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Blu-Ray : Highly Recommended
Ranking:
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Release Date: October 16th, 2012 Movie Release Year: 2012

Mad Men: Season Five

Overview -

What you are, what you want, what you love doesn't matter. It's all about how you sell it. Mad Men delves into the lives, loves and ambitions of a group of ruthlessly competitive men and women working in a 1960s advertising agency. Set on and around Madison Avenue - home of New York's ad agencies at the time, and the "Mad" of the title - the series was created by Sopranos writer Matthew Weiner and has gained rave reviews in the US. The series revolves around the complicated world of Don Draper, the biggest ad man (and ladies' man) in the business, and his colleagues at the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. As Don makes the plays in the boardroom and the bedroom, he struggles to stay a step ahead of the rapidly changing times and the young executives nipping at his heels.

OVERALL:
Highly Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
3-Disc Set
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
611
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.78:1
Audio Formats:
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
English SDH
Special Features:
Mad Men Easter Eggs
Release Date:
October 16th, 2012

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

One of the many reasons that 'Mad Men' is such a superlative bit of television is the way the series remains unafraid of change, even while looking directly into the frightening permanence of it all. After spending 2011 without a single new episode, due to a dispute between AMC and the series' creator, Matthew Weiner, season 5 returns with Don Draper by introducing us to 1966 and all the changes that year will intrinsically bring to the series.

And it's clear from the start; things inside and out of the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce are in the midst of a titanic shift. The world is changing; there is civil unrest and a growing cultural rejection of the very materialism that not only drives SCDP, but Don Draper (Jon Hamm) as well. New York is in decay; a toxic fog hangs over the city on Thanksgiving Day, but more than that there is an undetectable poison in the air creeping into the lives and homes of all the various faces that comprise 'Mad Men.' It is a season of sinister portent, but one that the audience remains only peripherally aware of until the 'The Phantom' tells them exactly what all the implications have been about.

The season kicks off with the fantastic two-part premiere, 'A Little Kiss,' where Don's new wife, Megan (Jessica Paré) Zou Bisou Bisou's her way into the hearts of the audience and inadvertently grants the denizens of SCDP access into the Draper home – and by extension, their lives. It is an invasion. What starts as an innocuous surprise party is actually the beginning of the toxic smog and poison that permeates the season, and, as a result creates this obsession with the ominous that will soon become tragically real.

The series always wants to move forward, so after the shock of Don's proposal to Megan at the end of season 4, 'Mad Men' returned with a nearly unrecognizable Don to go along with his new wife. Don is happy. Moreover, Don is happy being married, and happy controlling Megan's life, whether he's aware of it or not. The work that used to drive him and define him no longer captivates him as it did before. And as a result, things at SCDP have changed; Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) has risen to prominence. The trouble is, no one, but Pete, seems to have noticed. While Don was on "love leave," as Bert Cooper (Robert Morse) will tell him in 'Far Away Places,' Pete's been bringing in all the business, leaving Roger Sterling (John Slattery) with nothing to do but pull obscene sums of money from his pocket as his only means of getting things done.

Don's happy home life, Roger's lack of work, and Pete's sudden authority mean SCDP has finally arrived. This is their moment; they're finally successful. However, as Lane Pryce continually points out all season long, the firm is waiting to reap the actual benefits of all the success with real money. It's success with nothing to show for it. And from that comes a conflict, a lack of knowledge of what to do, and where to go from there. Pete is stuck in the quiet melancholy of a lifelong Manhattanite who suddenly finds himself relocated to the 'burbs. His life is eerily reminiscent of Don's, and, in many ways, the two find themselves domestically transposed. Pete has everything, and is still unhappy. He finds a beautiful woman who is not his wife and makes love to her, only to have her submit to the blissful amnesia that follows electroshock therapy. Megan, too, finds that having everything can lead to a malaise that only leads to more wanting. After making Don so happy at home, and finding she's actually good at advertising, her father selfishly reminds her of the dreams she's given up in the memorable 'At the Codfish Ball' – and though she has a knack for it – as perhaps she does everything – Megan ultimately rejects Don's profession, and by extension, Don as well. But with that rejection comes the return of the real Don Draper, under the theme for 'You Only Live Twice' – which, if you're Don Draper, is twice as sweet.

It is a powerful season that is wholly unlike those that have come before it. Things have changed – as they rarely do in television life – and Matthew Weiner, along with this very talented writing staff, which includes Jonathan Igla, Erin Levy and Semi Chellas, have managed to craft a set of stories that hint at the unknown anxiety and uncertainty of a world that finds itself in the midst of change. It is very much about the impermanence of everything: success, love, happiness and even life. But it manages to tell a story bursting at the seams with the presence of ruin and refuse to make it overly melancholy. Yes, Lane Pryce (Jared Harris) was lost in a horrible combination of circumstance and the infernal machine that is SCDP. Yes, everything was awash in filth, like the trash-filled gutters lining the streets of New York City. Yes, Don envisions he's rotting on the inside, but there's reason to hope: Peggy (Elisabeth Moss), after all, managed to escape and find herself in pursuit of her passion far beyond the whims of Don Draper and his negative influence.

There's success, and then there's 'Mad Men' success. It's the conflict of achievement in a time when such things came to mean something different to those just starting out. In the end, perhaps the season is asking: What good is having everything if you can't enjoy other people's envy of it?

Video Review

Ranking:

'Mad Men' has often been praised for its cinematic qualities, which are on display in the series' set decoration, period specific styles and wardrobes, and, of course, in its rather sumptuous cinematography. This Blu-ray release would be remiss if it were to somehow neglect the time and effort that goes into making this series look as good as it does, but thankfully, Lionsgate has pulled out all the stops with a 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer that is as good as the four previous season releases.

Everything here is as solid as it can be. Detail is exemplary; there's not a scene that goes by that isn't rich with texture or other elements of the image – significant or otherwise. Everything from the pattern on Lane Pryce's tie to the snow gently cascading outside Don Draper's office window is captured and presented with delicate precision. Black levels are strong, with good shadow delineation that produces deep, rich shadows with plenty of fine detail in all low-light scenes. Meanwhile, contrast levels remain high, which is remarkable given the amount of scenes that take place in white offices with manufactured daylight streaming in. To that end, the image is strong across the grayscale, with strong blacks and whites that pop, but never bloom or radiate too strong over the image.

Color is represented incredibly well, especially considering the changing wardrobes and styles of the '60s. Here the bright, vibrant colors often seen in the women's clothing are as strong and evenly saturated as the men's more muted tones of browns, grays and blacks. Like the series, the transfer here works to maintain a level of reality that prevents the often-audacious clothing choices from looking like the actors are simply wearing costumes. On a related note, flesh tones are rendered beautifully, capturing everything from the sweaty brow of a feverish Don Draper to the flushed cheeks of Megan and Sally just in from the walking the winter streets of Manhattan.

All around, this is the visual treat that Matthew Weiner and his production team work so hard to craft, and the Blu-ray has done a fantastic job in representing their effort.

Audio Review

Ranking:

Adding to the cinematic quality of the series is the fantastic musical score from composer David Carbonara and his team. It's hard to imagine a television series that is as synonymous with a sound as it is with its visual style. So many television series (and films, really) rely so heavily on musical selections from popular music that all but the biggest composers are nearly forgotten. Thankfully, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track perfectly recreates Mr. Carbonara's incredible score, providing one of the best listening experiences short of seeing the music performed live.

From the opening title track that has become so ingrained in the public's consciousness, and so indicative of the series as a whole, to the song selection that typically plays over the episode's end credits, it all sounds rich and wonderfully calibrated.

Naturally, this is a dialogue driven show, so the focus should be on the characters themselves. Here, dialogue is handled primarily through the center channel speaker, but occasionally – like in the party that takes place during the season premiere, 'A Little Kiss' – dialogue is extended to the front right and left, as well as the rear channels, to help immerse the viewer in the din of an excited, and exceedingly inebriated birthday party. The same can be said for the ambience of any setting where additional sounds like ringing phones, dinner conversation or the hum of traffic, can help increase the level of engagement for the audience.

Moreover, balance between the score and dialogue is perfectly calibrated, allowing Carbonara's somber or excited tones to slowly creep up, or instantly excite the audience as need be. Meanwhile, as the series scored something of a major coup in being granted the license to the Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows' for use in the episode 'Lady Lazarus,' the track sounds rather fantastic here – even though Don turns it off.

'Mad Men' season 5 has been given extra attention in the sound department here and it shows. This is a superlative sound effort that enhances a very strong season of the series.

Special Features

Ranking:

The special features on 'Mad Men' season 5 are extensive, to say the least. Each disc comes with some intriguing behind-the-scenes looks, as well as some truly insightful extras that not only delve into the complexities and often overlooked aspects of the series, but also offers a more intimate glimpse at the period in which the series takes place, and where so much of the rich storytelling is derived. Adding to the scope of the special features is the fact that 'Mad Men' creator and showrunner, Matthew Weiner, appears on a commentary track for each of the 13 episodes of season 5 – in addition to other commentaries, featuring members of the writing staff, directors, as well as various actors and even composer David Carbonara. With 26 commentaries total, 'Mad Men' season 5 goes on and beyond what would be expected of a television series release on Blu-ray, but some of the additional features included here are a surprise and truly offer a more compelling viewing experience.

Disc 1:

  • 'A Little Kiss' Part 1 & Part 2 – Commentary by Matthew Weiner and director Jennifer Geitzinger. Additional commentary by Jon Hamm and Jessica Paré.
  • 'Tea Leaves' – Commentary by Matthew Weiner, Jon Hamm and writer Erin Levy. Additional commentary by January Jones and Christpher Stanley.
  • 'Mystery Date' – Commentary by Matthew Weiner and writer Victor Levin. Additional commentary by Christina Hendricks and Jay Ferguson.
  • 'Signal 30' – Commentary by Matthew Weiner and John Slattery. Additional commentary by Vincent Kartheiser and Aaron Staton.
  • Mad Men Say the Darndest Things (HD, 17min.) – A collection of stories and anecdotes by the producers and writers about working on the series, as well as their thoughts on the individual characters, which are interspersed with some of their greatest verbal hits.

Disc 2:

  • 'Far Away Places' – Commentary by director Scott Hornbacher and Dan Bishop. Additional commentary by Matthew Weiner, Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss and John Slattery.
  • 'At the Codfish Ball' – Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Jonathan Igla. Additional commentary by Janie Bryant, David Carbonara and Kiernan Shipka.
  • 'Lady Lazarus' – Commentary by Matthew Weiner and director Phil Abraham. Additional commentary by Vincent Kartheiser, Elisabeth Moss and Alexis Bledel.
  • 'Dark Shadows' – Commentary by Matthew Weiner and writer Erin Levy. Additional commentary by Kiernan Shipka, Ben Feldman and Jessica Paré.
  • What Shall I Love if Not the Enigma? (HD, 17min) A look into the metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico, as the inspiration for the enigmatic 'Mad Men' season 5 poster that had everyone rushing to analyze its meaning prior to the season premiere. The compelling extra features Emily Braun, Professor of 20th century European and American Art at Hunter College and Ara Merjian, Assistant Professor of Italian Studies and Art History at New York University. The two discuss de Chirico's work and the way 'Mad Men' mirrors many of the common themes seen in the artist's paintings.
  • The Party of the Century (HD, 23 min.) – An in-depth look at Truman Capote's Black & White Masquerade Ball, which was held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in 1966. Discussing the event is author Deborah Davis, who wroter 'Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black & White Ball,' and famed bandleader Peter Duchins, who was a friend of Capote's and performed at the infamous ball.
  • Scoring Mad Men: Themes of Season 5 (HD, 28min.) – An explanation into the various musical themes at work in the incredible score of 'Mad Men.' This comprehensive look into the series' score features an interview with 'Mad Men' composer David Carbonara.

Disc 3:

  • 'Christmas Waltz' – Commentary by Matthew Weiner and director Michael Uppendahl. Additonal commentary by Rich Sommer, Michael Gladis and Jared Harris.
  • 'The Other Woman' – Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Semi Chellas. Additional commentary by Jon Hamm, Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss.
  • 'Commissions and Fees' – Commentary by Matthew Weiner and writers Andre and Maria Jacquemetton. Additional commentary by Christopher Manley and Jared Harris.
  • 'The Phantom' –Commentary by Matthew Weiner and Jonathan Igla. Additional commentary by Jessica Paré and Julia Ormond.
  • Scoring Mad Men: Inside a Session (HD, 21 min.) – Another glimpse inside the music of 'Mad Men,' with composer David Carbonara, music editor Jenny Barak, orchestrator Geoff Stradling and sound engineer James T. Hill.
  • The Uniform Time Act of 1966 (HD, 5min) – A read-along slideshow that goes into detail on the invention and subsequent struggles to implement Daylight Savings Time.
  • Newsweek Magazine Digital Gallery (HD) – A digital collection of the covers of Newsweek throughout the year of 1966.

Final Thoughts

Sure, it may have lost its chance to claim Emmy history because of that upstart Showtime series 'Homeland,' but 'Mad Men' still reigns supreme as what may be the finest piece of television ever crafted. That is a bold statement that will likely have plenty of readers up in arms, but the series simply excels at everything from writing and directing, to displaying a whole host of incredibly distinct and powerful performances. Season 5 may not be the typical 'Mad Men' season, but it is unforgettable in nearly every way. Added to the fact that this is yet another fantastic release from Lionsgate, and 'Mad Men' season 5 simply comes off as a must own Blu-ray for your collection.