The Good
Clive Owen shows why he’s every bit the movie star that he is with this role.
The Bad
Lack of extra features. Episodes aren’t as cleaned up as I had hoped they’d be. They gave me two of the same disc in this set so I didn’t get all the episodes!
Clive Owen and the rest of the cast are excellent in Chancer: Complete Series 1. This 13 episode, 4 DVD set features Stephen Crane (Owen) as a slickster who can somehow make any situation fine simply by running it through the computer that is his brain. When he is fired from a banking company, Crane sets up shop at Douglas Motors. Things aren’t going so hot there and it soon become clear to him that this could be an “opportunity in work clothes.” However, Stephen is a con man so there are many chances where he could play things up within this company for his own gain. He becomes a son of sorts to the companies owner, the boy toy of his daughter, and possibly a pawn by somebody who is looking to make a quick and easy score.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Some of the episodes in this 4 disc set are “Weapons From the Wall” which has Stephen saving Douglas Motors through the use of ill gotten gains, and also giving him some loot in the process. “Possessions” has Stephen and Victoria (Lynsey Baxter) trying to save a small town by driving down property values in a very interesting way. Lastly, “History” has the quick moving Stephen Crane slowing down when he loses a friend. This then effects his relationship with Victoria. Meanwhile, Joanna (Susannah Harker) tells Stephen that she’ll scrap certain “expansion” plans if Stephen will help her with a problem of her own.
Features
Photo Gallery
Mixing color with black and white production stills, this photo gallery is an assortment of pictures that you can move through or simply let it play. They don’t just limit us to the performers. We see the writers on set, the technicians, various action shots, etc. While I don’t know that this section of the DVD took me any more or less into the production, it was nice getting to see some “Behind the Scenes” shots that really seemed to capture the day to day business of the production.
Cast Filmographies
Video
4:3 Full Screen. I was all set to slag on the DVD quality of these shows because only being from 1990, they shouldn’t look nearly as old as they do. The colors seem worn and there was a little bit more dirt than I thought was normal. However, how can I fault Acorn Media when they openly put a disclaimer on the box about not being able to correct the very flaws I was going to complain about?
Audio
The audio was decent for this release however that disclaimer I mentioned also covers the sound of these DVDs, too. All in all, aside from sounding somewhat low, I was able to hear everything the characters were saying just fine. My only problem with these older releases of British shows is I just wish the music was better. It’s probably a cultural thing on my part as I used to the soundtracks of American shows.
Package
A younger Clive Owen is shown on the front of this aqua and black slipcase cover. The back continues this color scheme and also has two more cast pictures. There is also a description of what Chancer is about, a Special Features listing and system specs. All four discs are stored in four slim cases, each of which has the same cover as the one on the slipcase that houses them. The backs of these cases lists out the episodes, provides descriptions and also offers up system specs.
Final Word
Okay, I really enjoyed this show but I was quite disheartened to see that they didn’t include all the episodes on this release. I am going to chalk it up to a manufacturing error as I don’t think Acorn Media meant to do this. In fact, should you be someone who purchased the discs this way I am sure that they will correct it. It was just shocking because I noticed that the covers of two of the slim cases listed the same information, however I really didn’t think about it. Then as I started to watch Chancer I realized that there was a bigger mistake than I had originally thought.
Aside from this, I really enjoyed Chancer: Complete Series 1. Clive Owen is clearly the best part about this show (not that any one is bad), so it’s easy to see how he became the big movie star that he has become. He commands the screen and brings such a richness to the role of Stephen Crane that half the fun is wondering what he is going to say or do next. In addition to this, his character isn’t the most likable of people, he engages in a litany of underhanded dealings, yet somehow I couldn’t stop myself from enjoying him and this show.
Chancer was released .
