Rake
Rake
TV-MA | 04 November 2010 (USA)

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SEASON & EPISODES
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  • Reviews
    Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
    Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever
    Cortechba Overrated
    Micah Lloyd Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.
    clareizaguirre Unlike Suits (Which I liked for 1.5 seasons then stopped watching) you won't be yearning for the polished lifestyle or impossible suaveness from this chaotic series. Raw to the bone, our protagonist is clear about his brilliant skills and vices, though never concerned enough to change his pattern of behaviour. In Cleaver Greene we find a scruffy, self-destructive yet well versed anti hero who regularly messes up, finds himself in seedy situations and rather enjoyably, doesn't always get away with it. Complete with a questionable moral compass and unique understanding of the law, Rake is only mostly lovable and only slightly hateable. A truly unique spin on the law/drama/comedy genre Rake isn't for everyone with its controversial, politically incorrect narrative. It is for that reason (other than its individually) that I find its charm. Beautifully unapologetic Rake manages a mix of murder, sex, drugs, prostitution, terrorism, politics and even bestiality within its episodes without you feeling like you need a bath or wanting to change channel.I must say Richard Roxburgh as Rake is impeccably cast. The script too by the combined forces of Peter Duncan, Richard Roxburgh, Charles Waterstreet and Andrew Knight is truly exceptional.Be entertained, amused and even informed as Rake makes you wince, laugh and squirm.
    purrlgurrl Not being Australian and completely unfamiliar with Australian TV, I came to Rake without any expectations or preconceived notions. I find the show is hilarious and mesmerizing at the same time, in no small part due to Roxburgh's performance. He's terrific as a cad with a heart of 14K gold plated brass.In some ways, Rake is reminiscent of, but doesn't imitate, the great Robbie Coltrane series, Cracker, with both lead characters brilliant in their professional lives, yet exasperatingly self-destructive train wrecks once they're off the clock.The show's been Americanized by Fox, starring Greg Kinnear (an actor of whom I'm a big fan), but I'm avoiding the Fox series because I've been told the edge of the Australian original was sanded down for American audiences. But, it's the sharp edge that I enjoy. If you can get your hands on the OZ version of Rake, you ought to watch it. It's really good TV.
    xhidden99 I was thinking how this was an even darker version of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Sure, Cleaver is a pr^ck, a drunk, a user, a misanthrope, misogynist and all around thoroughly corrupt bast^rd but the sad fact is that quite nearly everyone around him is a pathological narcissist who will do literally anything to anyone to suit their own aims. He's an antihero surrounded by utterly self unaware gleeful sociopaths. You can't fault his bitter nihilism in the face of it. From his ex wife to his solicitor to his solicitor's wife to his girlfriends and girlfriends other lovers his crazy bookie to the judges and officials and hacks and clowns they're not even lying to themselves about how shallow and awful are they truly do not know and never will. It's a modern day version of Alexander Pope's "Dunciad"
    kgratton Every once in a (long) while the Australian TV industry can dig up a gem. You're never quite sure which network will produce the next 'East West 101' or 'MDA', but chances are that an intriguing new show will turn up on the government-owned ABC. That is certainly the case with 'Rake', which I understand has been signed off for a third season - and is also the model for an American version to go into production shortly. I wouldn't have bothered writing a review for this series, but felt compelled to respond to remarks from reviewer colbur-1. Many of the actors making cameo appearances in this show are well-known names, as other reviewers have noted, but of the regulars probably only Richard Roxburgh would be well known outside the framework of this series. Regrettably, I don't see any of the "cringeworthy jingoism" or 1960s insularity. This is an immensely entertaining show if you can stand the robust language and moral ambivalence. But even in that context the heroic stature of Matt Day's character serves as a foil to Roxburgh's. The beauty of this series, beyond the wonderful character development, is that the stories overcome that stumbling block of Australian film and TV: mediocre script writing. Being based on reality and frequently drawing on true life situations 'Rake' eases willing suspension of disbelief even as it descends further into the surreal.It's a show that will shock and amuse; it's by no means a typical sitcom, but it's real life, with its flawed villains and cynics - mostly with their redeeming virtues. Even farm girl-turned-mobster and part-time lusty wench Kirsty - played by Robyn Malcolm - has her own reasons for her actions. And if that isn't enough to draw you in to watch this show, I don't know what will.