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TV show review: CONTINUUM season 4
PHOTOGRAPHY

36TH PRECINCT (aka 36)

DVD Review by David Blackwell        

 

DETAILS:   111 minutes, making of documentary, director interview, costume tests, weapons featurette, trailers

VIDEO:  2.35:1 (Anaorphic Widescreen)

AUDIO:  French 5.1, English 2.0 Dolby Digital

Subtitles:  English

 

STUDIO:  Palisades Tartan/ Gaumont

RELEASE DATE:  6-14-2011

36 is a Shakespearean cop thriller.  It chronicles the ruthless competition between two lieutenants in the French police.   Vrinks is the head of the Mob squad where Klein is the head of Homicide.   They are told whomever stops a gang of dangerous armed robbers will be the next Chief of Police.   One of them falls while the other will rise.  

 

36 is the second film from a former French cop.   It is partially autobiographical as the director pulls from his own experiences and current events in the French police.    It is interesting to see how the cops are so different where they become more alike as the film goes on.   Klein wants power and it is fueled by his own arrogance (and his lust for power) while Vrinks has methods that wouldn't fit in today's police environment.   People despise Klein as the mob Squad loves Vrinks.      It is a gripping drama that ultimately is about Vrinks journey as a character.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

THE REAL 36 is mostly a behind-the-scenes between takes of filming 36

The featurettes on the Actor's Costume Tests and The Choice of Weapons are more interesting and delve into the choices the director makes on how he sees the characters as written in his script.  

 

Also included are the theatrical trailer and teaser for 36 in addition to trailers for other Tartan releases.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:   36 is a solid tragic cop drama that reminds me a little of Shakespeare in it's broad strokes.   I wish an audio commentary was included for this film.

 

this DVD review is (c)8-16-2011 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com