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| Differing types of justice? John Goodman, Glenn Close and Rose Byrne in Season Four of DAMAGES, out now exclusively on UK DVD. Images: SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT. |
DAMAGES: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON
Starring Glenn Close, Rose Byrne and John Goodman
Released on DVD in the UK by SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Reviewed by Scott Weller
WARNING: This feature contains mild spoilers...
Miss Razor Blade Smile is back! The legal heroine representing the underdog but simultaneously fuelling her own almost self-destructive, super-powered ambitions and power base, Patty Hewes (once more exceptionally played by one of America’s finest actors, Glenn Close), strikes like a cobra for more crisp verbal sparring and interplay with her estranged protégé, Ellen Parsons (played by the wispy Rose Byrne) as they join forces to uncover a conspiracy in war torn Afghanistan and investigate the deaths of three members of an American private security firm, in the hit fourth season of the critically acclaimed, award-winning drama/thriller, DAMAGES, finally making its way to British television shores in this welcome premiere exclusive three-disc DVD release from SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT. It's another compulsively created run of dirty dealings and disturbing business from mysterious start to eventual bloody finish, packed with twists and turns that will no doubt be swiftly devoured by the shows dedicated fan base and all lovers of quality television.
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| Dark times ahead for the new season, as the war in Afghanistan becomes a major storyline. |
Tackling the thorny and always controversial subject of American involvement, and commercial profiteering, from the war on terror, such selected material was never going to be easy to realise, and some of the ideas presented here have already been done quite well previously, with the likes of Ken Loach’s British based thriller ROUTE IRISH, as well as in episodes of THE KILLING II (Swedish version)- there’s even been private contractor baddies in hyper-charged action thriller 24- but DAMAGES creators/writers Glen Kessler, Todd A. Kessler and Daniel Zelman manage to add a new spin to certain aspects of their always clever and adaptive storytelling , of which its grim and topical nature, and its disturbing real-life problems and consequences, ultimately prove ripe for dramatic exploration. The series trademark visual style of memorable flashbacks and flash forwards also continue, if not in quite so much the presence previously marked within the complex narrative of the year three. (What with its hugely ambitious plotline involving the corrupt Tobin family.) This new season, also being made by a new TV channel-the cable DIRECTV rather than FOX (and notice the rise in swearing and visual titillation in the process!)- feels de-baggaged in some ways, though its reduced episode count (10 rather than 13) seems more focused in certain areas and less so in others.
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| Back for the thrill of the battle: Patty Hewes (Glenn Close). |
With the dramatic internal conflict between Patty and Ellen of the previous seasons now relatively over (for now at least-we haven’t seen Year Five yet!), the start of Season Four sees the writers adding some interesting new layers and problems to the formers life and character in the two to three year time span between their last case together, including, in a sometimes darkly humorous way, coming to terms with the departure of Ellen to a rival law firm, the murder of her business partner and friend Tom Shays (Tate Donovan) and being forced to address her anger management issues in tedious psychiatric sessions with Dr. Baldwin (LOST’s Fisher Stevens). She’s also divorced from businessman husband Phil (Michael Nouri, who sadly only makes one appearance in the new series) whilst also rediscovering the pressures of being a working mother: adoptive single parent and Granny from Hell to her currently missing sons child, Catherine. Xmas is definitely not a time of goodwill for this Iron Lady…
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| Ellen (Rose Byrne) has no choice but to join forces with Patty once again. |
Still carving out career and life goals for herself outside of the immense shadow and thrill of the chase shown by Patti, Ellen is out to make a name for herself and soon encounters troubled old flame from high school, Chris Sanchez (played with the right frame of troubled conscience by Chris Messina), now an employee of the all-powerful, fingers in the world’s pie High Star security firm, of which she is quickly drawn into it's web of deceit when he soon disappears in action abroad after telling her of a mission gone wrong in Afghanistan. Her interest and dogged determination peaked with her early investigations into the war profiting company, Ellen soon realizes that she has no choice but to align herself once again with Patty, and her influential contacts, so as to retrieve the now MIA Sanchez and fight the combined threat of High Star, with its bulky figurehead boss Howard T. Erickson (John Goodman), and the upper echelons of the CIA.
As such shadow dancing continues, Ellen and Patty, almost equals, have seemingly healed their old wounds, with Patty’s steely eyed gaze, surely capable of stopping a tiger in its tracks, soon fixed on Ellen’s mission against the heart of the war capitalists. Though seemingly on the sidelines at first, she sees new personal and career opportunities for both of them. Unfortunately, as things intensify in and outside her career, Patty’s mind still retains quiet anger and bitterness towards her once protégé. Carefully hidden at first, she just can’t help letting her manipulative neuroses, antagonism and jealousy show through…
Always giving a complex and fascinating performance, Close is as compelling, scary and mesmerizing as ever as Patty, making the part a sometimes malignant, sometimes disturbing force of nature, combined with occasional, just occasional, vulnerability. Her often-tense scenes with Byrne as Ellen crackle with static electricity. As ever, Miss Byrne also gives a fine counter-balance performance as the quietly tough Ellen, but her character ultimately works best when involved with Patty. The need for the writers to get the female duo back may seem a little forced at first, but things soon settle down as their investigations and subpoena letters start circulating, and the cracks in the enemy armour start to appear.
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| The war profiteer. Ex-soldier now businessman Howard T. Erickson (John Goodman) makes plans... |
Of the two big league opponents to the lawyers, former Fred Flintstone star John Goodman gives fine dramatic weight, occasional humour and sometimes sinister power as Erickson, ultra-right wing chief proponent of the Military high profit making contracting High Star: a devout father and Christian proud to take arms (literally) against a sea of troubles, and the kind of guy that Charlton Heston would surely have loved to have round for dinner at the Gun Club if he were still with us. And don’t be fooled by Erickson’s single, widowed parent status and his friendly demeanour: he’s ruthless and power loving, and quickly showcases himself as another fine opponent for our equally flawed heroes to challenge.
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| Dylan Baker excels in the new series, as dangerous CIA operative Jerry Boorman. |
In a big change from playing amiable professors and straight-laced lawyers/policemen, Dylan Baker quite probably has his best acting role yet in DAMAGES, as the creepy and formidable CIA agent fixer for both his paymasters and Ericsson, Jerry Boorman, who has his own twist and turning secrets which he’s desperate to hide, and more than ready to sacrifice lives to protect his interests. A great performance from a fine character actor.
On the notable supporting guest star front, there’s also ex-TAXI star Judd Hirsch, continuing his fine character acting career playing a boozy, ex-lawyer, his prior career fingers burnt in a brush with the CIA, coming in to help Ellen and Patti get to the truth, Griffin Dunne, now starting to look like Peter Falk as Columbo with every passing year, as a disheveled war reporter who helps Ellen, and a brief but solid appearance from 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY’s Keir Dullea as a CIA informant. And let’s not forget the always kooky but brilliant Tom Noonan, back as inquisitive ex-cop turned Private Investigator Victor Huntley, who aids Patty in finding her missing son Michael (Zachary Booth). Noonan and Close have several great scenes together in this series, their characters soon striking up a quirky working relationship.
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| Patty confers with new recruit Victor Huntley (Tom Noonan) |
After a relatively slow start in early episodes stick with it, as things picks up by episode five and build towards a once more compelling penultimate episode inside the vipers nest, where the dramatic fireworks detonate, leading to a satisfying, if not spectacular, finale that wraps everything up neatly but also, more importantly, sets up an important new collision between Patty and Ellen that will be concluded in the shows fifth and final surprising year. (If you’ve seen the spoiler trailer for it you’ll know what I mean!) The episodes on the three-disc set are of varying lengths but one thing that does remain consistent is the series slick storytelling and it’s always polished acting and direction. (Including talent like returning series veteran Timothy Busfield.)
Picture and sound are fine, though it’s disappointing that SONY have not additionally released this new HD-made series on Blu-ray. On the extras side, there are no selected episode audio commentaries, sadly, but two fun featurettes compensate for their absence (one the making of the new series and the reason why the writers chose their new story arc, the other an examination of the continuing character development of Patty Hewes). There’s also some interesting if not overly important deleted scenes, and a light bloopers reel, all of which add to the enjoyment of a worthy release of addictive American television drama. Now has never been a better time to get damaged by DAMAGES!
KOOL TV RATINGS:
Overall season: 8 out of 10
Extras: 7 out of 10
Previous seasons of DAMAGES are on DVD from SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT. Season One is also available on Blu-ray.
