounded yet immensely talented character is often nothing short of staggering. The show enjoys several good support performances, particularly from Irina Dvorovenko as Kiira and Damon Herriman as Claire's homeless friend Romeo, but even with Hay's fantastic performance it's Ben Daniels who absolutely steals the show in every moment. His ability to so effortlessly transition between awe and anger, a dancer's best friend or worst nightmare, a shrewd businessman or a walking time bomb, is sensational. Whether spitting venom or love -- sometimes being one and the same -- his performance perfectly molds the character and, in many ways and even beyond Hay's Claire, defines what the show is all about: those raw human emotions and the constant ebbs and flows of how they dictate life and performance as physical and mental obstacles stand in the way. The only difference is that he need not always compartmentalize, hold his tongue, or leave his emotions in check; the character, more freely than most, wears his uneven temperament on his sleeve at all times, and that he can so easily transition from one side of his personality to the other -- sometimes even just in the glint of an eye -- is astonishing. His work is award-worthy and the top reason to watch the show.

Flesh and Bone Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

IMDB reports that Flesh and Bone was photographed digitally, but the picture practically passes for film. There's a fine filmic quality to the image evident in virtually every shot. Much of the series takes place in the cold, densely gray studio where bold colors are hard to come by, but balance and exacting representation of the cooler shades impresses. Cityscapes are likewise dominated by a myriad of urban shades, but there's a more natural selection of standout colors to be found. Warmer interiors are handled nicely. Minor black crush is of little concern, and flesh tones are healthy and full, influenced only by surrounding lighting conditions. Details are terrific. Facial features reveal every intimate pore, mole, and wrinkle with magnificent attention to the finest details. Clarity is generally superb. A few darker shots go a little soupy and details falter slightly, but such examples are infrequent. No serious compression issues or other anomalies are present in quantities worth mentioning. This is a terrific image from Anchor Bay.

Flesh and Bone Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Flesh and Bone features an all-around excellent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is detailed and well spaced, which includes a good surround support element when necessary. Whether score, in-studio piano strokes, or heavier Dance and Rock beats, the track spills music into the listening area with a lifelike, natural precision. City ambience is terrific, well balanced and expertly placed. Listeners will believe they're in New York, scuffling along with passing automobile and pedestrian traffic and other assorted sonic treats that flow from every speaker. Ambient effects are just as effective when heard as lesser background noise inside Claire's and Mia's apartment. Dialogue echoes nicely in a few places, and general dialogue delivery plays with positive center positioning and excellent lifelike clarity.

Flesh and Bone Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Flesh and Bone contains one supplement on disc two. Creating the World of 'Flesh and Bone' (1080p, 6:37) looks at the real world of ballet, including its darker underbelly; character details; shooting in New York; auditioning and casting real dancers; and choreography.

Flesh and Bone Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Flesh and Bone is brilliant television, a gripping, gritty, and dark character drama set against the cutthroat world of professional ballet. It doesn't sound like much of a premise, but it works, and works extraordinarily well, thanks to a steadfastness to stick with it, a strong character roster, and several fantastic performances, particularly from leads Sarah Hay and Ben Daniels. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Flesh and Bone delivers striking video and excellent audio. Unfortunately, supplements are limited to a single featurette. This is a must-own release, even without the supplemental content it deserves. Very highly recommended.