Customer Reviews

Hustle: Complete Season One

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just to reassure everyone the US release includes the full versions as aired on BBC.

"Hustle" is a breezy, lightweight treat from BBC America. Originally broadcast in the States on AMC, the series follows a group of con artists as they stage one elaborate setup after another. London is their playground, and these pros are in for the "long con" to make a fortune from each episode's caper. Their "mark," in each case, is generally undone by his/her own failings or misdeeds for our group has distinct ethics--they only target people who deserve it. That's certainly a pleasant notion. It keeps things frothy and fun--and keeps anyone from viewing the protagonists as villains and criminals (which, in truth, they are).

"Hustle" succeeds by having a talented and appealing cast. Not only do you like everyone, you root for them. Robert Vaughn is the show's biggest name, and here he plays the mastermind who often lures the victims to their eventual undoing. Adrian Lester is the group's leader, a legendary con man recently released from prison. Marc Warren provides much of the comedic relief as Danny Blue--a young, irreverent newcomer who challenges and frustrates the others. The funniest moments generally involve Lester and Warren going head-to-head, each always trying to outdo the other. The team is rounded out by Jaime Murray (the bombshell) and Robert Glenister (the tech expert).

The tone of "Hustle" is light and the pace is fast. It is easy to enjoy the antics within the program and to be amused by the scenarios. The cons themselves, however, are fairly familiar territory for those who follow this type of entertainment. While I was entertained consistently, I was rarely surprised. And while this may sound like a large problem, it's not. This show is more about the journey--and with witty, intelligent scripts and a spot-on cast, it's hard for me to imagine anyone not being engaged and entertained by "Hustle."

Each season consists of six episodes, some more effective than others--but not a loser in the bunch. My personal favorite comes from season 2. In it, Lester and Warren take on a personal competition. They are both dropped naked in the middle of London and then each strives to win by ending up the day with more of value. Once and for all, they want to determine who has more skill. This was a very funny episode and the only one that didn't deal specifically with a con.

Recommended as a lark--good for lovers of comedy and capers. "Hustle" may not be particularly edgy or challenging, it's just fun. KGHarris, 12/06.

This is as good as it gets on TV. The acting is tops, the plot line is always a surprise, and the editing can't be beat. In the final analysis, the con is on the viewer since it is difficult, if not impossible to anticipate the conclusion. I'm enjoying the 3rd season currently and will love the replay of the 1st season on the arrival of my DVD's. I can't wait to order the 2nd season DVD's when available.

I originally watched this show because Robert Vaughn was in it. Now I watch it for all the characters. This show is so well written and so clever. It is so much better than 99% of American TV shows. Glad to see Season Two is starting soon and cannot wait to own the first season on DVD!

Every so often there's a television show that completely enchants me; Hustle is one of those shows. Taking place in contemporary London, it's a caper-a-week tale of con-men with hearts of gold earning a living by duping wealthy ne'er-do-wells of their ill-gotten gains.

Hustle follows a crew of grifters including legendary con-man Michael "Mickey Bricks" Stone (Adrian Lester), Danny Blue (Marc Warren), Stacie Monroe (Jaime Murray), Ash Morgan (Robert Glenister), and Albert Stroller (American acting legend Robert Vaughn) as they pick up the big con game again after a long haitus during which Mickey was in prison. Danny, an untried novice, is the newest addition to the crew - with some hesitation. Each of them has their particular jobs to do - Mickey and Danny work the inside to convince their marks, Ash is the man who can get or make anything, Albert is the roper who brings the marks in, and Stacie plays convincing backup parts, as well as lending her expertise as a pick-pocket. Working as a family unit, these grifters struggle to make ends meet while pulling cons and taking scores off of those wealthy they deem deserving of comeuppance.

This series is a treat. Unlike most American crime shows, where the focus is on the dark and depressing reality and violence of the streets, Hustle is a refreshing tale of modern-day Robin Hoods staying just one step ahead of the law - and their marks. The emphasis here is on fun. The music is light (a bouncy sort of techno-jazz), the dialogue crisp, and the atmosphere humorous. These are characters, and a show, that you will quickly grow to love and return to again and again. Admittedly, this program owes a great deal to the Academy Award-winning Paul Newman/Robert Redford opus The Sting (which is heavily referenced in the first episode), but they take that film's love of capers and sense of fun to new levels.

However, do be warned that while this set includes the full first season, it is, nonetheless, only six episodes long and, thus, goes by very quickly. Setting this aside, Hustle is a brilliant show that I cannot recommend highly enough. Check it out, and enjoy!

The show's opening credits wears its influences very much on its sleeve with a very slick, jazzy feel reminiscent, in look, of the ones for Catch Me If You Can with the music segueing into a trip-hop-ish score much like the one David Holmes composed for Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven remake.

Hustle is beautifully shot so that each episode is like a slickly produced mini-movie - imagine Ocean's Eleven: The Movie. The show uses freeze frames, messes with camera speeds, uses inventive camera angles and even has a character break the fourth wall and address the camera or otherwise call attention to the fact that we're watching a television program.

The show examines what motivates these grifters. Sure, it's the thrill and challenge of fleecing some rich mark but it is also avoiding the drudgery of working a boring, soulless 9 to 5 job. These people are keen observers of human nature. They know how to gain someone's confidence and take their money while avoiding being caught by the victim and the authorities. And in a refreshing change of pace, this group doesn't always succeed every time out and we see what happens when a mark gets wise when one of the con artists screws up. As Hustle progresses through this first season, it gradually delves more into the personal lives of the main characters and their inter-personal relationships.

The first disc includes "Assembling the Team Part 1," a making of featurette. This extra goes through the show's origins, casting and characters with the cast talking about working with each other in a very informative way that is great for those new to this show.

The second disc features the second part to "Assembling the Team" with each of the main cast members gush about each other in this engaging look at how this show came together.

Finally, there are well-written biographies on the main cast members.

This DVD set is sparse for extras, but who needs them? This is HU$TLE! Hustle is perhaps the most captivating, original, creatively fun show to come across the pond in a long while. Originating on BBC, AMC picked up the show to air in the states claiming "Only on AMC", which was itself a bit of a con. This DVD set is the complete first season. Only six episodes per season may seem thin, but Hustle isn't your average show. Each individual episode clocks in at over an hour long without commercials, and are presented here in widescreen format making them seem more like mini-movies than TV shows. While the plot lines for each episode are self contained, the story of our characters evolve as the season(s) roll on. Now in it's third season and soon to start it's fourth, Hustle already has a following, and undoubtedly the release of each season of Hustle to DVD will as well. This DVD set truly does offer "something" for almost "nothing".

"Hustle" has become an excellent show, full of intricate plotting, sharp wit, and enjoyable ensemble acting. The first season, unfortunately, is seriously marred by a lack of originality. Both the first and last episodes are shameless ripoffs of "The Sting." When you have only six episodes, stealing the plots for two of them from the SAME movie is quite a con!

However, three of the four remaining episodes (all but the weak second ep) are very good indeed. At its best, the show has the feel of a breezy "Mission: Impossible" with more interesting characters.

If you're discovering this show for the first time, start with Season 2.

I started watching this show long before "Thief" and "Heist" came along, both of which served up in-your-face violence and the dregs of humanity. "Hustle" is a class act, and gets its highest marks from the quality of the cast, writing, and lack of gunplay (owing to the Brits' staunch anti-gun laws). All of which goes to show that alluring stars and creative writing can out-wit, out-play, and out-last any flash-in-the-pan also-ran. I do want to see what Ray Liotta has to offer in this fall's "Smith." Maybe it will give Hustle the only run for its money out there. In the meantime, I look forward to re-playing the cons of Mickey and his gang on season one's DVD set.

I was watching Leverage: The First Season on TNT when my attention was drawn to Hustle. I love watching Leverage - the characters are fun to watch and some cons are really good.

However, Hustle is as good, though you have to take each episode from both series and then analyse which is better. The first thing that draws you in is the title music. Adrian Lester as Mickey "Bricks" fits in nicely in the leader's role. Robert Vaughn is charming and brings back memories. Ash is very skillful, Stacie is smooth and Marc Warren as Danny is fun to watch. Sometimes I have to rewind due to the corny british accent (does not happen for all british serials) but here it takes some getting used to.

The viewer is taken along the con and the whole con is explained with a freeze frame technique. The whole world simply is frozen while some key point in the con is explained to the viewer. Very nicely done and great fun to watch. I'm currently on Season 2. Do watch Leverage also - you'll definitely like it if you enjoy Hustle.