Crime Story - Season 2 (DVD, 2005, 4-Disc Set)

A cops and robbers television drama that was way ahead of it's time. Other similar shows pale in comparison. Produced by Michael Mann, Crime Story was a story of 1960's all business, hard as nails police Lt. Mike Torello of the Chicago MCU (Major Crime Unit) and his obsession to bring down Ray Luca, a hard hitting street thug on the fast track to being a mob boss.
Running for two seasons around 1986, the cast had many stars, old and new including one of Julia Robert's first TV appearances, Ted Levine, the sicko on "Silence of the Lambs", Gary Sinise from "Ransom" aka Lt. Dan from "Forrest Gump", and more recently "CSI:NY", Deborah Harry from the rock group "Blondie", David Caruso from "CSI:Miami" and other greats like Ving Rhames, Stephen Lang, Lorraine Bracco and the main characters of CRIME STORY played by Dennis Farina and Anthony Denison.
With a top notch producer like Michael Mann and as solid as the writing and acting on this show was I am stunned it only lasted two seasons, especially considering lesser shows ran many years longer than they should have.
Watch the pilot of CRIME STORY and you, too, will be hooked!

Michael Mann's CRIME STORY followed his more famous creation, 'Miami Vice' Friday nights on NBC from 1986-1988. Mann, who is known for making a location a character in itself, captured my imagination with this classic "cops and robbers" series when I was in my teens.

Though I wasn't even alive during the time period it depicted, I was captivated by the show's amazing retro feel. Very few anachronisms disrupted the mood, allowing your television set to become a time machine, and take you back for a look.

Mann used classic, neon-laden Las Vegas as a backdrop for most of season two, making the character's surroundings as exciting as the characters themselves. Overall, it was a very entertaining and interesting show with a legendary, no-superstar cast, and absolutely UNFORGETTABLE characters!

I have to admit that my high grade for the Season Two disc set is much influenced by my love for Crime Story's SEASON 1, which was superior. Really, there would be no point in watching season 2 without first watching season 1.

The first season's very linear plot development became more choppy in season two, taking on, perhaps, too many sub-plots and stand-alone episodes. The show's quality declined as the second season progressed, going from great to good. Especially when leaving the powerful venue of retro-modern, (populuxe) Las Vegas in favor of a never-named, uninteresting Latin-American country to further the drug-dealer sub-plot.

Unfortunately, the greatest disappointment of the show was the series finale. I won't spoil it, but it was as if they found out at the last minute that there would be no third season and needed to wrap the series that very day.

If you watch Crime Story season 2, just enjoy each episode for what it is. Take in the scenery and appreciate the genius of the show. Then go back and watch Season 1 all over again!

The ambitious vision of producer Michael Mann continues in Season 2 of Crime Story as the story moves from the streets of Las Vegas to its ultimate (and unresolved) climax in an unnamed Latin America country. The dramatic tension between cop Mike Torello (Dennis Farina) and wise-guy Ray Luca (Anthony Denison) still remains the highlight of the series, and there is some especially funny comic relief by not-so-wise wise guy Paul Taglia throughout season two, including in the series finale. Episodes which focus on this triumverate make Crime Story Season Two worth watching (particularly learning how Luca survives the nuclear fallout he sustained at the end of season one and an absolutely hilarious episode about a bad dream by Taglia.) On the downside is the overacting, the at-times pretentious story lines and the episodes which frequenly meander away from the compelling Torello/Luca story lines. A series ahead of its time, and consistenly watchable, but one which feels like its ultimate potential was never truly realized.

One of my favorite TV shows from the late 80's. Well acted, authentic to the time period, and always interesting. The DVD set is excellent quality also.

A 60's police show the way cops use to treat criminals before maranda rights.
Atough guy image played by Dennis Farina. It is a tv show classic.