Blue Murder

In July 2001 the ABC’s critically acclaimed drama Blue Murder finally screened in NSW and the ACT - more than six years after its debut in other states. It was delayed from screening (in 1995) when infamous Sydney crime boss and central character Neddy Smith was charged with seven 1980’s murders. Given the green light (now that all charges have been dealt with by the courts), we are finally presented with this magnificent piece of Australian drama on DVD.

"Whataya think about the Green Light eh? -- Yeah, pretty bloody good mate, how many other blokes got it? -- No-one mate. We shot all the others. "

Billed by the ABC as the most controversial drama series ever made in Australia, Blue Murder colourfully re-creates Sydney's criminal underworld and endemic police corruption of the 1980s. Beginning with Neddy Smith's first forays into armed robbery, it charts his gradual acceptance into a circle of corrupt police officers led by legendary detective Roger (‘the Dodger’) Rogerson; culminating in the shooting of policeman Michael Drury and the crumbling of Rogerson's empire in the late 80's.

Writer Ian David based the script on interviews and two books: ‘Neddy’ by Arthur Stanley Smith and Tom Noble, and ‘Line of Fire’, the biography of Michael Drury by Darren Goodsir. Although the story is supported by some key historical facts, much of the plot has been drawn from hearsay or is just plain fiction. This has led to vocal criticism from those portrayed. Smith in particular has voiced considerable anger over the series, claiming it "is not a bad movie as a drama, but it's all bullshit". Indeed, of the murders to which the series attributes Smith, of one he has been acquitted, and of another he was never charged.

A true portrayal of the facts or not, it all makes for riveting television.

Directed by Michael Jenkins, Blue Murder was a fore-runner to his critically acclaimed ABC series Wildside. As in Wildside, Jenkins manages to instil a brutal honesty into his characters. These are normal people, the kind you pass in the street every day, who are involved in extraordinary activities. Jenkins allows them to mumble, to swear, to be real. Suffice to say this is not family viewing by a long shot, but the realism adds to the believability, and at the same time the horror, of the proceedings. And the authentic Sydney locations definitely help, with the series capturing the grimy, even sleazy streets of inner Sydney.

For anyone living in NSW at the time - those who saw the news bulletins, the current affairs interviews with Rogerson and Smith, those who remember the much publicised death of Sallyanne Huckstep, it all rings so true that it’s scary.

The series features an ensemble Australian cast including Richard Roxburgh as Dt Sgt Roger Rogerson, Tony Martin as Neddy Smith and Steve Bastoni as Michael Drury, with Gary Sweet, Alex Dimitriades, Peter Phelps, Marcus Graham and Bill Hunter. Not surprisingly, as Rogerson and Smith Richard Roxburgh and Tony Martin are fantastic in the lead roles. They are as close to the real thing as you could hope to get. Amazingly, Gary Sweet also earns high praise as hitman Christopher Dale ‘Rent-a-Kill’ Flannery. Who’d have thought Sweet could spit forth such uncontrolled fury.

It is in the video department that Blue Murder's full-frame presentation is a real let down. Like most other DVD releases of produced-for-television content, the image suffers greatly from film grain. However, Blue Murder is easily the worst case of this that I have ever seen. Very disappointing.

Still, on the positive side the print used is very clean (most probably transferred to video very early on in the production process), and no MPEG artefacts are evident, although they may be masked to some extent by the grain.

Despite the series' intentionally drab and gritty look (adding nicely to its dark mood), colours are bright and well-balanced when they occur (for example on Sydney Harbour), and flesh tones are reproduced well. Although black level is good, shadow detail suffers as a result of the ever present grain.

The layer change was not evident, and is most probably placed between the two episodes.

Although not the best image, the content does manage to shine through.

Made for television, and not remixed for DVD, Blue Murder has only one soundtrack - Dolby Digital Stereo. Of course this is not a big budget production, so there is no depth of effects on display here, what we get are a few stereo effects (like panning) and that’s about it. Most importantly, the dialogue is clear and distinct. The score kicks in every now and again, typically at the end of a chapter, but is used minimally – the director opting for a more documentary feel to proceedings. All in all, the soundtrack is fairly unassuming but provides a good compliment to the drama.

The disc features animated menus which display looped footage from the series, and play the theme music behind. Sadly however, this is a bare bones release with no extras of any kind. This is a real shame given the controversy that has raged over the content - and the mountains of extra material that it has generated. Like other drama based on real-life events, (for example Chopper), the possibilities were enormous. Oh well.

Forget NYPD Blue, forget Blue Heelers (sic), even forget The Bill, Blue Murder feels about as real as police drama can get. Instilled with vicious black humour, it’s funny, it’s violent, it’s disturbing, and quite simply, it’s superb. This is a series that keeps you glued to every scene, even every word. I cannot recommend it highly enough. The transfer itself is pretty average to look at, and the disc is crying out for some extras, but this is simply the best Australian release for some time. No question. See it.