Place of Execution Review

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(More customer reviews)I watched A Place of Execution on Masterpiece because I had read and loved the book. For the most part, the movie version was well done. There was good casting and great performances throughout. Unfortunately, the script changed too many key elements from the book -- and these changes detracted rather than added to the story. I don't want to go into specific detail about these changes because I'd have to put in too many spoilers in order to describe them. You'll have to read the book and watch the movie for yourself to decide what you think. I suspect if I hadn't read the book first, I might have like the movie more. If you'd like to read my review of the book, it's under the Kindle version of the book (no spoilers).

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On a freezing December night in 1963, 13-year-old Alison Carter took her dog for a walk on the moors in Scardale, a secluded Derbyshire hamlet, and was never seen again. For newly-promoted Detective Inspector George Bennett (Lee Ingleby), his first missing persons case his first chance to prove himself to his new bosses ultimately launched a superstar career. As the entire country watched his investigation, Bennett s obsession with the Carter case turned up enough evidence to see his suspect hanged. But though he was hailed a hero by the people of Scardale, and by his peers, the missing body of Alison Carter left a lingering cloud. It is that cloud that compels controversial filmmaker Catherine Heathcote (Juliet Stevenson) to turn her camera to Bennett more than four decades later. But when the film about this notorious case leads her to something more sinister, Catherine struggles to understand why questions from forty years ago have different answers today. Based on the novel by award-winning author Val McDermid, Place Of Execution is a gripping psychological thriller, told in the present and the past, that blurs the line between reality and illusion.

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Inspector Lewis Series 1 (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)2008's "Inspector Lewis I" features Kevin Whately as Detective Inspector Robbie Lewis, formerly of the Inspector Morse series, now on his own with the Thames Valley police force in a highly enjoyable three part initial series.
Inspector Lewis is paired with young Detective Sergeant James Hathaway (Laurence Fox), working a series of murder cases in and around Oxford University. One case, "Whom The Gods Would Destroy", concerns an almost forgotten student secret society, whose members start dying in an unnatural fashion. As his logical suspects continue to die, Inspector Lewis must play off the surviving members against each other to find the path to a surprising killer. Another case, "Old School Ties", involves a convict turned author who is invited to speak at the Oxford Student Union and ends up murdered, along with one of the students. The suspects include a collection of rather selfish and heartless students, an ex-SAS soldier, and a former love interest of Inspector Lewis. A third case, "Expiation", presents Lewis with the equally unappetizing challenges of two suspicious suicides and a public speaking opportunity.
The cases are presented in a deliberately paced manner, as Inspector Lewis and Sergeant Hathaway get the clues at the same rate as the audience. Lewis and Hathaway methodically eliminate suspects; there are no magical solutions and sometimes the bad guys seem to get there first. Lewis is the crusty, intuitive, and old-fashioned cop; Sergeant Hathaway is the stoic and dutiful subordinate. Some of the fun comes when the cases involve some arcane piece of literature or theology, or the use of modern information technology, on which subjects the well-educated Hathaway is only too eager to help his boss. Lewis must also interact with a female chief inspector not wedded to the old boys network or ways of solving cases. The format nicely mixes suspense, humanity, and humor, and avoids insulting the audience with easy and obvious solutions to the mysteries.
"Inspector Lewis I" is highly recommended to fans of Masterpiece Mystery Theater as a fresh and interesting spinoff from an old favorite.

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Inspector Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately), protégé of the legendary Inspector Morse (John Thaw), and his brilliant new partner, Detective Sergeant James Hathaway (Laurence Fox, Island At War) return to the streets of Cambridge and the halls of Oxford University with three brand new mysteries to unravel.Whom the Gods Would Destroy: When Oxford graduate Dean Greely is found dead near his run-down house-boat, detectives Lewis and Hathaway are thrown into a delicate murder case which implicates one of the University s most prominent figures college Principal Sefton Linn. But as Lewis and Hathaway soon discover, Linn was not always so respectable. As an undergraduate, he was a member of The Sons of the Twice Born, a hedonistic group that aspired to the principals of Dionysus, and who once killed in an attempt to experience the ultimate drug: Adrenochrome, found in the human adrenal gland. Dean Greely was also a member. But just a Lewis is preparing to make an arrest, his prime suspect Linn is also murdered, forcing the team to consider that Greely was not killed to keep past secrets buried, but to fulfill someone s clever and intricately planned revenge fantasy. Now Lewis and Hathaway are in a race to discover the identity of the group s victim twenty years ago before the remaining Sons are killed.Old School Ties: When bright young Jo Gilchrist is found murdered in a hotel room, detectives Lewis and Hathaway are drawn into a case driven by celebrity, scheming and dangerous sexual politics that brings Lewis face to face with his past.The murdered girl is one of three ambitious Oxford students who have invited Nicky Turnbull, a convicted computer hacker turned best-selling celebrity author, to give a lecture at the University Student s Union. But when Turnbull is also killed, Lewis and Hathaway believe Gilchrist s death may have been a mistake. Turning their attention away from the machinations of a loose alliance of driven students, they begin to look at the numerous enemies Turnbull made those he stole money from, those he stole information from, the fellow prisoners whose stories he stole in order to make his book a best seller, and perhaps even his wife Lewis old flame.

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Inspector Lewis Complete Set: Pilot, Series 1 & 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I absolutely love this show! I am one of perhaps a dozen people on the planet who enjoyed watching 'Inspector Morse' more for the character of Sergeant Lewis than for Morse. I am angered, however, by the shameful way 'Lewis' is treated by PBS.
Have you ever watched an episode and wondered 'How did Hathaway know about that film deal?' or 'Why are they suspecting so-and-so all of a sudden?'; not to mention some incongruous, apparently midday, wardrobe changes? I'll tell you why this happens: these DVDs do NOT have the complete version of the episodes; PBS has done a hatchet job on them. They cut even more scenes from the versions they air on Masterpiece Mystery.
The only complete versions are those on the ITV DVDs which you'll need a region-free DVD player to watch. On the bright side, you can get the ITV versions of the pilot and series 1 through 3 (12 episodes) and a Behind-the-Scenes bonus disc for about the same price as incomplete versions of the pilot and series 1 and 2 (11 episodes - what PBS calls series 1-2 includes all the series 1 and 2 episodes and three series 3 episodes; excluding only the episode 'Counter Culture Blues' from series 3. Don't ask me why.). Oh, and the British DVDs have subtitles, too.
American license-holders: Stop giving us an inferior product for an increased price!!

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Inspector Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately) is back on familiar ground-Oxford, England-though not all is as it was. Five years after the death of his long-time partner, the legendary Inspector Morse (John Thaw), Lewis is trying to prove himself to his dubious new boss while rebuilding his life following the hit-and-run death of his wife. To do that, he must confront his past, his future, and his new younger partner, the brilliant and distant Detective Sergeant James Hathaway (Laurence Fox). Fortunately for Lewis, his most compelling cases haven't changed much at all; they still revolve around the secrets and lies of the Oxford elite he knows so well. This set contains 11 mysteries: the series pilot, Whom the Gods Would Destroy, Old School Ties, Expiation, And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea, Music to Die For, Life Born of Fire, The Great and the Good, Allegory of Love, The Quality of Mercy, and The Point of Vanishing.

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The Inspector Lynley Mysteries - Series 6 (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)I mentioned when writing about season five that this delicately etched and excellently acted series on PBS's "Mystery" was my favorite. It still is. I truly believe it is the finest show on television. Nathaniel Parker's Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sharon Small's Barbara Havers are eagerly awaited with passion each season by this viewer like nothing else on television.
Based on Elizabeth George's characters, the BBC show has grown and matured into something really special. The mysteries are always well-written and the lead characters have been allowed to let life and what each brings to the table change both themselves and how they view each other. Parker and Small are a fabulous duo who balance each other out.
The dashing Lynley was originally paired with Havers because it was taken for granted he would not be distracted by her in a romantic way. But the two quickly found there was more to each other than their reputations, and proved a great team. They also became quite close, their deep friendship and affection for each other rarely dwelled upon but always there beneath the surface.
Havers has given the dashing Lynley depth and complexity while he has given her a softer appearance over time. Small really looked terrific in season five with her hair down. Though some griped it was a deviation from the books, it is this intelligent lack of stagnation which has kept things fresh.
Season five ended tragically as Lynley's world changed in the blink of an eye when his beloved Helen was killed. One of the most poignant moments of the series found Havers sitting with Lynley after her funeral to make the world wait a few moments. It is intelligent and very real moments such as that which make this show tower head and shoulders above everything else out there.
It is for that reason that a massive campaign is being waged to persuade the BBC to continue to produce the show so that PBS fans in America can enjoy these richly mature and intelligent mysteries. The carefully nuanced performances of Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small as Lynley and Havers would be harder to live without than Lynley's beloved Bristol.
Until that happens, we can at least enjoy the two episodes here on season six. In "Limbo," first aired in Australia, the remains of Lynley's godson are discovered twelve years after he was reported missing. Lynley becomes deeply involved with the deceased's sister and will become the prime suspect in a second murder. In "Know Thine Enemy" one young schoolgirl kills herself to escape captivity and Lynley and Havers try to find another before tragedy strikes twice.
The Inspector Lynley series is smart and atmospheric, Debbie Wiseman's opening music setting the tone for each intriguing installment. Fans cherish this show and hopefully this won't be the last we see of our favorite detectives.

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INSPECTOR LYNLEY MYSTERIES 6 SET - DVD Movie

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Collision Review

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(More customer reviews)"Collision" is a departure from the typical crime film in that the detectives are auto accident investigators, not homicide detectives. Their job is to explain what happened in a 6-vechicle accident on England's A12 freeway that left 5 people dead. If they find any wrongdoing, the cases are turned over to the appropriate departments of the police force. The first senior officer on the scene of the accident that May afternoon is Ann Stallwood (Kate Ashfield). She and her former flame DI John Tolin (Douglas Henshall) work together uneasily to put the pieces of the smash-up together. This turns out to be a lot more intricate and entertaining than I expected.
A mild-mannered piano teacher named Sidney Norris (David Bamber) lost control of his car, causing a car driven on a clandestine errand by Karen Donnelly (Claire Rushbrook) to smash into him. A van bringing furniture from the Netherlands, driven by Daniel Rampton (Dean Lennox Kelly), runs into them and is catapulted over the median, where it is hit by a BMW carrying a young couple en route to the woman's 23rd birthday party, with a police car in pursuit. Then Brian Edwards (Phil Davis), driving his complaining mother-in-law, runs into them, as do wealthy executive Richard Reeves (Paul McGann) and his driver. Then Daniel disappears after the police arrive on the scene.
It's all quite contrived, as the accident is connected to no fewer than 4 crimes. That's a high crimes-per-vehicle ratio, but none of the crimes seem implausible in themselves. Reactions seem realistic. It's not just a bunch of melodramatic backstories. The script by Anthony Horowitz and Michael A. Walker is packed with intrigue but down-to-earth at the same time. Director Marc Evans has the film jumping around in time a lot, starting after the accident and then going back weeks, days, hours, but not in that order. It can be a little confusing, but more is revealed about the accident with every jump. "Collision" is equally dependent upon its structure and character writing to maintain interest, and both are quite competent.

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At 5:57 on a Friday afternoon, a major incident took place on the A12: six cars were involved in a tragic collision that left two dead at the scene, two other critically wounded, and the surviving victims forever changed their lives forever entwined. When the father of one of the victims files a suit against the police department for alleged complicity in the accident, Detective Inspector John Tolin (Douglas Henshall), just back from an extended leave, must come to terms with his own past and with his partner in the investigation, Senior Investigating Officer Ann Stallwood (Kate Ashfield) if he has any hope of untangling the carnage and understanding what caused the accident that threw so many lives together, for better or for worse. By focusing on the how the individuals involved in the crash spent their days leading up to the crash, Tolin and Stallwood uncover much more than just the cause of the accident. Together, they must somehow find a way to continue their investigation once the suit against the Met is dropped if they are to have any hope of solving crimes from smuggling to murder even genocide.

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Wallander: Sidetracked / Firewall / One Step Behind (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Kurt Wallander novels, authored by Henning Mankell, are quite popular in Europe but rather less well known in the US. "Wallander-Series I" brings to television and DVD the dramatization of three of the novels. Wallander, portrayed by veteran and gifted Irish actor Kenneth Branagh, is a detective on the police force of the gritty seaside town of Ystad in Sweden. He is a borderline physical and psychological burnout case, who has lost his sense of detachment from his cases and takes everything far too personally. At the same time, he is a brillant sleuth with an ability to make intuitive connections between seemingly unrelated cases. Assisted by his staff and supported by a faithful daughter, he manfully plugs away at some rather unorthodox cases.
"Sidetracked" opens with a brilliantly staged scene in which Wallander fails to prevent a young woman from self-immolation in a sunlit field of flowers. He is also beset by a series of murders in the local art business, and by the health issues of his estranged father. Only Wallander can see the connections, which lead to a deadly sex ring and a surprising killer.
"Firewall" opens with the seemingly senseless murder of a taxi driver by two young women. As other bodies start to pile up, Wallander picks at a strange statement by one of the two young women, who escapes from police custody and then is herself horribly murdered. Wallander's persistance leads him to an unorthodox terrorist plot, and a betrayal by a friend.
"One Step Behind" involves Wallander in the deaths of several young persons who were connected with a midsummer's eve celebration. Additional deaths lead Wallander into a wider case in which the police seem constantly one step behind the killer or killers.
This series was filmed in Sweden, which makes for some beautiful location shooting. The sets are contrasted with some grim social rot in Swedish society, as exemplified by the gritty portrayal of Ystad society. Wallander's crew, all British actors, provide low-key support to Branagh's haggard and unshaven lead detective. His personal suffering over each case and over a personal life seemingly in shambles, imparts a gray tone to the stories that may be unsettling to some viewers. However, the stories are intricately plotted and thrillingly concluded; Branagh carries the day in a fascinating portrayal. This series is very highly recommended to fans of PBS Masterpiece Mystery looking for something different in a police procedural.

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Kenneth Branagh plays Swedish detective Kurt Wallander in three new crime dramas based on the best-selling books by Henning Mankell, an international publishing phenomenon with over 25 million copies sold worldwide. Sidetracked, Firewall, and One Step Behind follow Inspector Kurt Wallander - a disillusioned everyman - as he struggles against a rising tide of violence in the seemingly sleepy backwaters in and around Ystad in beautiful southern Sweden. Baffling crimes and apparently motiveless murders lead to surprising and shocking discoveries in these Swedish noir thrillers.

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