KOOL TV REVIEW: 'DAMAGES - THE FINAL SEASON' DVD SET

Will justice prevail? The fifth and final season of DAMAGES arrives on UK DVD. All images: SONY HOME ENTERTAINMENT.

DAMAGES: THE FINAL SEASON - DVD SET

Starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne. With Ryan Phillippe.

Released by SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Reviewed by Scott Weller

The vultures are circling the Big Apple once more, most notably high above the offices of superbitch attorney Patty Hewes, immersed in what could be the final case of her career against her once protégé and now rival, Ellen Parsons, as dark proceedings forge ahead within the all-deciding, highly-charged ten episode, fifth and final season of SONY/DIRECT TV’s acclaimed hit series, DAMAGES, now available in the UK on exclusive three-disc DVD.

Once more, and as she has done for the past four seasons, Glenn Close, easily one of America’s finest actresses, commands the screen and our attentions as Patty Hewes- the glint of power, and the thirst for more power, in her eyes, her steely determination providing the kind of stare that could freeze men's souls quicker than Medusa. Intelligent and capable she may be, but Patty’s also as vain, self-obsessed and biting as ever, as her neuroses, guilt and loneliness form the past few years continue to catch up with her via waking nightmares that could match the best horror movies.

 

Their fates intertwined? Ellen (Rose Byrne) and Patty (Glenn Close).

Meanwhile, after the violent events of previous season and the revelations emerging from the High Star private security firm that would rock the American government, young Ellen Parsons (played this final season with a more steel-like quality by the charming, wisp-like Rose Byrne) has gotten her life together as a lawyer, beginning an on the rise legal business and cementing a relationship with the solider she previously helped to save from death, Chris Sanchez (Chris Messina). But the legacy of her former boss and nemesis remains, continuing to exert its unfriendly influence on Ellen. On the mighty cusp of revealing all about Patty and her often cruel and below the belt dealings to a court of justice, a new situation comes into play that sees them lock horns for one final, possibly cataclysmic encounter, guaranteed to send viewers into shattering new levels of drama and intrigue.

Original US TV trailer: Damages Season 5 Promo 3 - YouTube

 

The whistleblower: Jenna Elfman as the doomed Naomi Walling.

As ever, keeping the series current and interesting within the always well conceived dramatic friction of its two leads, this new theatre of blood enters the continuing evolution and dangers of the world of cyberhacking, and a Julian Assange/ WikiLeaks type figure in the form of the shadowy and hard to pin down Channing McClaren (an effective performance from Ryan Phillippe)- the outside story antagonist drawn into the pairs legal firing line accused of causing the apparent suicide of a top businesswoman, whistleblower and former lover, Naomi Walling (Jenna Elfman), heavily linked to an insider trading scam within a top banking firm. Seeing through the heavy mist of secrets and lies, Ellen smells a conspiracy that must be exposed in defending McClaren, whilst Patty sees similar but blunter opportunities as a prosecutor- the chance to get even with her now rival protégé and win kudos at a time when she is being considered for a position in the Chief Justice system.

Laying down the ultimate gauntlet, the final intellectual battle, for Ellen Parson, her former apprentice and protégé, to go against her, Patti, is keen to use her once more as a punching bag for all her neuroses, and with her experience at screwing people over and getting away with it, thinks that she has all the aces- that her rival won't be able to adequately defend McClaren.

And so it begins- a new season, a new and intricate web of murder, intrigue and wickedly edited flashbacks and flashforwards begin, all on the eve of another of the series key and brewing sub-plots linked to the mother of all custody battles by Patty for control of her granddaughter Catherine’s destiny away from her father, and Patty’s embittered brood, Michael (Zachary Booth).

The ultimate opportunist viper of her profession, Hewes remains an enigma to the end, crossing the tightrope lines of good and evil with intelligence, devilish bite and relish by Miss Close. A new dawn possibly beckons for both Patty and Ellen, but will both of them come out of this personally and professionally intact? Will Patty’s personal, often jealous vendetta get in the way of everything?

 

Patty with the accused: Channing McClaren (Ryan Phillippe).

With a shocking and disturbing end of episode one conclusion promising much to come in the three months of storytelling ahead, which seemingly signposts a terrible fate for one of our characters, we the audience partake in the perfect bookend to the first season, as one unresolved plot line from the launcher resurfaces to provide timely closure, alongside the return of several key supporting cast members from that year. A big improvement over the slightly smaller scale and intimate Season Four, which ultimately proved ever so slightly disappointing, family ties are even more prevalent this time around as the writers slowly but surely begin to peel back the layers to the finale, within a case where there's seemingly no facts and everything's up in the air, and it’s all just the tip of an iceberg as to what happens next…

Prime guest star Ryan Philippe makes the most of giving beleaguered McClaren a seemingly arrogant and self-centred air about him, but is there more to him than we think? Getting away from years of comedy antics in THE MUMMY movies, Scots actor John Hannah makes a welcome comeback to serious drama here as Phillippe's creepy but seemingly loyal journalist liaison and business partner, Rutger Simon, whilst the final member of their company triad is Australian actress Gillian Alexy as equally faithful business partner and on and off lover to McClaren, Gitta Novack. 

Other fine UK support to the series comes from actress Janet McTeer, who make makes for a welcome presence from Episode Two onwards, as Kate Franklin, an old associate of Patty’s now joined forces with prodigal “daughter” Ellen against her in legal battle. But this is DAMAGES we’re talking about, so expect a certain shading of grey here! Finally, there’s ALIAS’s Victor Garber, M. Emmett Walsh and William Sadler, the latter putting on his best Russian accent, all of whom play important parts in the story which I can’t yet reveal. Keeping continuity, Judd Hirsch returns as Patty’s crusty friend and now sidekick investigator, Bill Herndon, having been a highlight of the previous season

 

What does the finale have in store for Ellen?

By the series midway point Ellen may have found a chink in Patty’s armour that might make all the difference to her career, but she also has some domestic demons to face linked to her parents (Debra Monk and Gordon Clapp) and the sudden involvement of Chris into McClaren’s world.

Episode Seven interestingly shows some time for the main duo to reflect on their actions, personal demons and tragedies- the strange but compulsively fascinating relationship between Patty and Ellen that would challenge even Sigmund Freud- before the final three episodes rush to the series highly anticipated wrap-up, whose final revelations and resolutions, in the series best traditions, are not always what they seem and will leave you either satisfied or infuriated. Having so much to cram in the final episode, which is around fifteen minutes longer than the norm, a lot of building subplots end quickly or don’t quite seem fully resolved, but it's the final destinies of heroine and anti-heroine that ultimately prove paramount.

 

Back home. The always hard to read Patty considers the past and the present.

To my mind, creators/writers Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman bring it all to a generally satisfying conclusion, and there are some surprises on that final road trip, though perhaps they could have taken the series onto a much darker path than what we ultimately end up with… 

As its final lingering, impressively played shot buries itself into viewers minds for a long time to come, there’s enough in this final trip to the gates of legal hell to make it both an overall satisfying viewing experience and the right form of closure to a remarkably well made and always engrossing TV series.

Sadly, on the extras side of the release, there’s no final thoughts on the show or its characters from the cast and crew- no audio commentaries or behind the scenes featurettes at all on these all-important episodes, which is a major lost opportunity, but there is a nice selection of deleted scenes and some fun outtakes.


KOOL TV rating (Overall episodes): 4 out of 5

Order DAMAGES Season Five here:Damages - Season 5 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Glenn Close, Rose Byrne: Film & TV

Order the complete set of DAMAGES here: Damages - Season 1-5 [DVD] [2007]: Amazon.co.uk: Glenn Close, Rose Byrne: Film & TV

THE END IS NIGH. 'DAMAGES' SEASON FIVE

A case too far? The stakes have never been higher, or more deadly, for Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) and Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) in the fifth and final season of DAMAGES. Images: DIRECTV.

She's taken on some of the most powerful, influential and corrupt businessmen and women in the world. She's been shot, stabbed and car rammed by family and friends who have felt the sharp end of her mind and tongue in pursuit of her own set of unique ideals, but now manipulative and hierarchical super lawyer/super bitch Patty Hewes, as always brilliantly played by Glenn Close, goes into battle against one of her own, her once protege and confidante, Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne), as the final series of the hit legal thriller series DAMAGES goes out on a memorable high with its critically well received fifth and final season of ten episodes, recently aired on the American DIRECTV channel and likely to arrive on British airwaves, via DVD from SONY HOME ENTERTAINMENT, in the new year.

Getting her own back after having been betrayed once too often during Season Four's investigation into a corrupt arms dealer, former military man (John Goodman) and his High Star corporation, Parsons takes part in the legal battle against Hewes by her son, Michael (Zachary Booth), to win back his daughter in a custody battle, but as the fireworks and cat scratching begins, an even bigger case breaks out that will overshadow their personal events and ego clashes, one that will hurtle them all back into a new web of deceit and intrigue, as well as even greater danger for the pair, both personally and professionally, as a brutal murder sees them put everything on the line for one last time.

Patti Hewes takes on the defence for the Wikileaks-esque whistleblower character of Channing McClaren (Ryan Phillippe).

Trailer: Damages Season 5 Official Trailer - YouTube

No strangers in using today's controversial headlines to craft intriguing and atmospheric storytelling, series writers and creators Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman start their final year with the mother of game-changing, shock opening episode teases, as we quickly enter the shadowy and criminal world of super banks, whistleblowers, the controversies surrounding freedom of information, and the price of fame, all of which merge into a river of blood, pain and falsehoods. The very domain in which Patty Hewes has thrived and been consumed by for so long...

Look out for more on the final season of DAMAGES on the KOOL TV site in the not too distant future...

KOOL TV REVIEW: 'DAMAGES: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON' DVD

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.

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.

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…

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…

Trailer: Damages Season 4 Extended Trailer by DirecTV - YouTube

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.

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.

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.

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.