Canterbury’s Law - The Complete Series (2008/Sony DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: D Episodes: C+
In a show
that had potential to be a hit, including co-producers Mike Figgis (who
directed the pilot) and Denis Leary, Canterbury’s
Law - The Complete Series (2008) stars Julianna Margulies as the title
attorney in one of the best roles she’ll ever have. Elizabeth Canterbury is an ace lawyer and in
deep with some of the toughest cases and personal situations. They and she are believable, but it is the
scripts that fail to back them up.
The
lawyer shows are not as played out as those with doctors and police (usually
detectives) so there is more room to do more things and like other legal shows,
the belief that the system can work is here.
The series just cannot seem to get traction with that obvious angle,
though Margulies is so good here, she plows through the weak parts of the
scripts like Tina Turner doing simpler material. Aidan Quinn is her husband and the mostly
unknown cast is effective. Maybe if it
had survived past its 6 hour-long shows, this could have worked. Too bad it did not, but if this set does
well…
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image looks a little weaker than expected with
poor detail, a sometimes flat look and some color trouble. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has it moments here
and there, but on none of the episodes has is it very consistent. There are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
