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Special Features
- Deleted Scenes
- Audio Commentaries
- Bloopers
- Life Begins; A Multi-Angle Deleted Scene from Four Angles
- Still Life
- Life's Questions Answered
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A quirky drama with moments of startling originality, Life: Season One concerns Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis of Band of Brothers), a cop who spent 12 years in federal prison for murders he did not commit. Exonerated by DNA evidence, Charlie receives a multimillion-dollar settlement for his troubles and returns to his old job, though now as a detective. Cleared of the crime, Charlie still faces skepticism from his law enforcement brethren and the impatience of a new partner, Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi), a former drug addict squeezed by her superior (Robin Weigert) to find reasons to boot Charlie from the force. None of this hostility, however, compares with the terrible time Charlie experienced behind bars, where a former cop is everyone's punching bag. Charlie's sanity, saved by studying Zen methods of non-attachment, remains with him after he is released into a digital world, Charlie has a lot of catching up to do, but it is his post-prison unorthodox manner and tendency to speak without thinking that prove jarring for colleagues and crime witnesses. Still, it is easy to root for the guy and appreciate (non-attachment aside) his fondness for the good life: a mansion, fast cars, beautiful women, and lots of fresh fruit.
The pilot episode is a knockout, the kind of show featuring moments one has never seen before, such as a scene in which Charlie is forced to shoot a suspect and then talks him through an almost dream-like death. Subsequent episodes are a little uneven in quality, but the overall package is quite compelling, particularly as Charlie quietly solves the mystery of the murders for which he was blamed. Throughout, Charlie's religious transformation in prison collides with his darker impulses toward possible revenge, making Life a fascinating study in conflict. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Life was his sentence. Life is what he got back. Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers) stars as the unconventional police officer-turned-convict-turned-detective with a second chance in each compelling Season One episode of the critically acclaimed mystery series Life. After twelve years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, offbeat Charlie Crews has returned to the force with a $50 million settlement, a new spiritual outlook, a strong fondness for fruit, and a highly unusual approach to solving crime. With the aid of his skeptical and demanding new partner, Dani Reese, played by Sarah Shahi (Rush Hour 3), he’s turning police procedure upside down in this unique and fast-paced series with a “terrific cast [and] terrific writing” (Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times).
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Prison changes a man, and it certainly changed former LAPD police officer Charlie Crews. From 1995 to 2007 he served hard time for murders he didn't commit. When DNA evidence surfaces proving his innocence, Crews is released and reinstated in the force (he also lands some serious settlement money). Now Detective Crews finds himself working with a new partner even as he covertly seeks answers to what the hell happened.
LIFE looks to be a very promising cop detective show, and not because the mysteries themselves are dynamite stuff or anything. No, the viewing addiction lies in watching the lead actor work his craft. Britisher Damian Lewis is simply fabulous as the wounded, brooding protagonist, trying to piece his life back together. It's fun watching Crews apply his askewed perspective on his cases. I'm normally not a fan of folks who sling zen about, but Lewis makes it such a quirky and integral part of his character. And if it's a loose cannon with an agenda slinging that zen, all the better. After all, zen helped Crews survive the penitentiary. I also like the little touches which remind us that Crews is still coping with his new found freedom, whether it's his habit of munching on fresh fruit (they never have fresh fruit in prison) or his preference for light and open air or the fact that he still doesn't have furniture in his home.
Lewis's supporting cast is so-so. I do enjoy Sarah Shahi, who's a former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. She plays the no-nonsense Dani Reese, Crews' new partner and not ecstatic about it. It's true that her character tends to fall in the generic character-saddled-with-demons category, so, yeah, nothing new from that angle. But I think she has very good chemistry with Damian Lewis, and I just love her bemused or irritated reactions to Crews' barrage of philosophical quirk. Two other actors who nicely play off Lewis are sexy Brooke Langton as Crews' smitten attorney and Adam Arkin as Crews' former inmate and current best friend and financial adviser.
I like the show's use of interview clips. They reveal certain insights and usher several sub-plots into the light. We learn, for instance, that Crews' former partner didn't stand up for him and that Crews' beautiful wife had divorced him while he was serving out his time. We even get a teeny whiff of the conspiracy surrounding Crews' frame-up. More layers and foreshadowings, thanks to these interview clips.
SPOILERS now.
With the steady influx of crime drama on TV, I wasn't planning on tuning in to this show. Then the pilot changed my mind. Other standout episodes? "Powerless" is the powerful sixth episode, focusing on Dani as she pursues a rapist who'd been haunting her AA meetings. "Farthingale" (episode 8) is a fun one, an intriguing mystery which begins with a man having been half blown off by an exploding stove. Then there's the intense two-part, season closing story arc (episodes 10 & 11: "Dig A Hole" & "Fill It Up") as Crews finally tracks down the man who committed the murders for which he was incarcerated. In "Dig A Hole" we also get to see a showdown of sorts between Crews' new and former partners.
SPOILERS end.
I can't stress enough how good Damian Lewis is on this show. I remember him from HBO's great wartime mini-series, Band of Brothers, and he made big noise back then, too, and was even nominated for a Golden Globe (although he didn't win). Damian Lewis, with his complex performance here, elevates LIFE from a humdrum procedural into a riveting police drama. And since NBC has already indicated that this wonderful drama series will be picked up for a second season, well, LIFE is good.
LIFE looks to be a very promising cop detective show, and not because the mysteries themselves are dynamite stuff or anything. No, the viewing addiction lies in watching the lead actor work his craft. Britisher Damian Lewis is simply fabulous as the wounded, brooding protagonist, trying to piece his life back together. It's fun watching Crews apply his askewed perspective on his cases. I'm normally not a fan of folks who sling zen about, but Lewis makes it such a quirky and integral part of his character. And if it's a loose cannon with an agenda slinging that zen, all the better. After all, zen helped Crews survive the penitentiary. I also like the little touches which remind us that Crews is still coping with his new found freedom, whether it's his habit of munching on fresh fruit (they never have fresh fruit in prison) or his preference for light and open air or the fact that he still doesn't have furniture in his home.
Lewis's supporting cast is so-so. I do enjoy Sarah Shahi, who's a former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. She plays the no-nonsense Dani Reese, Crews' new partner and not ecstatic about it. It's true that her character tends to fall in the generic character-saddled-with-demons category, so, yeah, nothing new from that angle. But I think she has very good chemistry with Damian Lewis, and I just love her bemused or irritated reactions to Crews' barrage of philosophical quirk. Two other actors who nicely play off Lewis are sexy Brooke Langton as Crews' smitten attorney and Adam Arkin as Crews' former inmate and current best friend and financial adviser.
I like the show's use of interview clips. They reveal certain insights and usher several sub-plots into the light. We learn, for instance, that Crews' former partner didn't stand up for him and that Crews' beautiful wife had divorced him while he was serving out his time. We even get a teeny whiff of the conspiracy surrounding Crews' frame-up. More layers and foreshadowings, thanks to these interview clips.
SPOILERS now.
With the steady influx of crime drama on TV, I wasn't planning on tuning in to this show. Then the pilot changed my mind. Other standout episodes? "Powerless" is the powerful sixth episode, focusing on Dani as she pursues a rapist who'd been haunting her AA meetings. "Farthingale" (episode 8) is a fun one, an intriguing mystery which begins with a man having been half blown off by an exploding stove. Then there's the intense two-part, season closing story arc (episodes 10 & 11: "Dig A Hole" & "Fill It Up") as Crews finally tracks down the man who committed the murders for which he was incarcerated. In "Dig A Hole" we also get to see a showdown of sorts between Crews' new and former partners.
SPOILERS end.
I can't stress enough how good Damian Lewis is on this show. I remember him from HBO's great wartime mini-series, Band of Brothers, and he made big noise back then, too, and was even nominated for a Golden Globe (although he didn't win). Damian Lewis, with his complex performance here, elevates LIFE from a humdrum procedural into a riveting police drama. And since NBC has already indicated that this wonderful drama series will be picked up for a second season, well, LIFE is good.
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Amazon Instant Video
The show started off a little shaky, seeming not to know what its balance between procedural and character drama should be. But, considering the characters have all been fantastic from the start, the more recent turn in that direction is very smart. Damian Lewis has always been a talented actor, but this is one of his most riveting performances ever. I've never seen a character like Charlie Crews, and now I'm dying to see more of him. As he gets deeper into the conspiracy to frame him, all the little layers are getting pulled back. I sincerely hope NBC realizes what a gem they have here and starts giving it better promotions.
68 of 86 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I LOVE this show, it was the best new series of the season, and I fell in love with everything it is. It looks at first like another cop drama with a twist, but that description couldn't be more further from the truth.
LIFE is great, funny, light, intelligent, serious, dark, it's got it all, the writing is awesome, so many terrific lines/one-liner that are just brilliant, directing, acting, music selection, it's a masterpiece of art!
BUT : I have not and will not buy the DVDs, and I recommend against it, because NBC screw things up and IT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL MUSIC !!!
The replaced the music everywhere by some other songs, and it's far from being anywhere near as good as it originally was!!
[...]
No way I buy DVDs like that, that's not the show I watched, love, and want to watch over & over again, not like that. NBC, you just lost a customer.
LIFE is great, funny, light, intelligent, serious, dark, it's got it all, the writing is awesome, so many terrific lines/one-liner that are just brilliant, directing, acting, music selection, it's a masterpiece of art!
BUT : I have not and will not buy the DVDs, and I recommend against it, because NBC screw things up and IT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL MUSIC !!!
The replaced the music everywhere by some other songs, and it's far from being anywhere near as good as it originally was!!
[...]
No way I buy DVDs like that, that's not the show I watched, love, and want to watch over & over again, not like that. NBC, you just lost a customer.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Your Second Chance at "Life"--Don't Miss It
I missed this one during its short run on network television, and I guess I'm not the only one. This deserved a better fate than two short seasons. Read more
Published 13 days ago by G. Mesick
the minority opinion on this show to be sure....
Okay.... I was overwhelmed by the great reviews and I am a fan of Damian Lewis so I ordered season one. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Richardson
Wow. A diamond in a pile of manure.
The pile of manure being the innumerable other cop shows out there that do the same exact thing. How on earth do all of them have viewership's? They don't deserve them. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mandorallen
Dumbing down America is not here!
Great adult, sophisticated drama, no wonder it was cancelled. This show feeds the imagination and makes you think, not like the drivel that passes for entertainment these days on... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Fountainhead
Still loving it
Even a few years after having been (indefensibly) nixed this continues to be one of the best balanced Police/Drama series ever produced. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Pirooz
.outstanding series
This is a charming and very entertaining series. It's not just another detective series that is about vengence and violence. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Myster fan
Great Show!
Used to watch this show when it came out and loved it. Would recommend it to anyone looking for a good drama/action TV show!
Published 5 months ago by Patrick O. Parsons
This TV Series LIFE is AWESOME ! ! ! !
This is one of my favorite ever TV Series. When the network ended this show my household was devestated. Hopefully this will be picked up again by another network at some point. Read more
Published 6 months ago by timberlane
One of the most under-appreciated TV series of all time
I am so happy to have a way to hang on to this wonderful series. Quirky and intelligent with amazing music backgrounds and great acting. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mamomi
Great Show
I can't believe NBC cancelled this show!!!!!!! One of the best shows I ever seen. all the actors are great. I can watch this show over and over again.
Published 6 months ago by Anna
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