White Collar Season One – Blu-Ray : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM
Take one brazen thief with a sense of style and panache (Matt Bomer), a federal agent who plays things by the book most of the time (Tim DeKay), a supporting cast that includes a bumbling, trustworthy criminal friend to the thief (Willie Garson), an on the run ex-girlfriend that had stolen the thief’s heart and maybe more (Alexandra Daddario), and a former child star playing the smarter half in the agent’s marriage (Tiffani Thiessen), and now you have White Collar, a show that will steal your time and your thoughts as it paints a surreal picture, a Dali if you will, throughout the first season.
Neal Caffrey (played by Matt Bomer) is our thief on the lam, at least until he is caught for the second time by FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). Peter seems to have a history with Neal, with respect for his talents and the idea that maybe given the right choices, Neal might not make the wrong decisions. So the idea of a partnership is tossed between the two, giving Neal the chance to not have to stay behind the bars that trap him, the chance to live life without having to glance over his shoulder nonstop, and to do the right thing by putting others behind bars who are preying on society. Of course, there are a few catches. An ankle bracelet with GPS locator, a limited range of wandering in the city for a man who has traveled the world, and a hotel room almost as cramped as his cell are all hindrances to Neal’s freedom, but being the opportunistic man he is means the deal is consummated.
Neal is a thief with a heart of gold, but that does not mean he always follows the rules. Spending much of his time on the hunt for his ex Kate (Alexandra Daddario), Neal assists Peter in his cases while looking for his chance to escape and rescue his enigmatic love. The entire first season is about the playful banter and growing friendship between Neal and Peter which culminates in a partnership that is strong in its weaknesses, yet ready to unravel with a single betrayal. Cue the emotional cliffhanger to end the season and you have one of the best new shows on television.
JAMS Ink on White Collar
You know, I really did not want another show to watch. It is a bad excuse for a reviewer to make, but my life is full of things already and the commercials for the show first started appearing last year and looked kind of cool, and I went back and forth…
And I started watching it. And I started DVRing it. And I started loving it.
If you made me choose between my major shows (Burn Notice, Leverage, and White Collar) I really don’t know which way I would go. That’s how much White Collar grabbed my attention and held it. Neal is suave, sophisticated, and the kind of guy that you would love to hate but you can’t because he would be cool to hang out with. Peter is the older brother/father figure that Neal needs, yet rebels from, Kate is that ethereal beauty that appears unannounced and disappears just as suddenly, Mozzie is strange but compelling and useful as heck, and Elizabeth seems to hold everything together. I think that I just realized that the strength of my crazy awesome cable shows are all the same. A strong ensemble cast that holds your attention and each plays a part, even if some are more important in the overall schemes than others. Now the only question is, since all of my favorite shows involve criminals or people that toe the line, does that say something about me?
Keep an eye on FBI Agent Diana Lancing (Marsha Thomason). She came into last season as someone Peter could trust and had his back, but she may be playing sides now that the new season has begun. In my opinion, I am guessing she is protecting Peter from something, but that could foretell the ultimate sacrifice as the season progresses. We shall see…
Favorite Episode of Season One – Episode 8 Hard Sell. Neal and Peter both infiltrate a group of corrupt Wall Street brokers and get pulled into a case that might end their partnership permanently. It was a fun episode overall and had the coolest comic book storage place I have ever seen, and being a comic book junkie I really want a room like that.
JAMS Ink Comments on White Collar Blu-Ray
I am not going to pretend to be an expert on pixels and ratios and all the other Blu-ray centered stuff that many people can share with you. But I am going to be honest with you, if you are able to watch it, GET THE BLU-RAY! I have learned to love the clarity of picture and color that comes with the Blu-rays I have reviewed, so even though I may not know the technical aspects behind it I can still recommend it. White Collar, in my opinion, is enhanced by the Blu-ray as the amazing urban scenery literally pops off the screen. The fact that the series is predicated so much on artwork, mainly stolen or forged, anything that enhances the beauty of the item in question lends to strengthening your experience. So, JAM says go Blu-ray if you can.
EXTRAS
Pro and Con
A Cool Cat in the Hat
Nothing But the Truth
Gag Reel
Deleted Scenes
Episodes:
• Pilot
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen and Matt Bomer
• Threads
• Books of Hours
• Flip of the Coin
• The Portrait
• All In
• Free Fall
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Matt Bomer and Willie Garson
• Hard Sell
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay
• Bad Judgment
• Vital Signs
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen and Willie Garson
• Home Invasion
• Bottlenecked
• Front Man
• Out of the Box
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer
White Collar: Season One from Twentieth Century Fox appeared on shelves on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 13, 2010. Grab a copy and make a run for it! (after you pay of course).
Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.
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