Prime Suspect 1
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Movie Reviews of Prime Suspect 1
Movie Review: Gritty Crime Drama....
Summary: 5 Stars
1992's "Prime Suspect 1" matches up superb British actress Helen Mirren with her signature role as tough, ambitious and flawed Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison. In this, the opening production of what became a long-running series on PBS, DCI Tennison gets her big break when the lead DCI on a rape and murder cased dies of a heart attack. Tennison convinces her reluctant boss to let her take over the case but she must face down resistance from the boys club murder squad.
The story itself is an intriguing and gritty murder mystery that becomes more complicated in each of its four component episodes. What seemed like a basic rape/murder is complicated by the discovery of an additional body and the possibility that both murders, and others, may be the work of a serial killer. The investigation is hindered by a inside cover-up to protect the original investigating officer, and by a lack of definitive evidence. Tennison and her crew must sort through a frustrating series of red herrings and blind alleys to get to the truth. The writers of this production were wildly successful in maintaining the suspense to the very end.
DCI Tennison is a highly capable police officer but distinctly a flawed hero. She is smart, persistent, and empathetic with the victims in the case. She is prepared to overturn every available rock to find the killer, but only her skill in office politics keeps her from being taken off the case when she steps on toes within the department. Her relentless drive and ambition cause her to slight her relationships with her live-in boyfriend (Tom Wilkinson) and her family. Her ruthlessness in solving the case takes her right to the limit of the law and perhaps a bit more, while her heavy drinking and smoking foreshadow future health problems.
"Prime Suspect 1" is very highly recommended as a superb British police procedural and as the opening act in a long-running and very successful crime drama series.
Movie Review: Excellent show
Summary: 5 Stars
Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) is in charge of the investigation to uncover a serial killer who rapes, tortures, and brutally murders prostitutes in London. Tennison is put in charge after one of her fellow DCIs has a heart attack and dies. She inherits the murder case and soon comes across the connected second murder. If trying to solve not one but two rape-murder cases is not enough, Jane's work is complicated by the hostility of her staff. The members of the male-dominated police department feel humiliated and have problems following the orders of the female boss, no matter how intelligent, tough, organized, and fit for the position she is. Tennison's obsession with the cases and fighting for credibility and respect from her colleagues don't help to her relationship with the boyfriend Peter Rawlins (Tom Wilkinson), either. Helen Mirren is superb as DCI Tennison playing the character that is sympathetic, tough, vulnerable, bright, very clever, and sexy - all at the same time. Mirren was voted the sexiest 60+ star in the word few months ago. I think she's been always incredibly attractive and desirable - and always will be. She definitely lit the screen at 46, in her first season of "Prime Suspect" (1991). Creator of the show, Lynda La Plante wrote the story that ranks among the best police procedures and it is terrific - complex, dynamic, with unexpected turns, and interesting multidimensional characters. Ralph Fiennes played one of his first roles as a boyfriend of a murdered girl and he was memorable in a very emotional scene opposite Mirren. I look forward for more DVDs with the rest of the seasons coming from Netflix.
Movie Review: Superb production - maybe not the best presentation though
Summary: 5 Stars
As the other reviews here attest, this is a tremendously compelling series - initiated beautifully in 1992 with this nearly 4-hour episode (the next three episodes were about the same length...PS5 and PS6, which I don't think actually had those titles, were about 2 hours each). Lynda La Plante's script reconsiders the drab police procedural as a breathtaking and life-shaking event. Indeed there is much here that can be savored and appreciated on repeated viewings. Helen Mirren's performance is nothing less than astonishing. She is very human(e) and someone who endures much that both women and men will be able to easily identify and empathize with. However, while this series is certainly welcome (and wanted!) on DVD (although Prime Suspect 1 and 2 were available briefly on DVD in 1998 - and now out of print), this new edition - issued in 2003 - may not be the perfect release. (1) There is at least one full scene missing (Tennyson meets George's mother at her seaside rest home). (2) There seemed to be a couple of brief - though not awful - visual glitches on the first disc of my copy. (3) The handsomely packaged 2-disc set is quite expensive. None of these reasons is meant to fend anyone off of such an incredible performance (Dame Mirren) and one of the best crime series ever aired on TV. But such great work certainly deserves a little better attention.Movie Review: Character is everything!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a general review, meant to encompass the entire "Prime Suspect" series. DCI Jane Tennison, by far, is one of the most complex female characters ever written for television. She is layered, she is difficult and she is sublime. She is a character that many women can relate to. Her depth dives fathoms deep. She's soft and she's surly. She's a woman navigating the world and landscape of men; but her woman's heart is never absent.
Dame Helen Mirren, a mistress of her craft, has not shied away from the darker sides of this character, as can be seen in "Prime Suspect Seven." American television could learn a lot from this series of stories. Our counterparts, across the pond, show us how to get it done.
These stories are not for the faint of heart. They're gritty, realistic and heart-wrenching. They're about character. If you're looking for "Law & Order," they're not for you. But if you're looking for something that delves deeper into the human machine, or character driven stories that make you think, they are definitely for you.
And Jane Tennison, well, she's simply luminous. She's tough and she's admirable, she's weak and she's flawed, and she's REAL!
Movie Review: One of the Best Crime Dramas Ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you like great acting, great directing and a great suspense story, look no further. Helen Millen does a superb job of portraying a female detective (DCI Tennison) in London who takes over a homicide investigation into serial murders after her male colleague passes away. Besides trying to come up with concrete evidence to put the prime suspect away, she must battle her own department, run by male colleagues who don't trust her competence simply because she's a woman. Tennison is able to rise to the occasion, rally the department behind her, and solve the murders. Mirren does a fascinating job of portraying Tennison as an intelligent and competent detective, an overchiever who often puts her work ahead of her relationships. Even though Tennison is seen with her flaws and all, the audience believes in her and roots for her all the way. This excellent drama was originaly an HBO miniseries and is followed by several sequels, which are just as outstanding. Highly recommended! Even though I loved this movie, I was disappointed by the DVD in that it did not have close-captioning.