Synopsis
Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) is now a Detective Superintendent, with 24 murder casesunder her supervision. The most recent one is that of a young Bosnian woman. Tennisonbecomes directly involved with the investigation, which reveals the presence of a protectedBosnian war criminal in London. Tennison’s obsession with the truth, as well as some mistakesof her own, threaten to derail her career, destroying her life’s work.
As with the other entries in this series, the …olitical context is up-to-the-minute and verydark. No punches are pulled here, and sensitive viewers might beware the graphic autopsy scene,which is much stronger than what usually shows up on North American network TV. Interestingtoo is the way in which the story deals with Tennison approaching retirement age, and thetensions that exist between her and the younger women on the force.
Audio
A strong 2.0 soundtrack. Though the echo effects in the enclosed space of the initial crimescene are a bit too strong, most of the surround effects are well chosen, and work toward a prettythorough environment creation. The music is strong too, as is the overall level of the audio. Verydecent work.
Video
The picture is less impressive. For one, it is presented (as with the other entries in the series)if fullscreen, but the anamorphic widescreen nature of the featurette is a dead giveaway that theimage has been cropped. The grain level is too high, and the colours are too heavy on the reds(or so it seems — I don’t rule out a deliberate choice here).
Special Features
A 23-minute interview with the cast and crew is much more in-depth and interesting thanmost making-of featurettes. This is the only extra, but that is still more than what the otherreleases in the series boast. The menu is basic.
Closing Thoughts
A nicer picture would have been desirable, but the show, as ever, is tough, suspenseful andsmart.
Special Features List
- Cast and Crew Interview
