Carlos Bernard

Blu-Ray Review: Kiefer Sutherland, ‘24’ Continue to Set the Bar

BrianTT — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:08:11 -0600

CHICAGO – The standard DVD season sets for “24” have long been setting the bar for what TV on DVD “should be”. Winning awards for their technical transfers and detailed, copious special features, the producers of “24“‘s home releases took it a step further this year by changing the game yet again with the Blu-Ray release of “24: Season Seven”.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

After a lackluster first season release (which they made up for with a “Special Edition” a few years later), the next five seasons of “24” were essentially perfect TV on DVD releases. They had informative, detailed special features, gorgeous video & audio, and fascinating commentary tracks. And it didn’t hurt that they were for some of the most beloved programming of the ’00s.

Season seven was clearly a chance for “24” to change the game again. The sixth season had been a clear winner for worst of the series to date by TV and DVD critics and instead of being allowed to get right back on that horse and reverse the shark-jumping ways, the Writer’s Strike delayed season seven by a whole year.

24: Season Seven was released on Blu-Ray on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: Fox

The seventh horrible day in the life of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) brought “24” back from the brink of ridicule, delivering a much more effective thrill ride than season six. In a clever move, the writers of “24” both recognized the time off - this day started four years after the last - and even blew up many of the conventions of their own show, including having CTU completely fall apart and bringing back the considered-dead Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) and having audiences guess all season is he was really good or bad.

And Fox wisely chose not to make people who watch the show on DVD wait any longer than they already had and made the amazing decision to release the seventh season of “24” the day after the season finale aired.

Think about the precedent. People could buy the entire season of “24” before most viewers who watch it on DVR even had a chance to watch the season finale. TV on DVD has undeniably changed the way people watch television, but there was always a window of time that often made viewers who waited for DVD feel a little behind the times. If the “24” day-after-finale release becomes a pattern, viewers who wait for DVD or Blu-Ray will be nearly up-to-date with those who watch a show in its original airing. Ratings are going to drop even further.

Not only did Fox change the release date pattern (previous seasons of “24” has been released on DVD near the holidays to prime audiences for the upcoming season to air on TV), but they released this technically accomplished show on Blu-Ray for the first time. And, of course, “24” looks and sounds amazing on Blu-Ray. The sound design on this show has long been some of the best on TV and the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is simply spectacular.

“24: Season Seven” on Blu-Ray includes two excellent featurettes - “The Making of Season 7” and “Hour 19: The Ambush”. Deleted scenes and the cool “The Fimucite Festival Presents: The Music of 24” are also included.

Commentaries include:

Episode 1 - Executive Producer/Director Jon Cassar and Carlos Bernard
Episode 3 - Executive Producer Manny Coto, Co-Executive Producer Brannon Braga and Bernard
Episode 5 - Cassar and Annie Wersching
Episode 9 - Executive Producer David Fury and Hakeem Kae-Kazim
Episode 10 - Coto, Braga, and Wersching
Episode 12 - Co-Executive Producer/Director Brad Turner and Tony Todd
Episode 13 - Turner, Composer Sean Callery, and James Morrison
Episode 14 - Executive Producer Juan Carlos Coto, Wersching, and Bob Gunton
Episode 18 - Executive Producer Howard Gordon, Bernard, and Jeffrey Nordling
Episode 22 - Executive Producer Evan Katz, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Glenn Morshower
Episode 23 - Executive Producer David Fury, Co-Executive Producer Alex Gansa, and Morshower
Episode 24 - Executive Producers Howard Gordon and Cassar

‘24: Season Seven’ was released by Fox Home Video and stars Kiefer Sutherland, Carlos Bernard, Cherry Jones, Colm Feore, Jeffrey Nordling, Rhys Coiro, Janeane Garofalo, Anne Wersching, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. The show was released on May 19th, 2009. It is not rated.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

DVD Round Up, Feb. 22, 2009: ‘Alien Raiders,’ ‘Dead Like Me,’ ‘Religulous’

BrianTT — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:44:52 -0700

CHICAGO – Oscar madness has left the Round Up a little weary of high profile, award-bait movies. We need a break from the Oscars and what better way to do that than with a few titles that might have slipped through the cracks while everyone was singing “Jai Ho”.

Catch up with some of your favorite characters from the cult hit “Dead Like Me,” watch the latest in Warner Brothers’ direct-to-DVD horror series known as “Raw Feed,” and check out a documentary that I think everyone thought would make bigger waves than it did, Bill Maher’s “Religulous”.

All three of these titles were released on February 17th, 2009.

“Alien Raiders”

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

The “Raw Feed” series of Warner Bros. horror releases has been relatively disappointing. There hasn’t been a single real gem, although you’ll find some hardcore fans of “Rest Stop” and “Otis”. To this critic, they’re almost all near-misses, none of them complete wastes of time, but none of them truly remarkable enough to recommend, and the new one follows the pattern. (Other “Raw Feed” titles include “The Believers,” “Sublime,” and “Rest Stop 2”).

“Alien Raiders” has arguably the best first act of any of the “Raw Feed” films. Playing out like a prime era John Carpenter flick, a group of armed people take over a smalltown grocery store. They’re clearly looking for something but it’s not money. Led by “24“‘s Carlos Bernard, “they know something terrible is happening at Hastings Market. And caught up in the grisly horror inside the market are shoppers turned hostages, unearthly alien terrors…and a dedicated commando band of raiders on a search-and-destroy mission to stop the intruders dead cold not matter where they hide.”

“Alien Raiders” is presented in widescreen with a Dolby Surround 5.1 track. Special features include “Hidden Terror: The Making of Alien Raiders,” “Blood, Sweat and Fears: The Special Effects of Alien Raiders,” “Tape #9: Sterling Explains Alien” - Alien Physiology and Meeting Ritter, “Tape #12: Spookie’s Job” - The Alien Buster Explains His Talent, “Whitney Cam” - Blog Posts After the Buck Lake Incident, and Raw Fees Movies Trailers Gallery.

“Alien Raiders” stars Carlos Bernard, Mathew St. Patrick (“Six Feet Under”), Courtney Ford, Jeff Licon, Samantha Streets, Derek Basco, Bonita Friedericy, Bryan Krasner, and Rockmond Dunbar. It was written by David Simkins and Julia Farr, and was directed by Ben Rock. It is rated R.

“Dead Like Me: Life After Death”

Photo credit: Fox

If “Family Guy” and “Futurama” can return from the great boob tube beyond, doesn’t it seem appropriate that Showtime’s “Dead Like Me” eventually would? The often-clever series hasn’t been on the air since 2004, but petitions are still actively trying to bring the show back and the straight-to-DVD movie, “Life After Death” has been seen by some as the kickstart to reviving the series.

“When George (Ellen Muth) and her colleagues get a new boss whose focus is on moving souls quickly and enjoying life without consequences, the team begins to break the strict reaper rules. While her friends fall victim to their desires for money, success, and fame, George breaks another rule by revealing her true identity to her living family. As the reapers struggle with their roles on Earth, they each find that death can be just as complicated as life. Through its strong storyline, “Dead Like Me: Life After Death” delves into the intricate mythology and dark comedy created by the TV series and appeals to the show’s legions of fans as well as those new to the world of the reapers.”

“Life After Death” is presented in widescreen with an English Dolby Surround Sound 5.1 track. Special features include an audio commentary by director Stephen Herek and actress Ellen Muth and a featurette called “Back From the Dead: Resurrecting Dead Like Me”.

“Dead Like Me: Life After Death” stars Ellen Muth, Callum Blue, Jasmine Guy, Mandy Patinkin, Cynthia Stevenson, and Britt McKillip. It was created by Bryan Fuller and the movie is directed by Stephen Herek. It is not rated.

“Religulous”

Photo credit: Lionsgate

If you like Bill Maher’s show, “Religulous” is definitely worth a look. Not quite as daring or insightful as one would hope, there’s still plenty to laugh about in Maher’s dissection of modern religion. The movie too often feels like shooting “Jesus fish” in a barrel for the sharp-tongued observer but if you approach the doc as a comedy and not the commentary on religion that Maher sometimes thinks it is then it works.

“In this new commentary from director Larry Charles (“Borat,” “Seinfeld”), comedian and TV host Bill Maher (“Real Time with Bill Maher,” “Politically Incorrect”) takes a pilgrimage across the globe on a mind-opening journey into the ultimate taboo: questioning religion. Meeting the high and low from different religions, Maher simply asks questions, like “Why is faith good? “Why doesn’t an all-powerful God speak to us directly? and “How can rational people believe in a talking snake?” For anyone who’s even a little spiritually curious, this divine entertainment will deepen your faith…in comedy!”

“Religulous” is presented in widescreen with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio and an English 5.1 audio track. Special features include a commentary with Bill Maher and director Larry Charles, deleted scenes, and Bill Maher monologues from around the world. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘24’ Reflects Changing Times With Excellent Season-Seven Premiere

BrianTT — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:09:24 -0700

CHICAGO – The world has changed significantly since Kiefer Sutherland and the rest of the team behind Fox’s “24” were forced to save it repeatedly over the first six seasons of one of the most popular shows of the last decade. Will “24” still be relevant with controversy over real-life torture dominating the headlines and a new regime getting ready to take office?

The new season of “24” picks up at 8am in the life of Jack Bauer and it will be after noon by the time the first four hours have unfolded over two nights on FOX, starting January 11th, 2009. In the opening moments of the first episode, the chief engineer of the government’s infrastructure and security system is kidnapped and a group of domestic terrorists has taken control of something very powerful - our nation’s air traffic control.

The clock is ticking for 24: SEASON 7 to premiere with a special two-night, four-hour event Sunday, Jan. 11 and Monday, Jan. 12 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Photo credit: Michael Muller FOX

Meanwhile, as he came home to do at the end of “24: Redemption”, Jack is being questioned by the government for the interrogation techniques that he used while he was an agent for CTU. At the same time a new President, Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones), is dealing with her first big crisis in office.

Controversy over the detainment of people without due process and the use of extreme methods to get answers from suspects while a new leader takes control of the White House. Anyone who thinks “24” shouldn’t be viewed in context of what’s happening in the real world is clearly missing the point. The writers of the show have very consciously made an effort to have “24” not only reflect the times we are in but to change with them.

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer. The clock is ticking for 24: SEASON 7 to premiere with a special two-night, four-hour event Sunday, Jan. 11 and Monday, Jan. 12 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Photo credit: Kelsey McNeal/FOX

Of course, it’s not all discussion and politics. Before the end of the first hour, Jack is putting his controversial techniques to use when he is brought from Capital Hill to the FBI to help stop the terrorists who have taken in-flight planes hostage.

Why Jack? Well, it turns out that the man behind the terrorist plot is someone that Bauer knows very well, the thought-dead Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), who Jack saw pass away in his arms near the end of season five. He didn’t die. (And, don’t worry, this is not a spoiler. It’s revealed within moments of the premiere. We would never spoil the end of even the first hour of the new season, much less any details from the three that follow.)

To stop Tony, Bauer is forced to work with several new faces at the FBI, including its head, Larry Moss (Jeffrey Nordling), two of its analysts (Rhys Coiro & Janeane Garofalo), and agent Renee Walker (Anne Wersching). Of course, Tony isn’t the only familiar face making an eventual return. Jon Voight will also return later in the season

Is Jack the only man that can stop Tony? What really happened to the now-dead son of President Taylor? The “First Man,” Henry Taylor (Colm Feore), doesn’t think his son committed suicide. And is the terrorist attack on air traffic control related to the President’s impending decision to intervene in a genocide in Africa?

And will interrogation and torture play a role through the entire season? It’s certainly a major part of the background of the first four hours. The government’s response to Bauer’s past has had very little effect on him, although he does seem a little calmer in these first four hours than he usually is in the two-night premiere of “24,” as if he’s been through this kind of crap too many times to panic again.

But, and maybe this is what “24” fans really want to hear, Jack is always going to be Jack. He will go to whatever ends necessary to save his country and there are several moments in the morning of the seventh season where he’s screaming, choking, and getting ready to kill to get the job done. In fact, an audience could definitely take from “8:00am-12:00pm” that the creators of “24” are condoning torture when an agent like Jack Bauer thinks its necessary. Case in point - When someone with necessary information says “I have rights” in one episode, the agent questioning him responds with “I suggest you use your last breath wisely.”

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer (R) and Annie Wersching as Renee Walker (L). Day 7 premieres with a special two-night event Sunday, Jan. 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Monday, Jan. 14 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Photo credit: Kelsey McNeal/FOX

At the same time, there’s a definite theme of consequences of government action, no better represented than in the character arc of Tony Almeida. Bernard’s return to the show, as soap opera-esque as it may be, gives a jolt to the series that was missing in season six.

With all the political issues aside, how’s the action? There’s a Bauer escape at the end of episode three that stands with his best and all four hours feel more believably paced than the cluttered action of season six. The first four hours of season seven may not be as “explosive” as some seasons, but it feels more like the first two seasons - confident and as tightly and expertly edited as anything you’ll see on television this year.

It’s not surprising that the action is well-done and “Redemption” hinted at how directly “24” would address real-life issues this year, but what’s most unexpectedly promising about the start of season seven is the expanded cast. At least at the beginning, this is not the “Jack Bauer show” by any stretch of the imagination. Great stage actors Jones and Feore are unlike any President and spouse we’ve seen on the show to date and I love the new team of “good guys” in Garofalo, Nordling, Coiro, and Wersching. (Although, on “24,” you can never be sure who’s actually “good”.) There’s not a single false performance in the first four hours of season seven.

A great ensemble, interesting political themes, and action as good as anything in movie theaters at this time of year. The debut of the seventh season of “24” is good enough to think that the changes in character and tone to reflect the changing times and the new administration might work well enough to keep this landmark show around for the years it takes to see another one.

‘24,’ which airs on FOX, stars Kiefer Sutherland, Carlos Bernard, Cherry Jones, Colm Feore, Jeffrey Nordling, Rhys Coiro, Janeane Garofalo, Anne Wersching, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. The premiere of season seven airs on January 11th, 2009 at 7PM CST.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com