donna detective: ci vediamo

Donna Detective is one of the latest offerings from MHz Networks, which releases international television shows on DVD. ...

Although some of situations in Donna Detective are far from fresh - the new boss who must prove herself, perceptions of women in the work force, how hard it is to juggle career and family - it is still fascinating and most importantly, entertaining, to watch Lisa (Lucrezia Lante Della Rovere) face each obstacle at home and at work. Maybe because the show originated in Italy, there is also a soap opera aspect to some of the "crimes of passion" that Lisa and her squad are up against, but the episodes are far from boring. As the series progresses, each crime that Lisa and her team investigate also sheds light on their characters and what is happening in their lives. There is also an ongoing series story arc involving Lisa's husband Michele, who has been accused of murdering a female colleague, which has a major impact on their marriage, and could even threaten Lisa's career, as she tries to clear her husband. ...

Lisa (Lucrezia Lante Della Rovere) and Nanni (Flavio Montrucchio) on a case

It may seem impossible to American viewers to take Lisa seriously when when watching her switch gears so quickly, to whipping up a frittata for her hungry family when she returns home from a long day of busting perps, but that is exactly the charm at the center of Donna Detective. It is refreshing to watch a cop show that is as interested in its characters and their motivations - as well as what they want to eat and drink - as it is in solving the crime of the week. The great soundtrack by Savio Riccardi and the backdrop of the eternal city of Rome just add to the experience. Donna Detective is good-looking, too, with cinematography a step above typical crime dramas. ...

Read my complete review on Cinema Sentries ...

the bletchley circle

Thanks to a recommendation by my friend Chris, I decided to check out The Bletchley Circle, a British murder mystery series on Netflix. I was not disappointed. Series 1 had three episodes and centered on four friends, Susan (Anna Maxwell Martin, Death Comes to Pemberley, Philomena), Millie (Rachael Stirling, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Young Victoria), Lucy (Sophie Rundle, Great Expectations), and Jean (Julie Graham, Doc Martin) who worked together as codebreakers at Bletchley Park in WW2.

As the series begins, it is now 1952, and Susan is certain that a recent series of brutal murders of young women are linked — and that she and her friends, if they can uncover the pattern — can help solve the crimes and find the killer.

L-R: Lucy (Sophie Rundle), Susan (Anna Maxwell Martin), Jean (Julie Graham), and Millie (Rachael Stirling)

The series has a dark, creepy undertone that is so common to British crime shows — and that they do so well. The killer in these murders is super-creepy, but his modus operandi also has ties to the hardships and the toll that the war took on everyone — a shadow that never quite fades. The Bletchley Circle highlights the frustrations of the four women, who now have had to resume more domestic or expected female roles after feeling more useful and being placed in more dangerous, and even exciting circumstances during wartime. Like Prime Suspect, which starred the amazing Helen Mirren, The Bletchley Circle gives viewers a unique view of women in a dark and violent crime drama.

The men are almost uniformly portrayed as dolts in the first series, but it is easy for us to forget how "sheltered" women were. Susan can only go the police with her theories and suspicions under the aegis of her reluctant-to-believe-her husband. Even with his begrudging entree she is pretty much dismissed out of hand. The portrayal of all the women's minds, working together to puzzle things out,  is a refreshing change from most dramas where such activities are portrayed as more masculine.

The pro-woman, anti-man stance may be a bit heavy-handed at times, but the episodes had real thrills and real dangers, and brought a little-known (to me) period, of 1950s post-war London, to life. A second series, which will consist of two two-part episodes, has been filmed and will return to PBS on March 27. Can't wait.

guy pearce is jack irish

Guy Pearce (Memento, L.A. Confidential) plays a down and out private investigator in Acorn Media's Blu-ray release, Jack Irish, Series 1. The Blu-ray/DVD combo set includes two feature-length movies, adapted from the crime novels by Australian Peter Temple.

Linda (Marta Dusseldorp) and Jack (Guy Pearce)

The first film, "Bad Debts," starts off happily enough, with successful Melbourne criminal defense lawyer Jack Irish enjoying the morning with his beautiful wife. Devotees of the hard-boiled detective genre will suss out immediately that life for Jack will quickly be turned upside down. His wife Isabel (Emma Booth) is murdered and Jack falls into a black hole, eventually making ends meet by becoming a part-time detective and debt collector. One of his former clients calls him for help and Jack avoids his voicemails — but he can't avoid his past anymore when the man turns up dead. He pulls himself together enough to investigate his death and maybe rejoin the world, at least a little. he is able to accomplish the latter with the help of reporter Linda Hillier (Marta Dusseldorp), who soon becomes his love interest — at least for a while.

In "Black Tide," the second episode, we find Jack once again down in the dumps, as Linda has left Melbourne (and Jack) for a brighter future in Sydney. An old friend of his family, Des Connors (Ron Jacobson), asks for his help in locating his son Gary (Nicholas Coghlan) who's gone missing — with all of his dad's money. As Jack searches for the man he talks with his wife, and the girlfriend of an elusive blogger, Lyall, (Diana Glenn, who soon tries to get Jack to take up the slack left by her missing boyfriend), and a variety of seedy characters who may or may not be able to lead him to the truth.

When the going gets tough, Jack and his friends Harry (Roy Billing) and Cam (Aaron Pedersen) head for the track

The two movies in Series 1 were directed by Jeffrey Walker and originally broadcast in Australia in 2012. The Blu-ray has an aspect ratio of 1.77:1, in widescreen format, and a total running time of 202 minutes. There is a bonus behind-the-scenes feature included on both the Blu-ray and the DVD. The sound is crisp and clear (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0), with English subtitles available. The moody title song, "Red Right Hand," is performed by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

The mood of Jack Irish is dark, and viewers should be aware that both films contain strong language, violence, graphic images, nudity, and sexual situations. But that shouldn't deter anyone from these entertaining and absorbing dramas. Pearce is brooding, intelligent, and sexy as Jack Irish. As much as the viewer can empathize with his personal losses, it is clear that Jack works best on the dark side of town. A third Jack Irish film, "Dead Point," has been completed, and plans are in the works for two more films, which is good news indeed.

Originally published on Blogcritics: Blu-ray Review: ‘Jack Irish, Series 1′

above suspicion

Article first published as DVD Review: Above Suspicion, Set 1 on Blogcritics.

Told from the point of view of young detective constable Anna Travis (Kelly Reilly, Sherlock Holmes), Above Suspicion, Set 1 is a gripping detective series, from Lynda La Plante, the creator of Prime Suspect, and based on her popular novels. Starring Reilly and Ciarán Hinds (Rome, There Will Be Blood) as her tough and ambitious boss, Detective Chief Inspector James Langton, Set 1 includes the first two stories in the ongoing British crime series, "Above Suspicion" and "The Red Dahlia."

The two discs have a running time of approx. 254 min., with SDH subtitles available. Bonus material includes scene selection, behind-the-scenes segments for both mysteries, cast biographies, and photo galleries.

Travis, daughter of a deceased cop, is assigned to Langton's squad, but she at first doesn't fit in at all. She passes out during an autopsy, and keeps wearing the same suit to work (causing her female co-workers to snigger behind her back). To keep her out of his way, Langton sends her on what he thinks are wild goose chases, to interview distant witnesses in his current murder case, but she keeps coming back with useful information. She is intuitive, able to imagine and picture the victims and their murders, and has good interview skills.

Travis goes undercover with suspect Daniels

The first mystery, in two parts, "Above Suspicion," originally aired in 2009. Langton and his squad are investigating a series of brutal murders of women that have taken place over a twelve-year period. Langton thinks he may have a serial killer, and the investigation soon centers on the death of one of the victims, a prostitute and her son, Alan Daniels (Jason Durr), who grew up to become a successful and popular actor. To complicate matters, the charming Daniels shows interest in Travis, inviting her on a date to join him at the ballet. Langton may have a gruff manner, but he sees his new charge's potential, and lets her go undercover to learn more about Daniels.

"His ego is such that he will believe he is is above suspicion and he may let something slip."

The second mystery, "The Red Dahlia," is in three parts and originally aired in 2010. The body of a young woman is found; murdered, mutilated, and drained of blood; in the same manner as the infamous unsolved 1947 Los Angeles Black Dahlia murder case. American viewers may recognize Holliday Grainger (Lucrezia on The Borgias) who plays Sharon Bilkin, the first victim's flat mate, and Hannah Murray, as Emily Wickenham (Gilly on Game of Thrones.)

Travis is able to make it through a post-mortem examination without fainting or becoming upset — until the second victim. The bodies begin to pile up, and Travis and Langton are desperate to try and find the copycat killer. A suspect begins to emerge, another person who by his place in society may consider himself "above suspicion."

Langton and Travis work late on a case

Langton becomes concerned with Travis's growing friendship with reporter Richard Reynolds (Edward MacLiam). His concerns that her getting closer to the journalist may lead to potential information leaks are valid — but he is also taking a growing interest in her personal life.

The acting and drama are first-rate, but audiences should be warned that the crimes depicted are gruesome, and there are some scenes that include graphic violence, extremely realistically rendered dead bodies, as well as mature themes and language. Travis and Langton and their investigative team are all wonderful characters. Fans of good crime drama should enjoy Above Suspicion and eagerly await the U.S. release of subsequent series.