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Special Features
Audio Commentary by Diablo Cody and Jill Soloway
Sitting Down with Diablo Cody
Meet Toni Collette
First episode of The Tudors Season 3
Sitting Down with Diablo Cody
Meet Toni Collette
First episode of The Tudors Season 3
Watch Free Previews and Buy Episodes from Amazon Instant Video (Learn More)
| United States of Tara Season 1 | - Available Formats |
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The USA cable network's marketing slogan "Characters Welcome" would be a good fit for The United States of Tara. This off-center Showtime series has a slew of them--prim and proper suburban housewife Alice, beer-swilling hell-raiser Buck (a male), and hard-partying teen T. All of them are portrayed by Toni Collette, who deservedly won an Emmy for her astonishing performance(s) as Tara, a wife and mother struggling with dissociative identity disorder. The first episode establishes the series' high concept, but the show quickly finds its groove as it explores the turmoil of Tara's life and the effect DID has on her marriage and family: her exceedingly patient and supportive husband Max (John Corbett), who has to fight off Tara's more sexually aggressive "alters"; her sensitive son Marshall (Keir Gilchrist); rebellious teenage daughter Kate (Brie Larson); and resentful sister Charmaine (Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel's Getting Married). As the series begins, Tara has stopped taking her meds, which opens the doors for her other personalities to reveal themselves, usually at stressful or inappropriate times. In the first episode, Tara/Buck beats up Kate's physically abusive boyfriend. In another, she appears at a parent-teacher conference as Alice. This first season establishes Tara's uniquely dysfunctional family dynamic ("It doesn't have to be weird," Tara offers at one point as she is debriefed about one of her alter's latest shenanigans) and is propelled by the mystery of what traumatic incident caused Tara to crack. Diablo Cody, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Juno, created and cowrote the series, and for the most part she cools it with the distracting Cody-speak (at one point there is a gratuitous reference to the obscure syndicated series Small World). This series power-jams it with a superb ensemble cast, including Valerie Mahaffrey (Eve on Northern Exposure) as Tara's overwhelmed therapist, Patton Oswalt as Charmain's sometime lover, Nathan Corddry as Kate's too-attentive boss, and Pamela Reed and Fred Ward as Tara's parents. The United States of Tara is an unconventional family dramedy and a sly look at gender roles ("Over the course of a day, how many different women do we have to be?," a well-meaning new friend asks Tara at one point). And Collette is a marvel to watch. We pledge our allegiance. --Donald Liebenson
Stills from United States of Tara: Season One (Click for larger image)
Stills from United States of Tara: Season One (Click for larger image)
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Product Description
Tara Gregson is a wife and mother with dissociative identity disorder (DID). After deciding to take a break from her medication to discover the real cause of her disorder, her alternate personalties re-emerge: wild and flirty teenager T; old-fashioned housewife Alice; and male, loud, beer-drinking Vietnam vet Buck. Tara is supported by her calm and level-headed husband Max, her somewhat troubled teenage daughter Kate and quirky, good-hearted gay son Marshall. Her sister, Charmaine, is not so supportive, often expressing her doubt about the validity of Tara's disorder. The show is set in Overland Park, Kansas.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
93 of 98 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have worked with DID patients for over 20 years and have conducted much research on DID and dissociation. I approached this television show with trepidation because DID has so often been distorted and sensationalized by previous films and television programs. To my very pleasant surprise,the United States of Tara has presented a remarkably accurate portrayal of an admittedly uncommon presentation of DID (i.e., highly visible and public displays of switching from alter to alter). In contrast, the alter personalities of most persons with DID are quite hidden; the alters intentionally avoid public exposure. That said, the creaters and writers of the United States of Tara sought extensive consultation from experts on DID and have done an excellent job of presenting the symptoms, psychological issues, family interactions, and the difficulties in the therapy of persons with DID. Similarly, the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, which has provided professional commentary on each episode of the program [...], has consistently found the United States of Tara to be surprisingly accurate (within the limits of a darkly comedic show whose purpose is, of course, to entertain).
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is the most original show I have seen in a long time. It is an amazing look at what life with a person suffering from multiple personalities could be like. At the same time, a lot of the issues dealt with this in this show every family deals with. It shows the struggle a family faces in defining themselves as a family as well as individuals. A classic in the making. Set your TIVO!
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What a brilliant TV show, with some great acting from not only Toni Collette but also the other cast members.
There are some people (the minority) that will be offended by the show, quoting it as unresearched or unrealistic. But what is pretty clear (and what they may like to remember) is that the writers have created a dark comedic undertone in which the actors portray very well.
Well done to the producers and all involved for taking quite a few risks and pushing boundaries, I'm sick of "safe" TV.
GREAT!!
There are some people (the minority) that will be offended by the show, quoting it as unresearched or unrealistic. But what is pretty clear (and what they may like to remember) is that the writers have created a dark comedic undertone in which the actors portray very well.
Well done to the producers and all involved for taking quite a few risks and pushing boundaries, I'm sick of "safe" TV.
GREAT!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Humorous and Captivating
I was thrilled to learn that there was a comedy about multiple personality disorders after simultaneously loving and hating Sybil because of the disturbing nature of that... Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. Hard
best show!!
i LOVE this show! Toni Collette is AMAZING! this show is very original and has great storylines and characters. i love getting to know all of her personalities. Read more
Published 11 months ago by scotty2hotty
Just Sad
I really wanted to like the show, the acting is nice, I suppose, but the situation is just too abusive for the children, for me to find it amusing in the least. Read more
Published 16 months ago by esporter
Really got me thinking
What an amazing topic and with such an amazing actor as Toni Collette. This series raised a lot of questions in our family and broadened our understanding of mental health issues... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Amanda Jones
Tara
This is an awesome show. I started watching Season 2 and had to catch up on Season 1.
Published 20 months ago by JennyG
It's Not Perfect, But It's Original, Well-Written, Well-Acted
Had it not been for the first two episodes of this series that appeared as extras on "Dexter: Season Three", it probably would have gone unnoticed by me. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Kasey G
This show is GREAT!!!
The acting in this show is phenomenal! I can't wait for the second season to come out on DVD! Showtime TV is excellent. US of Tara, Dexter, Weeds, Just Great!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Published 21 months ago by Julia Wilkison
Seller a complete FAILURE FOR Amazon.
Have filed a complaint with Amazon. Have NOT received item ordered,and paid for, over a month ago. If you read the Feedbacks for this Merchant you will know NOT TO ORDER. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Gerald Korn
United States of Tara: Season One
As a new TV series, really interesting and very different - looking forward to the new season - worthwhile series to add to your DVD collection.
Published 23 months ago by TV & Movie Buff
Love it and cheap
I absolutely love this show I watched the first season on showtime but with the second season coming up I wanted a refresher I have an iPhone I was gonna buy the first season of... Read more
Published on April 19, 2010 by Geri Hadlock
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