The Wire - The Complete Fifth Season
starring: Dominic West, Clark Johnson, Aidan Gillen, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce
List Price: $59.99
Prices subject to change.
Price: $37.99
You Save: $22.00 (37%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Description:
Studio: Hbo Home VideoRelease Date: 08/12/2008Run time: 630 minutes
Amazon.com:
A barroom toast to Det. Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), a one-man good cop/bad cop, offered in The Wire's final episode could very well serve as this series' epitaph: "When you were good, you were the best we had." Season five bears witness to this. The 10 riveting, wrenching episodes focus on yet another beleaguered Baltimore institution, The Baltimore Sun daily newspaper, whose staff, much like the police, is forced to do more with less. One editor (Clark Johnson) struggles to maintain the paper's journalistic standards in the face of declining ad revenues, employee buyouts and bureau closures. An ambitious reporter (Tom McCarthy) undermines him by taking a page out of the Stephen Glass/Jayson Blair playbook, manufacturing sensational quotes, and eventually, whole stories, while bean-counter management encourages its rising star and keeps its eye on the (Pulitzer) prize. Meanwhile, on the streets, the year-long investigation of rising drug lord Marlo Sansfield (Jamie Hector) and the 22 bodies found in "the vacants" has been discontinued and police morale is at an all-time low (the money promised to the department has been diverted to the schools). McNulty manufactures a serial killer case that will have far-reaching repercussions in the mayor's office, where Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) is mounting a run for governor a mere two years into his term. "I wonder what it would be like to work at a real police station," McNulty rages at one point. The Wire, as ever, is all about real. It's a gritty and unflinching look at life in one of roughest districts of a "broke-ass city." There is street justice for some characters, and street injustice for others. Some meet sad, sudden, or shocking ends that defy TV convention. Referring to Marlo, McNulty declares early on, "He does not get to win; we get to win." The hard-earned victories are mostly small, or come with a price. Not that The Wire does not offer glimmers of hope. Bubbles (Andre Royo) struggles to maintain his sobriety (Steve Earle portrays the leader of his 12-step program and also does the theme song honors this season), and the final episode features a cameo by Jim True-Frost as the once overwhelmed teacher, "Prez," who now seems to have the hang of the job. The ratings-strapped and criminally Emmy-snubbed The Wire has always been a critic's darling with a passionate fan base. To the show's credit, it did not make itself more accessible in its final season (consequently, its send-off did not receive near the fanfare of The Sopranos or Sex and the City). That should not dissuade newcomers to the show. It is heavy lifting, and if you're just joining The Wire, a visit to the show's official website for orientation is recommended. But buy it, watch it, and be patient. It's so worth it. From the masterful storytelling to the peerless ensemble, it just doesn't get any better than The Wire. But that's not exactly news. --Donald Liebenson
Studio: Hbo Home VideoRelease Date: 08/12/2008Run time: 630 minutes
Amazon.com:
A barroom toast to Det. Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), a one-man good cop/bad cop, offered in The Wire's final episode could very well serve as this series' epitaph: "When you were good, you were the best we had." Season five bears witness to this. The 10 riveting, wrenching episodes focus on yet another beleaguered Baltimore institution, The Baltimore Sun daily newspaper, whose staff, much like the police, is forced to do more with less. One editor (Clark Johnson) struggles to maintain the paper's journalistic standards in the face of declining ad revenues, employee buyouts and bureau closures. An ambitious reporter (Tom McCarthy) undermines him by taking a page out of the Stephen Glass/Jayson Blair playbook, manufacturing sensational quotes, and eventually, whole stories, while bean-counter management encourages its rising star and keeps its eye on the (Pulitzer) prize. Meanwhile, on the streets, the year-long investigation of rising drug lord Marlo Sansfield (Jamie Hector) and the 22 bodies found in "the vacants" has been discontinued and police morale is at an all-time low (the money promised to the department has been diverted to the schools). McNulty manufactures a serial killer case that will have far-reaching repercussions in the mayor's office, where Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) is mounting a run for governor a mere two years into his term. "I wonder what it would be like to work at a real police station," McNulty rages at one point. The Wire, as ever, is all about real. It's a gritty and unflinching look at life in one of roughest districts of a "broke-ass city." There is street justice for some characters, and street injustice for others. Some meet sad, sudden, or shocking ends that defy TV convention. Referring to Marlo, McNulty declares early on, "He does not get to win; we get to win." The hard-earned victories are mostly small, or come with a price. Not that The Wire does not offer glimmers of hope. Bubbles (Andre Royo) struggles to maintain his sobriety (Steve Earle portrays the leader of his 12-step program and also does the theme song honors this season), and the final episode features a cameo by Jim True-Frost as the once overwhelmed teacher, "Prez," who now seems to have the hang of the job. The ratings-strapped and criminally Emmy-snubbed The Wire has always been a critic's darling with a passionate fan base. To the show's credit, it did not make itself more accessible in its final season (consequently, its send-off did not receive near the fanfare of The Sopranos or Sex and the City). That should not dissuade newcomers to the show. It is heavy lifting, and if you're just joining The Wire, a visit to the show's official website for orientation is recommended. But buy it, watch it, and be patient. It's so worth it. From the masterful storytelling to the peerless ensemble, it just doesn't get any better than The Wire. But that's not exactly news. --Donald Liebenson
Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category:
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Drama » General
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Television » General
- VHS » DVD » Genres » Television » TV Series By Letter » W » The Wire
- VHS » DVD » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » HBO » All HBO Titles
- VHS » DVD » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » Actors & Actresses » ( J ) » Johnson, Clark
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- wasnt as described
the case was pratically destryed when i recieved it. it was a gift for someone and when i saw the case i had to find another gift. i was very disappointed. will never purchase from then again.
Rating: 
- One of the last great series....
Spot-on in every aspect and right up there with The Sopranos when you talk about the best of the best - just make sure you have seen the first four seasons before you watch - it is so good you can't afford to miss a beat. And for the die hard fans you will get cameos and small roles from many of your favorite characters of seasons past - a celebration of sorts - and a great ending to a truly special show.
Rating: - The Wire
Totally addictive. Easily the best crime series created. Wondrous scripts, acting, music, all set in the fantastic atmosphere of Baltimore. Subtle, yet in your face. Watching it a second time, makes you want to go back and enjoy again..way down in the hole.
Rating: - I never thought I'd see the Great American Novel of my time...
...It just turned out to be a visual one.
Like many people, I came to "The Wire" sideways through the HBO name, after they built credibility with me through "Six Feet Under", "Rome" and other programs. I was, however, under the impression that this show was a cop procedural, and passed it up for some time as a result. I'm actually grateful for that initial misunderstanding, because "The Wire" could knock me out that much harder. It is one of the angriest, most loving and most unafraid ... Read More
Rating: 
- Standard falls off just a bit in this final season
This final season of this brilliant series fails to match the heights of the previous years. It's still riveting TV but for the first time I felt as if the plot was becoming a little unrealistic.
I don't want to play the spoiler here so I won't reveal which aspect of the story I felt was far-fetched. But it was pretty central to the action.
Having said that, we do get a penetrating and withering look at the newspaper industry that as a journalist I can attest is all too accurate.
At ... Read More
- wasnt as describedthe case was pratically destryed when i recieved it. it was a gift for someone and when i saw the case i had to find another gift. i was very disappointed. will never purchase from then again.
- One of the last great series....Spot-on in every aspect and right up there with The Sopranos when you talk about the best of the best - just make sure you have seen the first four seasons before you watch - it is so good you can't afford to miss a beat. And for the die hard fans you will get cameos and small roles from many of your favorite characters of seasons past - a celebration of sorts - and a great ending to a truly special show.
- The WireTotally addictive. Easily the best crime series created. Wondrous scripts, acting, music, all set in the fantastic atmosphere of Baltimore. Subtle, yet in your face. Watching it a second time, makes you want to go back and enjoy again..way down in the hole.
- I never thought I'd see the Great American Novel of my time......It just turned out to be a visual one.
Like many people, I came to "The Wire" sideways through the HBO name, after they built credibility with me through "Six Feet Under", "Rome" and other programs. I was, however, under the impression that this show was a cop procedural, and passed it up for some time as a result. I'm actually grateful for that initial misunderstanding, because "The Wire" could knock me out that much harder. It is one of the angriest, most loving and most unafraid ... Read More
- Standard falls off just a bit in this final seasonThis final season of this brilliant series fails to match the heights of the previous years. It's still riveting TV but for the first time I felt as if the plot was becoming a little unrealistic.
I don't want to play the spoiler here so I won't reveal which aspect of the story I felt was far-fetched. But it was pretty central to the action.
Having said that, we do get a penetrating and withering look at the newspaper industry that as a journalist I can attest is all too accurate.
At ... Read More
