Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray

Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season

 (TV) (2009)

Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray delivers great video and audio in this overall recommended Blu-ray release
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For more about Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season and the Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray release, see the Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray Review

Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray Review

The divisive sixth season of HBO's divisive series struck me as particularly inspired...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown, July 3, 2010

There are two popular schools of critical thought when it comes to Entourage, HBO's long-running love-it-or-loathe-it Hollywood dramedy. Some find the show's brash humor off-putting, its cocky L.A. upstarts unlikable, and its flash-pan storylines an unequivocal waste of time. Still others consider it to be every bit the smart and savvy industry satire apologists have so emphatically declared it to be. Me? I subscribe to the latter. I'll admit it's easy to see why some viewers have been turned off by Vince and his cohorts' oversexed Tinseltown escapades, especially those who walked away during the show's earlier seasons, years before its sophomoric boys were forced to start growing up. But there's an unmistakable charm -- an infectious rat-a-tat-tat rhythm -- buried deep within creator Doug Ellin's at-times unwieldy romp; a lure that's proven itself irresistible in half-hour doses, and wholly addicting over the course of six years. And am I ever glad I stuck around. Entourage's sixth season rivals its best, propelling everyone but poor, inexplicably famous Vince into new, uncharted territory. As far as I'm concerned, the episodes are sharper, the dialogue funnier, the drama meatier, and the characters' slow but steady development that much more intriguing.

The boys are back in town...

Loosely based on executive producer Mark Wahlberg's misadventures as a rising Hollywood star, Entourage follows breakout leading man Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), best friend and business manager Eric Murphy (Kevin Connolly), older brother and struggling actor Johnny "Drama" Chase (Kevin Dillon), and knighted gopher Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) as they grapple with fame and fortune in the film industry. Lighting the Chase fuse is Ari Gold (a scene-stealing Jeremy Piven), devoted agent, arm-twisting power player, and spittle-flinging rage-oholic. The series' first five seasons saw Vince's promising career explode and implode, much to the dismay of his inner circle. (After making countless millions with a record-breaking, James Cameron-helmed adaptation of Aquaman, Vince nearly lost it all when a passion project called Medellin tanked at the box office and left him in the industry doghouse.) But season six finds Vince rocketing to the top again after his latest project, Gatsby -- a reimagining of "The Great Gatsby" directed by none other than Martin Scorsese -- wins critical acclaim and earns the resurgent star a role in Frank Darabont's next film. (Did I mention an impressive myriad of guest stars pop up in Entourage? But Vince's crew isn't exactly tagging along anymore. Eric leaps into Ari's hyper-competitive world, hoping to become a super agent himself. Drama finally begins to step out of his little brother's shadow, co-starring in a successful series called Five Towns (a far cry from Viking Quest). Even Turtle has come into his own, longing for a more meaningful career and pursuing a more serious relationship, with The Sopranos' Jamie-Lynn Sigler no less.

Over the course of the sixth season's twelve episodes, the series continues to splinter as Ellin invests individual time in each of the boys, as well as Ari and his once-dutiful, now-scorned assistant, Lloyd (Rex Lee, who somehow manages to swipe entire scenes from Piven, a miracle in its own right). Yet Ellin keeps the whole of the show in check, balancing his characters' personal lives, friendships, romantic relationships, career pursuits, and lingering loyalty without losing Entourage's core. Season six hones in on its protagonists' vulnerabilities above all else, leaving them room to grow as individuals and professionals without paving a smooth path for anyone involved. Vince starts to realize he isn't the center of his friends' universes; Eric comes to terms with the fact that he may have taken on more than he can possibly handle; Drama has to decide what he really cares about; Turtle begins to understand that his life can be his own; Ari roots out some of his personal demons, all the while closing in on a lucrative opportunity; and Lloyd shows some backbone, forcing Ari to see a hint of himself in his personal punching bag. That's not to say Entourage tries to take itself too seriously. Funnyman Gary Cole plays a low-rent, self-destructive agent whose career Ari is determined to save, Arrested Development's Jeffrey Tambor returns as Ari's neediest client, Turtle decides to pick a fight with Tom Brady, Jamie-Lynn has to share an awkward on-screen kiss with Drama, Eric tries to woo Bob Saget for his boss, Ari courts Aaron Sorkin and tries to steal Zac Efron from rival agent Adam Davies (Jordan Belfi), and Ari's former mentor (Malcolm McDowell) concocts a plan to sell his business to none other than...

Don't worry, I won't spoil the surprise or the ensuing fun. While some diehard fans were disappointed with the direction Ellin suddenly spun his six-season satire, the groundwork was in place and the storylines that evolved almost inevitable. Though it might be overstating things, Entourage has always focused on the bonds of brotherhood, the bounds of friendship, and the tests of fame and riches. To have the once inseparable boys begin branching off on their own may stretch the series to the point of snapping, but it also makes the characters more convincing. Gone are the Hollywood caricatures who breezed by on good looks and snarky dialogue, replaced by troubled young adults working to prove themselves in a town that sees them as expendable commodities. Make no mistake, Ellin has been dabbling in these themes all along -- steadily applying more pressure until Vince hit rock bottom in seasons four and five -- but his emotional undercurrent is more fully realized this time around. While Vince's growth is still stunted, linked to whatever flighty fling he engages in (a pattern Ellin is set to break in the upcoming seventh season), Eric, Drama, and Turtle expand exponentially, evolving in ways that make the series feel fresh and, well, worthwhile. And the actors do their part, carefully leading their change-resistant characters into uncharted territory while retaining key aspects of the biting humor, quipy comebacks, and defiant outbursts that have defined them from the beginning. Taken as the next step in a longer journey, their sixth season performances click, paying respect to the past and looking forward to the future.

That's not to say there aren't problems. Ari, his wife (a perfectly cast Perrey Reeves), and Lloyd continue to be somewhat more interesting than the series' mainstays; the majority of Entourage's female characters (excluding Mrs. Ari, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and Emmanuelle Chriqui's Sloan) are desperate Hollywood groupies, posessive shrews, or overbearing, man-eating businesswomen (Beverly D'Angelo's Babs and Alexis Dziena's Ashley are incredibly grating additions to the show); and a few cameos fall flat. But for every misfire, a dozen surefire highlights are waiting on the horizon. Piven's season six arc is easily his best, most of the supporting characters earn some serious time to shine, and Matt Damon and Bono score big laughs with one of the most unforgettable guest spots in the show's history (be sure to stick around through the finale credits for one last scene). Even so, Entourage's latest outing will continue to divide fans as readily as the series divides viewers. I thoroughly enjoyed season six; others might not be so lucky.

Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray, Video Quality

 

HBO continues to produce some of the most consistent AV presentations on the market, and the Blu-ray edition of Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season does little to damage that reputation. Armed with a sharp and striking 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer, the series makes its BD debut count, outclassing HBO's HD broadcast and its DVD counterpart. Director of photography Rob Sweeney's sun-sweltered LA palette is brimming with rich colors, punchy primaries, and decently resolved blacks, and Ellin's actors have never looked better. Skintones are surprisingly natural (as are the vast majority of the hues that spring up over the course of season six) and fine detailing is quite good, lending closeups the sort of clarity one might expect from a more grounded drama. Edge definition is nice and crisp, textures are refined, delineation is revealing, and the series' at-times heavy grain field is intact. Softness does creep into the image on occasion, but it shouldn't be attributed to any technical issue with HBO's notably proficient transfer. It all traces back to artistic intent. Moreover, I didn't notice any substantial artifacting, banding, smearing, aberrant noise, or crush. Ringing does affect numerous scenes, and some overzealous processing spoils a few shots (chief among them an oceanside argument between Eric and Sloan in the season finale), but neither issue is intrusive enough to be cause for much concern. Ultimately, while HBO's transfer isn't as slick or shiny as some might be hoping for, longtime series fans will approve.

Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 

The same goes for The Complete Sixth Season's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, yet another solid sonic offering from HBO. Since the very beginning, Ellin has infused Entourage with hard-hitting Hip Hop; aggressive rap anthems that evoke the cutthroat intensity of Hollywood and the arrogance of its rising stars. On Blu-ray, the series' music erupts from the front channels, pairing Ellin's living, breathing vision of LA with each episode's chest-thumping, LFE-driven soundtrack. To that end, the soundscape balances every brisk beat and barking rapper with the revving engines, tantruming starlets, lightning-lipped agents, and chaotic film sets the boys encounter, making for a fairly attention-grabbing experience. Dialogue remains clean and clear throughout, and prioritization is spot on; dynamics are punchy but purposeful, and pans are smooth. The only downside? The track's rear speakers don't exactly engage the listener, leaving the series' passing cars, busy restaurants, and crowded clubs anchored near the front of the soundfield. Still, several elements -- the distant roar of Ari's voice as he closes in on a hapless victim (or the pok pok pok of a paintball gun as it were) springs to mind -- make their way into the rear channels, to effective ends. All in all, HBO's DTS-HD Master Audio track is faithful to the series' sound design and shouldn't disappoint anyone with appropriate expectations.

Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras

 

Like the concurrently released Blu-ray edition of Hung, Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season doesn't flex as much supplemental muscle as it should. That being said, it at least offers a more entertaining trip behind the scenes. First up are three cast and crew Audio Commentaries with creator/executive producer Doug Ellin, executive producer Ally Musika, and actors Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara and Bob Saget. While Saget ducks out and Dillon steps in for the set's third track, the rest of the group is on hand for all three episodes ("No More Drama," "Scared Straight," and "Give a Little Bit"), touching on the development of season six, discussing the ins and outs of the characters and plotlines, dissecting the changes Vince's boys undergo, and dishing a bit of Hollywood dirt along the way. Compliments, playful jabs, and distractions abound -- it seems revealing production insights aren't on the menu -- but the participants' laid back chemistry makes for a trio of fun, fairly engaging chats.

Elsewhere, a palatable season six featurette, "Life on Top" (HD, 15 minutes) avoids every EPK pitfall, digging into the various character arcs and evolutions that grace the latest Entourage episodes. Just beware: it drops a few serious spoilers. "A Day at the Speedway" (HD, 3 minutes) focuses on a single episode -- "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car" -- and delivers a decent overview of the creative process. If only every episode was featured in a similar short. Finally, a fantastic in-character "ONEXONE PSA" with Vince, Ari, and Matt Damon (playing himself, as well as the director of the commercial). Damon brings the goods, an on-set argument erupts, hilarity ensues, and Jeremy Piven kills with a devastating Good Will Hunting reference. I watched it twice.

Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation

 

Reactions to Entourage's sixth season have been mixed, but I couldn't get enough. While the series' writers still seem far too infatuated with Vince's aimless sexual escapades, the rest of the boys -- Turtle, Drama, Eric and, yes, even Ari -- continue to evolve, lending each episode a comic ferocity and snarky intensity unlike anything else on television. The Complete Sixth Season makes for a fine Blu-ray release as well; one that offers an excellent video transfer, a solid DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a decent (albeit easily exhaustible) supplemental package. Even the set's price is primed to please. If you have any affection for Entourage whatsoever, be sure to scoop up the series' Blu-ray debut.

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