Underbelly

[Magpiespower]

Melbourne isn't missing out on much.

Breathtakingly bad, truly embarrassing and cringeworthy.

Lazy, uninspired and derivative - basically Home and Away with guns.

Hack TV at its worst...

[smac]

Did they use the striking writers from the US to write it? Too many Sopranos lyrics for my liking. Even the jubblies on offer were a little 'tired'.

Disappointed. But great to see Les Hill back on TV.

[mal]

Compelling viewing
Only complaint was all those f....g commercials

[Punk Rooster]

MP & smac, can't understand your comments- that's the way it happened! (not that I was there...). The Sopranos is the Home & Away version, Underbelly is based on actual events! (& quite true- the books I've read on this reflect the series as I've seen it).
The Sportsbar brawl in King St happened- known as "The Men In Grey Suits" brawl
All the characters are based on real life people-
Jason Moran (deceased) is the alleged killer of Alphonse Gangitano
Mark Moran (half-brother of Jason, deceased)
Alphonse Gangitano (deceased)
Mario Condello (deceased)
Grame "The Munster" Kinninburgh (deceased) allegedly set Alphonse up (although not for murder, but peace talks)
Mick "The Don" Gatto (alive & well)
Carl Williams (serving 35 years for murder) had a falling out with the Moran's
Lewis Moran (deceased) allegedly murdered as a part of the fall-out with Carl Williams

whereas The Sopranos was typical manufactured American bull5hit- these guys would not even eat The Sopranos for breakfast, as The Sopranos would wet themselves if they got within 500m of them...

The Sopranos is probably more entertaining, as it is designed as entertainment, due to it's fictitious nature.
Underbelly is (as true as anything can get) true crime that actuall happened- 20-30 people were murdered as part of the gangland war, unlike the The SOaP-opeRA-NOS which is fairyfloss

[heater31]

I'm spewing that I missed he first 15 mins of this. but of what I did it was ok they had a tough job of fitting in the events of a few years into one 2 hour episode. IIRC Workman shot in 1995 and Gangitano bumped off in 98?

[Punk Rooster]

I'm spewing that I missed he first 15 mins of this. but of what I did it was ok they had a tough job of fitting in the events of a few years into one 2 hour episode. IIRC Workman shot in 1995 and Gangitano bumped off in 98?

correct.

[JK]

Whilst the acting from some of the lesser light characters was a little on the cringeworthy side at times, I thought the main characters were solid.

I'll be the first to put my hand up and say I was hooked big time last night and like Mal, cursed every 5 minutes (or what seemed like 5 mins) when the bloody ad's kicked in.

[Magpiespower]

MP & smac, can't understand your comments- that's the way it happened! (not that I was there...). The Sopranos is the Home & Away version, Underbelly is based on actual events! (& quite true- the books I've read on this reflect the series as I've seen it)

The Sopranos is probably more entertaining, as it is designed as entertainment, due to it's fictitious nature.
Underbelly is (as true as anything can get) true crime that actuall happened- 20-30 people were murdered as part of the gangland war, unlike the The SOaP-opeRA-NOS which is fairyfloss

PR - like you, I've read all the books and such.

But we're not talking about a documentary of events here.

It's a dramatization of events and as such, Underbelly is amateur hour.

And looking at the talent behind the scenes, it's not surprising - serial offenders from serial television.

Pity Ian David and Michael Jenkins had a falling out because then we would've had something memorable, maybe even as good as their earlier collaborations, including Blue Murder.

If Underbelly was half as good as The Soprano's, it would be worth watching...

[Swooper16]

Thought it was really good (except of course for all the ads - how can they show so many in one program i thought there was broadcasting legislation that prevented that.) You get alot of cringeworthy acting in most australian drams, films from the bit part actors IMO.

Still it has me hooked. how many episodes are there going to be?

[Punk Rooster]

But we're not talking about a documentary of events here.

It's a dramatization of events and as such, Underbelly is amateur hour.

And looking at the talent behind the scenes, it's not surprising - serial offenders from serial television.

If Underbelly was half as good as The Soprano's, it would be worth watching...

of course it's not a documentary- do you think Greg Workman got a director/producer/camera crew together & said "listen, I'm a fair chance of getting shot tonight- follow me around, coz this will start an underworld war..."
so, we have a dramatization- this can be 99.9% true, or .01%.

Apart from bigger budgets & the assumption the yanks do it better, why is the Sopranos worth watching?

The only criticism I had is of the Carl Williams character, who was made to look like an imbecile- we would've got the picture without him acting like he's just recieved a lobotomy...

MP, we'll have to agree to disagree- the fact it's an Australian production based on Australian events is enough to get me hooked, as I don't do yank 5hit...

[Dirko]

It's an Australian production based on Australian events is enough to get me hooked

Well said Punk...support the local content (although I do watch Lost & Prison Break)...

I am hooked for sure, and will be a "must" watch for the week along with Top Gear....
IMO, thought Vince was a great choice for Alphonse, and sent creeps up my spine, but the best part....
seeing Princes Park back on telly
Also I love Lygon Street so was good to see the cafe's & pubs that'd I'd been too (never saw Alphonse though )

[smac]

Yep, the Soporanos was fictional - and carried itself very well under that tag. It was written with mob-speak as the main dialogue. A comparison of Sopranos to H&A is a little OTT, I reckon!

I almost fell off the chair when Detective Hasham from Blue Heelers (forgot the character name already) said "He was a friend of mine", typical of something Tony Soprano or Johnny Sac would say after the loss of an associate. There were other examples the same, it just didn't sit right with me.

Not to say I wasn't entertained in some way by the show, it just didn't meet expectations (or the hype).

[Punk Rooster]

the only problem I will have with the show, is that I know the script already- no surprises for me.

I did find it odd they referred to Carl Williams as a "serial killer".
I would not think that tag would be correct.

[Felch]

All this adds to the story though Smac. These blokes thought they were like the Mafia, thought they were above the law.

I agree, some of their dialogue sounded cheesy, but these guys were living in their own Sopranos-type fantasy world.

Mobsters in tracksuits and mocassins !!! I love it !!!

[Punk Rooster]

All this adds to the story though Smac. These blokes thought they were like the Mafia, thought they were above the law.

I agree, some of their dialogue sounded cheesy, but these guys were living in their own Sopranos-type fantasy world.

Mobsters in tracksuits and mocassins !!! I love it !!!

Felch, these guys did run Melbourne, there was no tough guy "act".
At the same time, these were not Uni Grad's who decide to start hanging around strip clubs & talking out the sides of their mouths.
A lot of these "crims" grew up as bullies or trouble makers, evolving their way to the top- & it's not a case of wrestling each other!
The rewards are there for those who make it to the top, but as you'll see throughout the series, there's a carreer there, but no retirement package- superannuation gets paid directly to you via a gun...

[smac]

I did find it odd they referred to Carl Williams as a "serial killer".
I would not think that tag would be correct.

I thought the same - one of Australias worst serial killers was a little strange.

[Felch]

All this adds to the story though Smac. These blokes thought they were like the Mafia, thought they were above the law.

I agree, some of their dialogue sounded cheesy, but these guys were living in their own Sopranos-type fantasy world.

Mobsters in tracksuits and mocassins !!! I love it !!!

Felch, these guys did run Melbourne, there was no tough guy "act".
At the same time, these were not Uni Grad's who decide to start hanging around strip clubs & talking out the sides of their mouths.
A lot of these "crims" grew up as bullies or trouble makers, evolving their way to the top- & it's not a case of wrestling each other!
The rewards are there for those who make it to the top, but as you'll see throughout the series, there's a carreer there, but no retirement package- superannuation gets paid directly to you via a gun...

Yeah, I do realise they were the real deal. I was more referring to the fact that, at times, they acted like they were in a mobster movie - only with people actually getting killed !!!

[mal]

How dare Channell 9 have so many breaks of Underbelly between thier Commercials.

[heater31]

I almost fell off the chair when Detective Hasham from Blue Heelers (forgot the character name already) said "He was a friend of mine", typical of something Tony Soprano or Johnny Sac would say after the loss of an associate. There were other examples the same, it just didn't sit right with me.

Hasham aka Martin Sacks played Mario Condello and will get to have his time in the sun a little later

[Interceptor]

Melbourne isn't missing out on much.

Breathtakingly bad, truly embarrassing and cringeworthy.

Lazy, uninspired and derivative - basically Home and Away with guns.

Hack TV at its worst...

Christ, out resident critic...
It was NOT that bad. Not great, but reasonably good.
I guess you won't be watching next week.

What was disgraceful was the amount/frequency of the ad breaks.
I'm glad I recorded it with my PVR (hard drive recorder), so I can skip the ads quickly.