WHITE COLLAR: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
(not rated)
MOVIE: **** (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5)
BY KEVIN CARR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Neal Caffrey is the best counterfeiter on the planet, and he’s serving a four-year sentence in federal prison. When FBI agent Peter Burke comes to him for help on a case, they form an unlikely partnership. Caffrey is released on probation with a tracking anklet, allowing him to consult with the FBI on white collar cases. During his release, Caffrey uses his connections to the underground to track several key relationships to his past, all with a slightly comic edge.
WHAT I LIKED
As of late, I have become a big fan of the USA Network original programming. From “Psych” to “Burn Notice,“ that network really has it’s shit together when it comes to making snappy and fun shows. (We’ll give the network a temporary pass on “Royal Pains,” which is irritating to watch but forgivable.)
“White Collar” is another charming show that has some great characters who play infinitely well off each other. Matt Bomer is both charming and affable as Caffrey, and he provides an excellent foil for the stuffy and by-the-book Caffrey, well constructed by Tim DeKay.
Originally, I wasn’t sure that I’d like “White Collar,” but it quickly clicked with me. The stories are neat little mysteries that aren’t always covered in your average police procedural. Ideas like counterfeiting a bottle of wine or stealing an ancient Bible aren’t exactly on the case load for other shows.
The other thing that really works with “White Collar,” as we have seen with other shows, is the use of secondary characters. While Tiffani Thiessen isn’t great in the role of Burke’s wife (though she is mighty purdy), Willie Garson is brilliant as Caffrey’s literal ex-partner in crime. He’s come a long way from the “Sex and the City” days.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
There really anything that bothers me too much on “White Collar.” Sure, it falls into the trap of being too cool or having its thieves able to commit even the most impossible of crimes, but that all works to make the show move forward.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The three-disc Blu-ray comes with audio commentary on more than half of the episodes, several deleted scenes and a pretty hilarious gag reel, which you don’t see all that often. There’s also the featurettes “Pro and Con,” “A Cool Cat in the Hat” and “Nothing But the Truth,” which examine everything from real-life criminals to the casting process for the series.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who like the punchy and clever USA Network original programming.