The Fifth Season

Entourage is a television drama from HBO. The series is about young movie star Vincent Chase, his rise to fame, his friends that are along for the ride, and his agent. The show has been very popular and has been blessed with topnotch writing, excellent acting, and gripping storylines. The show is high quality television. For more details about this show, please refer to DVD Talk's reviews of season one, season two, season three, part 1, season three, part 2, season four, and season five.

Season five is a time of change for Vince and friends. At the end of season four, his career was headed down the toilet after he and Eric did Medellin. The movie was torn apart by critics for bad directing, awful acting, ugly makeup, and just an all around horrible movie-going experience. Vince and Turtle spend their time in Mexico while Eric and Ari try to save Vince's career. Things look better when a high profile producer asks Ari to meet with Vince. It is just what Vince needs to get his career up and running again. As Vince returns to Hollywood for the meeting, he quickly learns it was a ploy to get another actor at a lower rate. This single event marks the state of Vince's career: no one wants him after Medellin and he needs to step up.

As the season continues, Vince's career is on the rocks. He tries to get back in the movie business, but there are many roadblocks for him and his crew to overcome. He is also in financial trouble. There is no money and his accountant recommends he file for bankruptcy. Vince refuses and looks into publicity stunts to make quick cash. Eric finds an amazing script, which Vince wants to do, but Ari is convinced it is not worth anyone's time. Eventually, the script becomes a hot item and everyone in Hollywood wants it... the catch is, they want it without Vince. This script becomes a big deal as Ari battles against the odds to get him in the movie.

The rest of the cast has their own ordeals to go through. Turtle struggles with his identity and role in the crew. With no job or real purpose, he tires to find something to make him feel like he contributes. He even tries being Drama's assistant. Turtle also sparks romance with Jamie Lynn Sigler of The Sopranos. Drama's television show continues to rise in popularity, which he lets go to his head. He also has a failed long-distance relationship and a breakdown on The View. Eric and his only client (besides Vince) get closer to having a television show green-light by a network. Seth Green reprises his role as himself and gets into it with Eric over Sloan (again). Ari is given a shot at his dream job as the head of Warner Bros, which is hard decision for him to make: his clients or more money and power than he knows what to do with.

Overall, Entourage continues to impress in its fifth season. I really liked the direction it went by highlighting the failure of the once successful Vincent Chase. At the same time, it shows several of his crew starting to move on to bigger and better things. Vince really develops as character, maturing, and realizing that he is not invincible. Beyond the tremendously intense season five storylines, the show continues to excel with its awesome cast. The performers are topnotch with their acting, providing both drama and comedy. The writing is also excellent and never fails to amaze with what happens next. In the end, season five is highly recommended.

Episode Guide

1. Fantasy Island: 'Medellin' didn't wow them at Cannes, but it's a shoo-in for Richard Roeper's and Michael Philips' top ten list of the year's worst. Vince has found the perfect solution to his troubles in Mexico.
2. Unlike a Virgin: Vince is reading scripts, determined to find a new project, but everything he likes, Ari informs him, has already gone to Tobey or Leo. There is one script Eric found-'Nine Brave Souls'.
3. The All Out Fall Out: Drama is miserable over his break up with Jacqueline and Vince's accountant Marvin is pressuring him to get a job, any job. The guys head to Shauna for help and she lines up a Sweet Sixteen gig for Vince but when the birthday girl's monster mother insists he sit on a thrown of ice, he refuses and Shauna has to step in and renegotiate the terms. Meanwhile, Ari is thrilled with his anniversary gift from Mrs. Ari.
4. Fire Sale: Eric finds himself in the middle of a bidding war for 'Smokejumpers' when Ari announces he's finally read the script and wants to sell it with Vince attached at the general meetings he's set up. Eric balks, having promised it to Amanda and Ed Norton but Ari reminds him his job is to drive up the price for his clients. Eric steps up, honing his negotiating skills and pissing off Amanda in the process.
5. Tree Trippers: Ari strikes out when he tries to get Alan Gray to green light Vicne as the second lead in 'Smokejumpers', so Ari urges Vince to seriously consider Steve Parles' 'Benji' offer. Vince needs to do some soul searching so Drama suggests they all head out to the place they go for real answers: Joshua Tree.
6. reDOMption: Ari heads to the green to take on Alan Gray in a game of golf, hoping to win Vince the role in 'Smokejumpers'. But Ari realizes he's got his work cut out when he meets Gray's new coach - Phil Michelson - and Gray invites Bob Ryan to join them just to annoy Ari. Meanwhile, Vince convinces Drama to hire Turtle as his new assistant. Just as Eric is about to take his client Charlie to a pilot pitch, Vince gets a call from their old friend Dom, who needs bailing out of jail.
7. Gotta Look Up to Get Down: Vince and the guys show up for his Dolce & Gabbana photo shoot and when sparks fly between Vince and Natasha, everyone notices, including the campaign's mastermind Frederick Lyne. Meanwhile, at Alan Gray's funeral, Ari corners Gray's boss John Ellis to secure Vince's role in 'Smokejumpers' but Ellis has other ideas like hiring Ari as Gray's replacement.
8. First Class Jerk: Turtle gets the one first-class ticket home from Hawaii while the other guys ride coach and befriends Jamie Lynn Sigler. When Drama and the guys ridicule his ability to get with the 'Sopranos' star, Turtle blurts that she got intimate with little Turtle mid-flight but no one believes him. Meanwhile, Ari returns from Geneva but word has leaked he's up for the studio job and the pressure is on to decide.
9. Pie: Vince has first day jitters on the set of 'Smokejumpers' and things only get worse when leading actor Jason Patric steals several of his lines. After wimping out about confronting Jason, Vince goes to the director Verner.
10. Seth Green Day: It's full steam ahead for Eric's new star client Charlie Williams and his TV pilot -- only the studio wants to cast E's arch-nemesis Seth Green. E swallows his pride to talk to Seth, who demands that Eric have his ex girlfriend Sloan call him to ask him to do the show. Meanwhile on the 'Smokejumpers' set, Verner and Vince continue to do battle over Vince's reduced lines and Verner tells Vince he has bad habits as an actor.
11. Play'n with Fire: Turtle gets a late night booty call from Jamie Lynn Sigler and leaves the 'Smokejumpers' cabin at dawn, refusing to tell Vince why. When a post-coital Jamie Lynn wants to take Turtle to her favorite restaurant and spend the day with him, he's in heaven. Back on the set, after 50 takes Verner still doesn't like Vince's performance and when Vince loses his cool, Verner fires him.
12. Return to Queens Blvd: After another late night drowning their sorrows, the guys gather in Vince's mom's kitchen in Queens as she demands to know why her son can't play the lead in Gus Van Sant's latest feature: Page Six says that Joaquin Phoenix dropped out. But when E calls Ari, he informs him Gus isn't a fan; the director even refuses to have Vince audition.

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in widescreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The quality is good and offers a fairly sharp and clean picture. There is a grain and minor compression artifacts. There are also some hints of edge enhancement, but there is nothing that should interfere with your viewing experience.

Audio:
The audio in this release is given in English 5.1 Dolby digital stereo sound. There are also dubbed tracks in French 5.1 and Spanish 2.0. The audio track sounds very good. Dialogue comes off flat and music is rich and vibrant. The release has subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.

Extras:

• Audio Commentaries: are included for episodes "Tree Trippers" with Doug Ellin, Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, Adrian Grenier, and Ally Musika, "Play'n with Fire" with Doug Ellin, Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, Adrian Grenier, and Ally Musika, and "Return to Queens Blvd" with Doug Ellin, Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, and Ally Musika.
• Season/Episode Recaps: Short recaps of seasons 1, 2, 3 (parts 1 & 2), and 4 are included. I always like it when television series include past seasons recaps. It is a good way to get reacquainted with a series after break between seasons. There are also episode previews and previously on. If you don't watch the entire season in one sitting, it is a good way to catch up on what happened or will happen.
• The Celebrity Factor (9:37): is an interview featurette with crew, cast, and guest stars. They focus on the cameo appearances from various season five guest stars, such as Seth Green, Stellan Skarsgard, Giovanni Ribisi, Jamie Lynn Sigler, and others.

Final Thoughts:
Entourage is television series about Vincent Chase, a young rising movie star, and his closest friends. In season five, Vince's career is on the rocks. After making the year's worst movie, no one wants to touch him with a ten foot pole. Vince and friends must be careful in their next move as it could be the end. At the same time, some of the friends find success in their endeavors. This season is a real time of change and growth for the characters. Like past seasons, season five is intense and gripping. It has a great cast with topnotch acting and excellent writing. Fans will not want to miss out on a single moment. It is highly recommended.