Raising the Bar
Raising the Bar
TV-PG | 01 September 2008 (USA)

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SEASON & EPISODES
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  • Reviews
    Lancoor A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action
    Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.
    Claire Dunne One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
    Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
    santasa99 This was the best legal show that Hollywood ever produced, what real courtroom fighting is all about, it was closest to reality that TV show can be. You wont find black & white picture of the life in and around the court in this one, where good guys, relying on "the Law", tough but impartial and objective judge and honest infallible jurors always win, instead you will be hit with reality and dirty nature of the courtroom, procedures, and petty little personal agendas and vanity. You wont see "the Law" as ultimate, unmistakable, perfect, God given, instead you will be presented with sort of law-market where lawyers on the both side of aisle sell and buy, you wont meet knights in shiny armors on "peoples" side, nor on the side of defense, especially not on the bench, but marketeers and traders in a dirty trade we call Law - so, forget the fantasies like Law & Order (although another first grade show), The Practice, LA Law, especially Boston Legal or Fairly Legal, not to mention Ally McBull(sh.t), etc. Stories are mostly simple every day life stories, real and very interesting, the plot solid, acting mostly solid....It's a shame it was canceled ! To me it's a complete mystery why viewers actually rejected it, something so different that breaks every cliché ?! Unbelievable .... 10 of 10
    michael_cure This show is well thought out and succeeds and falters simultaneously in the early episodes, but gets stronger as it continues into the second season. Although the writing and acting are a bit disjointed at moments, the fundamental plots are excellent and very well put together. Most people's expectations of a legal drama will be exceeded. The series touches on many moral and ethical issues that face western societies, particularly the United States. Every episode provokes thought and discussion about issues that do not have simple answers and which the American system of justice is ill-equipped to resolve. The acting and writing are not perfect, and there are cheesy/campy moments, but there are also moments where you can see that the acting and writing could really click. Having been a fan of Boston Legal, the Practice and The Good Wife, I feel very comfortable recommending this series to anyone who enjoys legal drama. The series is more serious than Boston Legal but less fun and sexy; and is more fun and sexy than the Practice but less serious. It also has a distinctly different aesthetic than either of those shows and outcomes are less predictable. The cast is strong and there are many familiar faces from ER. I hope the show continues. Not perfect. Not a 10/10, but it is thoroughly enjoyable.
    bkoganbing The mostly young cast of Raising The Bar and the performances they give will probably interest more young people into going into the law than any other show since Perry Mason. It's also a lot more realistic than Perry Mason.The real test for this show and perhaps it's a bit unfair to compare it with Steven Bochco's last big NYPD Blue in terms of staying power, is to see if the premise carries it beyond the attractive cast. It certainly sustains Law And Order despite cast changes that have completely eliminated the original members now. That's what happened with NYPD Blue, but they did have Dennis Franz to anchor that show.Bochco got his cast from a variety of sources from daytime and nighttime television, in some cases the players have experience in both. There are role models aplenty here.My favorite is Mark-Paul Gosselaar who shed the Zack Morris image in NYPD Blue has now gone on to a different idealistic character in the person of Legal Aid lawyer Jerry Kellerman. There was an episode where his supervisor at the panel criticized him for being unable to watch an injustice being persecuted. Now that's someone I can always admire. Gosselaar as Kellerman is charming, mature, and idealistic and looking a whole lot better since he shed the long hair from the first season.For those who like hard as nails prosecutors, Currie Graham also from NYPD Blue is supervising bureau chief assistant district attorney Nick Baldo. Hard to believe that Jack McCoy and Baldo work for the same office. They think they're doing society a service, but it's also a numbers game with them, to rack up a collection of scalps so to speak. Baldo shows why the Kellermans of the world are really needed.And you have to love Mary Jane Kaczmarek as the tough female judge who's succeeded in what was a male dominated profession. Remember it was only 28 years ago a woman finally made it to the Supreme Court. She's had to be tough to survive. It's also twisted her somewhat, in many ways she's the most complex character on the show.Shows that have as long a run as NYPD Blue are few and far between, but I'm hoping this one has a real long 7 to 8 year run. The scripts are literate and factual and the players make you care about their characters. What's not to like?
    Rene After viewing DVD 1 of Season One, I wanted solid stories with solid acting. What I found left me wanting my time and rental fee back. The story lines are shallow. There is no richness to them. The only solid acting comes from the ER co-stars Reubens and Scarfe, with the right writers they could work it out. Kaczmarek needs better writing or a better vehicle and something done with her hair. Speaking of "hair", Gosselaar needs his hair washed and cut.... oh, the biggie, acting classes (and not the one he is currently in). Zach Morris isn't charming high schoolers anymore.If you want a good show (quality writing and acting) watch "The Practice" on Hulu, check out Boston Legal or LA Law. Or how about Matlock?
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