Starring: Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Rachel Griffiths
Director: Daniel Attias, Alan Ball
Studio: Warner Bros
Rating: 15+
Genre: Drama (TV)
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About This DVD
This penultimate season of Six Feet Under continues further down the darkly
disturbing path so evident in the third season. To be sure, the signature--and
ultimately undefinable--blend of tragic mishap with tripped-out comic
eccentricity that has stamped the series from its debut remains pervasive. It's
the concentration of the mix that has changed. Leavening moments seem less
organic, much as the bizarre death sequences that open each episode often turn
out to be rather contrived preludes to the ensuing thematic obsessions. Which
isn't to say season 4 lacks the delightfully memorable quirkiness fans have
grown to expect. Recurring incidents of fecal revenge bring tensions to the
surface between Ruth (Frances Conroy) and her new husband George (James
Cromwell), in turn leading to young intern Arthur's resignation (Rainn Wilson's
spot-on characterization is so enjoyable that his self-imposed exile from the
Fisher nest early in the season is a real loss). Ruth meanwhile hooks up again
briefly with the irrepressible Bettina (Kathy Bates) for an excursion south of
the border.
But brooding glimpses into chaos beneath the surface provide the emotional
momentum of this season, right from the opening scene, as Nate (Peter Krause)
inevitably gravitates back toward Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) in the aftermath of
his wife's death. As usual, writers and directors vary for each episode, but the
dark eccentricities of creator Alan Ball's original characters have become more
sharply focused and sustained. We seem to spend even more time viewing the world
through individual points of view: Nate's roiling anger and grief or Claire's
(Lauren Ambrose) newfound sexual and artistic experimentation as she learns
about "grinding the corn" and attains respect as a photographer. The toxicity of
relationships continues to be a preoccupation. We get the Ruth-George meltdown
as well as the painful unraveling of Rico's (Freddy Rodriguez) marriage to
Vanessa (Justina Machado). But the most harrowing episode follows David (Michael
C. Hall) through an increasingly perilous carjacking. This nightmarish fugue,
midway through, ripples out into the rest of the season, posing another threat
to his tenuous relationship with Keith (Matthew St. Patrick). It sets a course
for further apocalyptic imagery of environmental collapse and fallout shelters.
There's little to gentle the downward slide and exposure of vulnerability, save
taking refuge in the quirkiness that seems to be the Fishers' birthright. But
that, as they say, is to die for. --Thomas May
Audio Format: | DD 5.1, DD 2.0 |
Video Format: | Widescreen 1.78:1 (Anamorphic) |
Languages: | English |
Subtitles: | Korean/ English/ Spanish/ Portugues |
Country Made: | USA |
Region Code: | 3 |
Year Made: | 2005 |
Running Time: | 495 Min 12 Episodes -- Falling into Place, In Case of Rapture, Parallel Play, Can I Come Up Now?, That's My Dog, Terror Starts at Home, The Dare, Coming and Going, Grinding the Corn, The Black Forest, Bomb Shelter, Untitled |
Special Features: |
Commentary by writer Craig Wright on Falling into Place Commentary by director Jeremy Podeswa on Parallel Play Commentary by director Alan Poul on That's My Dog Commentary by writer Kate Robin on Terror Starts at Home Commentary by director Peter Weber on The Dare Commentary by writer Scott Buck on Bomb Shelter Commentary by director Alan Ball on Untitled Cut by Cut: Editing Six Feet Under Deleted scenes Exclusive Bob Costas interview with the cast |
Availability: Usually ships in 5~10 business days.
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