Prime Suspect 2

Yes, this terrific four-hour (really 3.? hours) miniseries (actually, just a long movie when you think about it) deserves far more accolades on this here site.

I don't have much to add, except to say that I thought this was a notable improvement on PS I -- truly impressive stuff that, for me, didn't QUITE live up to the hype.

This one, however, exceeds it. If you're a fellow fan of T.V. police procedurals, this is possibly better than even the very best episodes of "Homicide" and definitely far more fleshed out and believable than any episode of "Cracker" -- and with an lead actor every bit the equal of the amazing Robbie Coltrane. This one was powerful stuff indeed, upsetting at times, complex in the best possible way and constantly fascinating.

And Helen Mirren as Jane Tennyson is, in her own way, almost as morally ambiguous and psychologically messed up as poly-addicted Fitz of "Cracker"...In a world where most movie cops fear promotions and the specter of a desk job more than death itself, she just may be the first truly careerist detective hero.

The only thing missing is that there's little humor here, but that's probably appropriate too. In the case of Jane Tennyson, a policeman's lot is definitely not a happy one!

The always calm, clear thinking, and very busy Brit Detective Jane Tennison (Mirren) is back in "Primary Suspect 2" solving a pornography laced murder case while mired in police brutality allegations and suspicions of inappropriate conduct involving an affair with a fellow cop. This edition of "PS" is more emotionally charged than the first and rumbles with racial undercurrents. However, like the first in the series, it ends abruptly with unresolved issues and plenty of room for a follow up installment. Okay stuff for sofa spuds into realistic police/crime drama tv fare out of the UK. (C+)

People are compulsive liars, so finding grain of truth inside a lie is detective work.

I've seen three of the Prime Suspects and I like the series a great deal. This one messes up. I don't expect perfection. I tolerate the usual contrivances of the genre. The fatal narrative flaw here is that the plot starts with one girl's murder and never ties the pieces together, even though the mother of the girl plays a predominate, even intrusive role, this lead guest character disappears entirely. There's enough pieces to put the mystery to rest but it lies literally and figuratively jumbled on the evidence table. There needed to be a resolving scene with the principle victim's mother. I enjoy the intradepartmental friction and the political issues. Not at the price of dramatic satisfaction. After reading in other reviews that the writer/creator did not write this one, it makes sense. I like to understand cultural frictions in other societies, as well as ours; it's a disappointment that this didn't satisfy me on their own initial question. I can forgive this series one serious lapse because it's well done, in cinematography, directing, casting, and acting. I was so incredulous and felt betrayed - I saw it twice to be sure, I didn't miss it.

I didn't it wasn't there. I hope the other three parts are not as disappointing as this one.

Television has never been considered "high art", but this 4-hour miniseries is about as close to that as you're going to find. When I first saw this series several years ago, I said it was the finest television miniseries I'd ever seen (so, longer-running series like I Claudius don't fall into this category). I recently saw it again, and I stand by my original opinion. Virtually every aspect of this series is exception and memorable -- an intricate, intriguing detective story, finely-drawn characters, subtle probing of psychological, social, and racial issues, remarkable acting, original and impressive cinematography, incredible editing, clear direction...even great costume design and an unforgettable musical score. This series was as riveting to me the second time I saw it as the first, and I constantly noticed many nuances and attention to detail which I missed the first time. This is a remarkable film, which stands up to repeated viewing and can be enjoyed on many levels. I can't recommend it enough. You won't be disappointed. (And I really don't engage in such hyperbole often...see some of my other reviews!)