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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Brand: Warner Brothers EAN: 0026359392726 Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC Label: Hbo Home Video Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video Number Of Items: 4 Publisher: Hbo Home Video Region Code: 1 Release Date: December 04, 2007 Running Time: 780 minutes Studio: Hbo Home Video Theatrical Release Date: 2005 Sales Rank: 973 MPN: HBOD93927D
Description: With the fall of Barksdale and the ascent of young Marlo Stanfield as West Baltimore's drug king, the detail continues to "follow the money" up the political ladder in the midst of a mayoral election that pits the black incumbent, Clarence Royce, against an ambitious white councilman, Tommy Carcetti. The theme of urban education is explored through four new characters â€" Michael Lee, Namond Brice, Randy Wagstaff and "Dukie" Weems as they traverse adolescence in the stunted, drug-saturated streets of West Baltimore. The world that awaits these boys and the American commitment to equal opportunity are depicted brilliantly in the edgy, all too realistic Season 4 of The Wire.
Amazon.com: Even if you missed the first three seasons (the character guides and thorough episode recaps on HBO's website are recommended), and with only one season left, it's not too late to get in under The Wire. In fact, season 4 is an accessible introduction for those who know The Wire only by its street cred as arguably the very best show on television. For them especially, this season will be, as befitting its theme, a real education. Without resorting to melodramatics that other ratings-challenged series employ to gain that frustratingly elusive audience, The Wire shakes things up this season in a way that is true to the series and its characters. A major character, Dominic West's McNulty, plays a minor role as a contented street cop and family man, while a former supporting player, Jim True-Frost's Roland Pryzbylewski, goes to the head of the class as a new eighth grade teacher at beleaguered Edward Tilghman Middle School. It may take a couple of episodes to orient yourself to the Baltimore backrooms, squad rooms, classrooms, and street corners where The Wire's intense dramas play out, and new viewers may miss something in character nuance, but they will easily grasp the big picture. A politically motivated shake-up sends Major Crimes detectives Freamon (Clarke Peters) and Greggs (Sonja Sohn) to Homicide. The gloves come off in the mayoral race between black incumbent Clarence Royce (Glynn Turman) and idealistic white challenger Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen). Gang leader Marlo (Jamie Hector) quietly and deliberately becomes the city's new drug kingpin, managing to subvert all surveillance efforts. Meanwhile, while "Prez" tries to reach his students, four highly at-risk kids will be drawn into the drug trade.
Mere synopsis does not do The Wire justice. The series deftly juggles its myriad storylines and characters, all of whom make an impression, from Marlo's cold-blooded enforcers, Snoop (Felicia Pearson) and Chris (Gbenga Akinnagbe), to boxing instructor "Cutty" (Chad L. Coleman), determined to keep his young charges off the corners. There is not a false note in the performances or the writing. Richard Price (Clockers) and Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) again contributed episodes. That this series has only been nominated for only one Emmy (for writing) is a travesty. As engrossing as the finest novels and in a class by itself, this isn't television; it's The Wire. --Donald Liebenson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - The 1st time N my life I've ever been glued 2 a TV
Short & Sweet. Didn't watch this series before it was taken off the air. Heard all the rave reviews. Did my research and ordered Season 4 (to start with).
Rating: - Great stuff
Great stuff. I feel like I know the whole g'dam town of Baltimore, from top to bottom. Seriously, it's like these people aren't even actors. In fact, you can't even imagine them as actors, being away ... Read More
Rating: - "Life" isn't fair...it's "life"...
Just finished the set...3 days. I find irony in the fact that one of the most beautiful things ever created was born of ugliness. If aliens were to come down to Earth, curious about what it meant to be human, ... Read More
Rating: - The Best season of the best series ever made.
If you haven't already seen the Wire, see it. There is nothing better. This is in my opinion the best season of it. It is the most intelligent, raw and simply brilliant television show ever made, buy it.
Rating: - Continues to Impress
I have to admit, when I finished the first season, I was bummed. I was sure no subsequent seasons could match it. Surprise, they all have, including this one. The writing remains so excellent, season after ... Read More
