Product Details

• Actors: Laura Linney, Oliver Platt
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish
• Dubbed: Spanish
• Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Sony
• DVD Release Date: June 7, 2011
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003R4ZMS6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,026 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "The Big C: The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Laura Linney is so radiant as the terminally (and secretly) cancer-stricken Cathy in The Big C that the viewer briefly is reminded of Love Story, in which Ali McGraw, also terminally ill, became more and more radiant as her not-quite-believable death approached. But there the similarity ends. Linney's performance as Cathy is utterly believable, and charming, even if Cathy's actions aren't always respectable. Linney is diagnosed early in the season with terminal melanoma that's spread through her body, and she keeps her diagnosis from her husband (Oliver Platt, never better) and her son, Adam (Gabriel Basso). The idea for The Big C haunts the viewer throughout the episodes--what would you do if you knew you were only going to live a short while longer? How would you approach your relationships--and would you keep them? What kinds of risks would you take? Linney's Cathy, until now a responsible schoolteacher, begins to question her life of "staying within the lines," and begins to take chances that baffle her family. The supporting cast is divine, including Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) as a student Cathy is tutoring and coaching--and often annoying. Idris Elba (Luther) is a hunky handyman at Cathy's school, who becomes the object of Cathy's careless flirtations, and John Benjamin Hickey is hilarious as Sean, Cathy's living-off-the-grid brother. But with all the wry humor, The Big C has some sad, anguished moments--including the first-season finale, which should not be watched without a box of tissues. The Big C features Linney at her finest, a very believable character facing an all-too-believable fate--and managing to live her life out loud. Extras include candid interviews with the cast, deleted scenes, and outtakes. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

Laura Linney stars in her Golden Globe®-winning role as Cathy Jamison, a 42-year-old schoolteacher who has always played by the rules. That is, until she receives a life-changing diagnosis. But instead of giving up, Cathy decides to live it up! Nothing and no one is safe, including her self-absorbed family, her cantankerous neighbor, and her smart-ass students. Oliver Platt (TV’s Huff) and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) shine in this talented ensemble. Brutally honest, unapologetically funny and perfectly profound, The Big C is a surprisingly different comedy that reminds us that life is always worth living on our own terms.

1. Pilot - A diagnosis of terminal cancer inspires Cathy to live life to the fullest, free and uninhibited, for as long as she can. A pool in her backyard is at the top of her to-do list.
2. Summertime - After Dr. Todd tells Cathy just how little time she has left, she insists that her son Adam stay home with her instead of attending summer soccer camp.
3. There’s no C in Team - As she fends off both Paul’s pleas to revive their marriage and a cancer support group’s cheery efforts, Cathy is stunned to learn that Marlene’s dog can sense her cancer.
4. Playing the Cancer Car - At the suggestion of his therapist, Paul jump-starts his single life by returning to rugby. Cathy tries on impulsiveness by cashing out her retirement fund to buy a new sports car.
5. Blue-Eyed Iris - Cathy looks to reclaim her sexuality with a “Trip to Brazil” and a new man. While Paul gets the attention of a Rugby groupie, Sean gets a “new” suit courtesy of Marlene’s dead husband.
6. Taking Lumps - When a new lump reveals that her cancer is getting worse, Cathy questions her dalliance with Lenny as she looks to reunite her family for an annual charity bathtub race.
7. Two for the Road - Cathy persuades Sean to join her on a trip to surprise their dad for his birthday, leaving Adam and Paul at home for a long needed boys’ weekend together. Paul gets a sobering wake-up call from Marlene.
8. Happy Birthday, Cancer - When Paul throws her a surprise party for her 43rd birthday, Cathy is conflicted about her plans to join Lenny for the weekend in the Bahamas. Sean begins an affair with Rebecca (Cynthia Nixon), Cathy’s old college friend.
9. The Ecstasy and the Agony - As things continue to heat up with Lenny, Cathy decides to experiment with Ecstasy. After witnessing her affair, Paul tells Cathy he wants a divorce.
10. Divine Intervention - Realizing that her recent decisions have real and lasting consequences, Cathy finally tells Paul that she has cancer as she looks to make amends with those around her.
11. New Beginnings - Adam meets a girl at the bus stop. Cathy, Rebecca and Marlene enjoy lunch at a strip club. Paul’s spontaneous display of solidarity prompts Cathy to seek out a cure.
12. Everything that Rises Must Converge - Cathy and Dr. Todd head to Canada to try an alternative bee venom treatment from the “Bee Man” (Liam Neeson). Paul moves back home.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 37 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A New Series with a Controversial Subject August 17, 2010

By Grady Harp HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

THE BIG C started this week as a Showtime series for television opposite the controversial WEEDS in the late evening, subjects for mature audiences time slot. Most viewers will have mixed feelings about this first episode, so loaded with new characters with whom we have little time to understand, all edgy, and yet all surrounded by the unifying theme of how one woman deals with being told she has Stage 4 Malignant Melanoma but who decides to not inform anyone of her diagnosis, instead going after the outrageous way of living that has always been foreign to her obsessive/compulsive teacher personality.

There are few actresses who could pull this off: Laura Linney, one of our finest actresses on the screen today, is the perfect choice for making this unbelievable character credible AND charismatic. As Cathy Jamison, she is married to a bumbling irresponsible joker Paul (Oliver Platt, again an actor in the top echelon) who is currently out of the house over some disagreement with Cathy, and is mother to naughty boy Adam (Gabriel Basso), lives across the street from a elderly curmudgeon Marlene (Phyllis Somerville) with whom Cathy finally agrees to accept and to like, is a sister to a freaky psycho brother Sean (John Benjamin Hickey), is attended by her diagnosing just-fresh-out-of-residency naive physician Dr Todd (Reid Scott), and carries on teaching a classroom with bored students, including one sassy, arrogant and overweight Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe). Life is full of surprises and they pop by so quickly that we barely can tell where the series is going. As for this viewer, though not impressed with the structure of the show, staying around for the pleasure of watching Linney and Platt will be worth it - hopefully! Grady Harp, August 10

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars The Inmates Are Running The Asylum--A Great Premise Undermined By Contrived Wackiness December 14, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

There is no show that I thought had more promise than "The Big C." The premise is spot-on compelling, the cast impressive, and Laura Linney is one of the greats! And while I found the first episodes a bit chaotic, I held out hope. With Linney as the centerpiece, there was no way "The Big C" could fail. As the show progressed, however, there became less and less consistency, more and more lunacy, and a complete lack of believability that chilled my goodwill beyond reason. I expect I'll get all kinds of negative feedback for this commentary, but I watch and enjoy all of Showtime's female centric comedies--"Weeds" (once great, but struggling creatively), "Nurse Jackie" (solid, if somewhat overpraised), and "The United States of Tara" (uneven, but improved before its finale)--and "The Big C" definitely stands out in comparison, but not in a good way. Contrived for maximum "hilarity," its over-the-top antics were almost unbearable in their preciousness.

It's difficult to be critical of "The Big C" because there are some viewers that will inherently embrace its very real emotional core. However, I contend that the show uses the concept but doesn't develop it beyond slapstick shenanigans. That might even be fine if the show was humorous (it tries more often than not for shock) and the characters were likable or even remotely believable. Not so. Linney plays a uptight wife and mother who discovers she has cancer. Her decision, initially, is to keep the secret, resist treatment, and live out her remaining time embracing life. This has the potential to be so funny and so moving--neither word would I use to describe "The Big C."

As control-freak Linney, from episode one, starts behaving completely against type (so we're told)--no one really even notices. Her husband, son, and brother continuously reference this straight laced character she was, but don't seem to acknowledge that she's flipped her lid. Maybe they're too busy playing over-the-top quirk (as every character hails from the planet of Quirk) to notice. Oliver Platt, as her husband, is fun--but his character is so inconsistent that you never identify him as real or their relationship as sustainable. There is also a sassy student (Gabourey Sidibe) and a wacky neighbor (Phyllis Somerville) on hand to spar with Linney. They don't ground the action--they just increase the nuttiness. Somerville, a great actress, is particularly stranded. Some weeks she is emotional support, other times crazy as a loon (she went from being violently racist one week to hugging a homeless person the next). Which leaves the most obnoxious and unbelievable character yet--Linney's brother (John Benjamin Hickey, another good actor) as a homeless activist. Hickey may just be saddled with one of the most patently ridiculous characters on TV.

This leaves Linney. As the heart and soul of the show, she starts out as the solid center. But as the episodes progress, she devolves like everyone else. I wanted to be a part of her journey but I was consistently alienated by the show's overdrive lunacy. "The Big C" needs to be grounded. I understand it's goal is to be somewhat controversial in presenting this subject matter in a different way--but we need characters that we can believe in if there is to be any real emotional payoff. At the end, many people think the season's final revelations are enough to forgive the entire series of its inconsistencies, but I'm not a believer. The single biggest disappointment of my TV season--but I'll look forward to Linney in the next big project! KGHarris, 10/10.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Unreal and obnoxious May 26, 2012

By garsar

Format:DVD

This is so contrived it's unbelievable that anyone thinks this approaches reality. It is even obnoxious in it's glib put down and stereotyping of the support group. This is for people who have no idea what the reality of cancer and treatment is like. This could have been a great idea to depict someone who has cancer and still lives her life. The writing is the level of a bad sitcom. It surprises me how many people like this.
If not for the fine star, Ms Linney, I would give it no stars. My wife and I couldn't watch past the 6th show, and those were unbearable.