From Acorn Media, comes "Chancer," the debut from
one of my favorite actors of the last ten years,
Clive Owen. Also, it's the first time this British
series is available on DVD in the US, and not an
import. When I was given the chance to review Owen's
debut, I jumped at the chance, because Owen really
can turn almost anything into something worth
watching. "Chancer," which lasted two series, is
admittedly dated, premiering in the early nineties,
but one reason why "Chancer" deserves a shot, is
because of Owen who really does take the lead
character into new levels.
Owen's performance here is as intense as ever,
and the series chronicles the young Stephen Crane's,
a man who is a stock broker and loves to live on the
edge to fight the monotony of his every day life.
This every day life of his is comprised of a
beautiful girlfriend, a high paying job, a wonderful
car, a beautiful house, and being generally good
looking (If only monotony were really like that).
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| A brief stint
of insider trading has cost him his job, and now
he's signed on to help an ailing car
manufacturer that's mysterious burst into
flames. "Chancer"
is a lively series with the usual great
performance from Owen, as the risk taker Crane
who uses his knack for adventure to help out
those in need of his services. And of course
there's his former boss looking to overthrow the
car firm and use it for his own benefit that he
must contend with. Though lacking in extras, "Chancer"
is a good enough set for anyone looking to
explore something we never get in the states.
This is Clive Owen's debut, and, fans be
advised, it's a great debut indeed. A great
score, sleek direction, and well written
characters make this a series that deserves to
be explored. The plot thickens
episode by episode as Crane swoops in for the
ailing motor distributor and decides to
completely redo the entire system by which they
function, interrupted by very charming and
entertaining moments between he and his
girlfriend Jo. But his ex boss is also anxious
to take the motor company for himself, and the
war ensues. It's a shame I couldn't see the
entire series of "Chancer," because series one
really does take off from the first episode. But
for those interested, "Chancer" and the first
series is a very good display of Owen's talents
that would propel him into stardom, and the use
they served for a compelling drama such as this.
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Felix Vasquez Jr.
5/30/07 |
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