Rake-Complete Second Series (2010)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy Drama	Main Menu Audio Interviews-Character Featurette-Making Of Outtakes
Rating
Year Of Production	2010
Running Time	462
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Multi Disc Set (3)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Peter Duncan Jessica Hobbs Jeffrey Walker Rachel Ward
Studio Distributor	ABC Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Richard Roxburgh Toni Collette Matt Day
Case	Slip Case
RPI	?	Music	Michael Lira David McCormack Antony Partos

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Australian television has been improving over the last few years especially the quality of shows coming out of the ABC after changes a few years ago. One example of this is the marvellous comedy drama series, Rake. Rake has been running for two seasons now (the second is included in this three disc set) but has been renewed by the ABC for a third season (and hopefully more). The series was the brainchild of star Richard Roxburgh, writer Peter Duncan and inspiration, lawyer Charles Waterstreet. They are credited as the creators of the concept.

    In this context the word rake refers to a dissolute man in fashionable society, which is an excellent description of the main character, Cleaver Green (Richard Roxburgh). The character is loosely based on the well known lawyer and man about town Charles Waterstreet. Cleaver is a highly skilled criminal barrister who defends all sorts of people, many of whom are guilty as charged. His life style is a miasma of prostitutes, gambling, associating with criminals, political corruption, drink and drugs. He has loyal friends but also many people who are either annoyed with him, angry with him or want to hurt him. His friends include Barney Meagher (Russell Dykstra), a solicitor who briefs him for a lot of his cases, Wendy (Caroline Brazier), his ex-wife, Missy Partridge (Adrienne Pickering), a former prostitute and now successful author and his long-suffering secretary, Nicole (Kate Box). Those who somewhere in the spectrum of enemies include the NSW Police Minister & Attorney General, Cal McGregor (Damien Garvey), the Opposition Spokesman for many portfolios, 'Harry Sorry' David Potter (Matt Day) plus a variety of others who sometimes switch from one camp to the other. At the start of this season Cleaver is heavily involved in an affair with the Premier of NSW, Claudia McGregor (Toni Collette) who is also the wife of Cal. Needless to say this gets him into some pretty serious trouble.

    Each episode covers one legal case as well as continuing the storylines of the major characters and their relationships. This series includes 8 episodes, each of just under an hour. It probably even improves on the excellent first series bringing more depth to the characters (even Cleaver) and having more variety in the cases. This show is a great combination of amusing dialogue, interesting cases and drama. It is very engaging and highly entertaining. Roxburgh is marvellous as Cleaver Green, funny, emotional, superbly raffish and shambling from one disaster to the next in his personal life. The three disc set is nicely packaged in a three disc case along with a cardboard slipcover.

    This is great Australian television. Highly recommended!

Video

    The video quality is very good.

    The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

    The picture was quite clear and sharp throughout.The shadow detail was very good.

    The colour was generally good but a little dull at times, possibly on purpose.

    There was some motion blur but no other noticeable artefacts.

    There are subtitles in English for the Hearing Impaired which are clear and easy to read.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio quality is very good.

    This set contains an English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 2.0.

    Dialogue was mostly clear and easy to hear and understand, although the subtitles were useful at times. The soundtrack displayed some good front separation.

    The music sounds great and is a big part of the show's jaunty atmosphere.

    The surround speakers and subwoofer were not used.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu included music.

Mockumentary (5:09)

    A mock interview of Cleaver Green by the ABC. Some amusing material but quite often the questions are not included so it is a little confusing.

Interviews with The Creators (16:46)

    Basically a making of featurette including interviews with Richard Roxburgh & Peter Duncan along with other cast & crew. Covers characters, development of the series and changes in Series 2.

Blooper Reel (7:42)

    A funny blooper reel (which is different to most).

    This set does not seem to be available outside of Region 4.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is very good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall