Product Description

See the shows that were cancelled before their time as the Brilliant But Cancelled(r) collection presents EZ Streets. Critics deemed this gritty urban crime drama as "simply too good for TV," and The New York Times hailed it "one of the season's exciting new series." Journey to the criminal underworld with three fiercely independent men: Jimmy Murtha (Joe Pantoliano, The Sopranos), a charming but ruthless mob boss who rules the E Street gang by whatever means necessary; Detective Cameron Quinn (Ken Olin, thirtysomething), an undercover cop determined to find the truth no matter where it takes him; and ex-con Danny Rooney (Jason Gedrick, Boomtown), a recent parolee who finds himself unwillingly drawn back into a life of crime. As the story unfolds from each of their perspectives, this innovative series from director Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby) proves that on the shadowy streets of compromise there's only one way to survive: trust no one.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #68246 in DVD
• Brand: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.
• Released on: 2006-05-23
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 182 minutes

Amazon.com
The difference between right and wrong isn't easily distinguishable on EZ Streets, a compelling and sophisticated crime drama that lasted just one season on CBS. As a former cop tells his son, "You can only be betrayed by the people you trust." Ken Olin stars as Detective Cameron Quinn. After his partner is gunned down with $10,000 missing, both of them are pegged as dirty cops. To clear his partner's name, Quinn infiltrates a crime gang led by the charismatic Jimmy Murtha (Joe Pantoliano), whose inner circle includes a masochistic lawyer/girlfriend (Debrah Farentino) and a conflicted recent parolee (Jason Gedrick) who had served time for Murtha's crime. Created, written, and produced by Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby), EZ Streets evokes a similar melancholy feel as The Sopranos, which it predates by three years. Thanks to the Brilliant But Cancelled series, fans get to see why this show was so critically acclaimed in its 1996 debut. If there's a fault to this DVD, which includes the pilot and two other episodes, it's that the viewer ends up frustrated with just a three-episode taste rather than the full-season meal. --Jae-Ha Kim

Customer Reviews

5 stars without hesitation if it were the complete series, but just a handful of episodes? Boo...
EZ Streets is one of the very best TV shows most people have never seen. Great writing, great casting, great story, great scoring, great critical raves. Great god, what must the network have been thinking to have cancelled it after barely putting it on in the first place. Well EZ Streets creator Paul Haggis finally found the acclaim this show should have won him from the masses when he wrote the screenplay for "Million Dollar Baby" and then wrote and directed this year's "Crash". That's not much recompense to those of us who loved THIS show, though.

So why just three stars? Because this isn't the entire series. This is just 5 episodes. It's not even clear WHICH 5 episodes. This not "Volume 1" or anything, so I'm guessing this is all you're gonna get, and that's just not enough. Especially since there were only 8 episodes aired (one the two hour pilot) AND (are you listening boys and girls?) a 9th episode ("Neither Have I Wings to Fly") which was NEVER AIRED in the US...No love for those of us who loved this show in it's much too brief time?

Great show, but something is missing on this dvd
This was a great show that CBS messed with and then cancelled way too early. It was on in October, and it was off. It was on in March, and it was off. It was on in April, etc. CBS didn't even show the last episode, instead replacing it with an episode of Walker Texas Ranger at the last minute. At first I was glad to see it coming out on dvd and ordered it right away. Much to my chagrin though, I then saw that it only had 3 or 4 episodes instead of the whole 10. Bravo, come on, release the entire series. Don't cancel the Brilliant but Cancelled series by only releasing a few episodes.
Excited, and then disappointed, Mr.Pibb in Michigan

Disappointed
I really, really liked this series, and wouldn't even watch CBS for quite a while afterwards because they kept on cancelling great shows (every show that was any good, they cancelled). I was really excited to see it came out on DVD, pre-ordered it, and was looking forward to seeing the series again, especially the unaired episode. I guess they knew if they mentioned that is was only a handful of episodes, not as many people would buy it.

For those interested in purchasing it, the episodes included are:

EZ Streets Pilot
Every Dog has its Day
One Acquainted with the Night

The case lists the running time as 3 hours, 2 minutes (way too little for a show this good!)

This is the last time I will pre-order from the "Brilliant but Cancelled" series, unless, of course, they are up front about how little they are really offering. I guess the only way it's safe to buy anything from their series is to wait and see what's missing - which will evidently only be available from reviews that people make after they buy it and are disappointed.