MovieChat Forums > Prime Suspect 3 (1994) Discussion > In general about Prime Suspect

In general about Prime Suspect

posted 17 years ago by Zim_Babwe
4 replies | jump to latest

I have watched all the episodes of the PS series, several times. I wonder what aspects in this series make people think it is so brilliant or admirable.

Interrogations are dull, foolish and meaningless. Compare to the interrogations conducted by Detective Robert Goren (played by Vincent D'Onofrio in Criminal Intent).

The case-leader lady (detective superintendent) seems no better than the subordinate cops. She thinks what they think, she gets what they find out. Levels are the same.

And this is how they "investigate" a case. The case-leader gives orders, which means just asking around, and the rookies just run errands for her, which they could do by themselves without a brain.

In the end the boss just gets lucky. And they call it "crime investigation".

Where is the thought-provoking spine chilling suspense and thrill? Where are the twists and turns?

I'm a huge fan of crime thrillers, I liked Michael Walker (Trial and Retribution) better, and of course Columbo and Monk.

[–] mlone 16 years ago

I can understand if you don't care for PS; not every show is for everyone. But why have you watched the episodes "several times" if you don't really like it??

[–] BERSERKERpoetry 16 years ago

I agree. I personally would have given up after watching the first two once, if I felt the same way about the series as the OP does. I can't really comment on the opinion. Either it's suspenseful and real for you, or it's not.

____________

"We don't need more good speakers
We just need more good men speaking"

[–] caracallac 15 years ago

"Interrogations are dull, foolish and meaningless."

What's shown in Prime Suspect is almost exactly what happens in a real interogation, a slow, calm, methodical and repeated combing of all the facts for inconsistencies. In reality if a police officer tried any of the "In your face" tactics shown in the Law and Order series the defendant's legal team would jump all over him/her.

The investigative officers work as a team and more often than not, God (or the Devil) is in the details. No big jumps of reasoning, sudden insights or courtroom confessions just a series of facts, points of view and inconsistencies.

[–] grendelkhan 14 years ago

Agreed. The technical details are very accurate in this series, far more than most US police shows. Also, the interrogations are about the duelling between the interrogator and the suspect. Police lieutenants and Chief Inspectors manage the investigations of their team, but rarely do the grunt work. However, their experience is invaluable in spotting patterns and uncovering details that their juniors might miss.

Another detail is the differences in laws governing police procedures in the US and the UK. As has been mentioned in passing in the series, the police investigations must adhere to the rules of PACE, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, enacted in 1984, especially taped interviews. This can also be seen in other series, such as Touch of Frost.

Personally, I find these scenes riveting, with great character interplay; as equally engaging as the sparring between Lector and Clarice in Silence of the Lambs (though Manhunter is the more realistic of the Lector movies).