Sat 19 Feb 2011
A TV Miniseries Review by Geoff Bradley: ABOVE SUSPICION: DEADLY INTENT (2011).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[3] Comments
ABOVE SUSPICION: DEADLY INTENT. ITV, UK. January 3, 4 and 5, 2011. Kelly Reilly, Shaun Dingwall, Ciarán Hinds, Celyn Jones, Amanda Lawrence, Stine Stengade, Richard Brake. Screenwriters: Noel Farragher & Lynda La Plante, based on the latter’s novel. Director: Gillies MacKinnon.
This is the third in a series based on books by Lynda La Plante with Kelly Reilly as Anna Travis, a Detective Constable in the first two, but here for some reason bumped up to an impossibly young-looking Detective Inspector, and Ciarán Hinds as her rather grumpy boss, James Langton, now a Detective Superintendent.
In fact Langton says that his and Travis’s paths haven’t crossed since the previous case but here they are together again investigating the death of an ex-cop at a scene involving drugs. We know from the start that a high-powered drug dealer has had plastic surgery to change his appearance, but it’s how Travis gets on to the case despite put-downs from her colleagues that take up the bulk of the story (shown in three one hour, less adverts, instalments).
The whole thing is quite watchable but also quite risible in many respects both for Miss Reilly’s improbable dress sense as she investigates crimes in high heels and revealing tops, and the attraction here expressed, but not to each other, between the two leads.
Disappointing, too, for this blue-eyed optimist, was the rather downbeat ending. So, in summary, it’s not bad but flawed and not to be taken seriously for a moment.
February 20th, 2011 at 12:23 am
I wasn’t surprised to discover that this miniseries is not yet available in the US — it’s far too new.
What’s really strange is that neither of the first two ABOVE SUSPICION series have come out yet in this country. I’ll have to get them from Amazon UK. They’re very reasonably priced, only about $15 each, as I recall, but you do need a multi-region machine to play them.
February 20th, 2011 at 4:47 am
I’m curious as to why this one isn’t available here either with Ciaran Hinds fairly well known, and LaPlante’s PRIME SUSPECT. I would have thought someone would have leapt on the chance to distribute this in the States.
February 20th, 2011 at 11:29 am
Its non-availability is doubly weird, in that Kelly Reilly is very much a rising star. She had a good supporting role in the recent Downey SHERLOCK HOLMES, and was also in TRIAGE with Colin Farrell. On top of this, she’s also very easy on the eyes! The show has good reviews and good ratings in this country, so what is holding back in the States, I wonder?