Blue Murder

Product Description The best police force money can buy In 1995, BLUE MURDER—the most controversial series ever produced for Australian television—exploded onto TV screens down under with such incendiary force that it was banned from being broadcast in the state where the events took place, New South Wales, for six years. This was due to ongoing legal proceedings involving several key figures depicted in the photoplay. Often referred to as an Aussie Godfather, it was, more accurately, "Goodfellas Down Under" with the goodfellas being the cops. The attempted, bloody murder of a "blue" (insider speak for "cop") is the dramatic lynchpin of this epic of police corruption that follows the booze-riddled, unlikely partnership of decorated copper Roger "The Dodger" Rogerson (Richard Roxburgh) and career criminal Arthur "Neddy" Smith (Tony Martin) after Roger gives Neddy "the green light" to rob, steal and beat his way through Sydney's underworld in the 80's. Directed with gritty realism (many scenes were shot on the actual locations) by one of Australia's most celebrated directors, Mike Jenkins, BLUE MURDER is a landmark Australian drama that has not been bettered on television or on the big screen. Impeccably researched and written by Ian David, the central performance by Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge) is a revelation and won the actor Australia's highest critical accolades. Tony Martin, mesmerizing as Arthur Smith, brings a likeable edge to a truly despicable character and actors Bill Hunter, as top cop Black Angus McDonald (Rogerson's protector) and Steve Bastoni (as straight "blue" Michael Drury) are outstanding. Review "...A brutal and disturbing story—the characters portrayed are sadistic and cold-blooded murderers." -- michaeldvd.com.au "...A no-holds-barred view of police life & culture..." -- australiantelevision.net "...this film. . .is far more exciting and gripping than any shoot-'em-up, rubber-burning cop show..." -- fds.org.au "Forget NYPD Blue... Blue Murder feels about as real as police drama can get. . .quite simply, it’s superb." -- dvd.net.au "The original 'The Shield'." -- Edwin Samuelson, dvdmaniacs.net From the Contributor Director Michael Jenkins on Blue Murder: "The interesting thing about BLUE MURDER is that it doesn't stand on high moral ground looking down," Jenkins stated. "It refuses to judge." This priority was pre-eminent in the mind of the acclaimed director during filming of the mini-series. In his eyes, the result is a raw account of events staying within the confines of three central characters. Jenkins was attracted to BLUE MURDER as much for its dealing with contentious issues as for the characters it depicts. "It depicts events in a microcosm of that world, but doesn't offer up a neat little moral solution hand-in-hand with a condemnation of it," he explained. "I think the characters…are really interesting because they're so extreme and that make more interesting drama." Michael Jenkins praises his extensive cast – "a fantastic group of actors" – who took on the personas of media-created characters and gave them a human dimension. "The actors brought that sense of humanity to each of the characters, so that you develop a fairly full picture of those people," he said. According to Jenkins, BLUE MURDER is raw and unpredictable with "a bit of a rollercoaster feel to it, but its style is undoubtedly dramatic. It is not a documentary. We may depict true events, but the audience can draw their own conclusions," he stated. About the Actor Michael Jenkins – Director Michael Jenkins' directing career spans decades at the forefront of the Australian film and television industry, with film credits including "The Heartbreak Kid", "Emerald City" and "Rebel". His many television credits include "Heartbreak High", "The Leaving of Liverpool", "Police Rescue", "Scales of Justice", "Dirtwater Dynasty", "Bellbird", "Certain Women", "The Gillies Report", "Rush", "Wildside" and "Young Lions".