Wed 8 Jul 2009
A TV Mini-Series Review by Geoff Bradley: HE KILLS COPPERS (2008).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[4] Comments
HE KILLS COPPERS. ITV (UK), 2008. Mel Raido, Liam Garrigan, Rafe Spall, Frank Taylor, Steven Robertson, Tim Woodward, Kelly Reilly. Based on the book by Jake Arnott. Director: Adrian Shergold.
This was an adaptation of the book He Kills Coppers by Jake Arnott (Sceptre, 2001), and shown in three one-hour (no adverts) parts. It starts in 1966 during the euphoria of England winning the World Cup as two young policeman friends are making their way up the ranks.
When one routinely stops a car and is fatally shot along with two colleagues, his friend feels morally bound to pursue the killer, but although his accomplices are soon caught, he just escapes at the last minute.
Meanwhile a reporter takes on the investigation by wheedling his way into the life of the killer’s mother, and we see both his and the policeman’s investigations becoming closer.
The story moves forward to 1975 and another near thing before the denouement in 1980 as the two investigations finally converge and the killer, journalist and policemen come together.
This production drew rather favourable reviews from the British press (at least the bits I read) and, although much of it is rather on the bleak side — we see a lot of the sleaze, and most of the characters, including the police, are out for what they can get — I quite enjoyed it.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
On DVD? I couldn’t find it on netflix.
July 8th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Only as a UK import. You’ll need a multi-region player, which I don’t have either.
Not yet, that is.
July 8th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Patti and Steve, you have to get a multi-region player. I’ve had only multi region dvd players for at least 5 years because I refuse to be locked into only North American dvds. I can play any dvd from anywhere in the world. The British especially are known for their high quality dvds which are not playable on the regular USA dvd players. But if you have a multi-region player which are not expensive, then you can play the British dvds.
Also amazon.com.uk often is alot cheaper than the USA amazon.com. Let me give you an example with a mystery connection. LOVEJOY, the complete tv series which lasted for several years will soon be avalable from amazon.com for $270.00. However, if you have a multi-region player the entire series box set is available from amazon.com.uk in England for only 77 pounds which comes to about $130.00 with postage. That’s like half the price of the American box set and this is not an isolated example.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Walker is right about the pleasures of a multi region player, and not just for British DVD’s. And like him I’ve found Amazon UK cheaper on some things even with the exchange rate no more favorable than it is right now. There are some good films and tv series out there not otherwise available.