7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
Set in the sprawling mecca of the rich and famous, Ray Donovan does the dirty work for L.A.'s top power players. The series stars Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Award nominee Liev Schreiber in his first lead television role as the go-to guy who makes the problems of the city's celebrities, superstar athletes, and business moguls disappear. This powerful family drama unfolds when his father, played by Oscar(R) winner Jon Voight, is unexpectedly released from prison, setting off a chain of events that shakes the Donovan family to its core.
Starring: Liev Schreiber, Paula Malcomson, Eddie Marsan, Dash Mihok, Steven BauerCrime | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English, English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Mobile features
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Ray Donovan is going places. Its first season may struggle with the early stages of Sopranos Syndrome, but it's a fighter. Judging by the last half of the season, remission isn't just a hope and a prayer, it's a likelihood. Liev Schreiber has always been an actor worthy of any praise afforded him, even if his returns haven't always surpassed or even equaled his investments. (Jakob the Liar, The Manchurian Candidate, Defiance, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Salt and too many others; wonderful performances, less than wonderful films.) Fortunately, the move to premium network original programming plays to Schreiber's strengths and provides ample room to work, and with a deceptively complex title character that has plenty of darkness and skeleton-strung closets to explore. Veteran thesp Jon Voight and a talented supporting cast -- Paula Malcomson, Eddie Marsan, Katherine Moennig, Dash Mihok, Steven Bauer, Elliott Gould and James Woods, among others -- only help, making Ray Donovan an easy-to-watch, easy-to-digest drama that grows more and more addicting as it slowly but surely claws its way out of familiar pitfalls and into more compelling territory.
Ray Donovan's Blu-ray debut is an outstanding one thanks to a razor sharp 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that doesn't disappoint. Colors are exacting and natural, with lifelike skintones, carefully saturated hues, deep black levels and filmic contrast. The series was shot using Arri Alexa digital cameras as well, so the image is clean and striking, without any grain or aberrant noise to speak of. And detail? As you might expect, it's outstanding from the first shot to the last. Edges are crisp and clean, and don't exhibit even a fleeting hint of ringing or aliasing. Fine textures are so precisely resolved and revealing you'll see more of every actor's scars, stubble, wrinkles and general wear and tear than you ever knew you wanted to see. And delineation is excellent, even though crush is an inherent element of the at-times dark, hotly contrasted series. All told, Ray Donovan looks every bit as good as it should. Fans will be most pleased.
Ray Donovan features a subdued but able-bodied Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track that not only gets the job done, it accomplishes each task as reliably and confidently as the last. The series is dominated by hushed threats, prickly arguments and a string of rather front-heavy conversations, and, to that end, dialogue is perfectly intelligible and meticulously prioritized. That doesn't mean the show's sonics aren't involving or immersive, though. The rear speakers offer up first-rate ambient support and subtle directional effects, both of which contribute to a restrained but enveloping soundfield. LFE output is more than capable of flexing its muscle too, despite doing so on rare occasion. Still, the series is dotted with action beats that rely on low-end heft and the TrueHD track is ready and willing to crack skulls or knock down doors whenever it's needed. The results aren't quite as impressive as Paramount's video presentation, but you're not going to hear anyone raising any serious concerns. In other words, no complaints here.
Each episode of Ray Donovan is compatible with "Showtime Sync," a downloadable second-screen-esque app that syncs with playback and provides tidbits of information about the series, its stars and storylines as the first season unfolds. (If you have an Apple device, that is.) Otherwise, the 3-disc Blu-ray release of Season One, like too many other Showtime BDs, doesn't include any supplemental content. Bad form, Paramount. Bad form.
Ray Donovan gets off to a slow start but soon builds momentum, works through its issues, and eventually proves itself a fully realized, fully engaging Showtime series worth adding to your Amazon cart or DVR queue. (Season Two is set to begin in July!) Schreiber and his co-stars are terrific, with nary a missed step or botched assignment to be had, and showrunner Ann Biderman (Southland) and her writer's room deliver an increasingly absorbing character-driven crime drama as compelling as it is addicting. Paramount's Blu-ray release doesn't put a damper on Donovan's approaching sophomore season either. With a striking video presentation and solid Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track, the only irritation you're likely to experience concerns the lack of substantial special features. (Or, if you don't have a compatible Apple device, the lack of special features altogether.) Still, bonus content or no, Ray Donovan: Season One is just shy of a must-see new series. It's easy to recommend. It's just not easy to guarantee you'll enjoy it as much as so many others have.
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