Good idea lost in the noise

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

This is going to be fairly similarly worded to my review for the previous case 'The Lost Child', mainly because their strengths are exactly the same to each and to the previous three series.Neither 'Inner Circles' or 'The Lost Child' are as good as the three previous series (though it would have been a Herculean task to do so, considering their sheer brilliance), but high expectations were met if not quite surpassed. Both are very good, terrific even at its best and almost all the elements are spot on. It continues with the changes in format introduced in 'The Lost Child', including Lynda La Plante not being involved and the lengths of the episodes being shorter, for the fourth series it was three cases clocking in around just over five hours overall for 'Prime Suspect IV' rather than one case split into two halves like in the first three 'Prime Suspect' series.'Inner Circles' sees the changes working even better here now that the format feels a little more settled, being not quite as rushed this time round. My only complaints are the ending, which is rather muddled and tries to cram in too much, and Kelly Reilly, who has her limited acting range and never-looking-comfortable demeanour in an early role both of which improved in 'Above Suspicion'.However, 'Inner Circles' is stylishly and cleverly filmed, with slick editing and atmospheric lighting, and there is a consistently wonderful atmosphere throughout. It is very gritty, if not quite as dark as 'Prime Suspect III', and effectively claustrophobic. It is very hard to forget the music score too. The scripting, like its predecessor, is some of the best there is of any mystery/detective drama, being superbly constructed and intelligent, plus it is hard to not be impressed by the cunning subtlety of the conflicts.Story-telling is very compelling and twisty, with an atmosphere that is gritty and harrowing but also intricate and honest. It is a complex story that keeps one guessing right up to the end while also being easy to follow. Tennison's personal life is balanced very well.Jane Tennison continues to be an interesting character, the character and the depiction of the police force was very ahead of the time back in the 90s and holds much fascination now even if not so novel.Helen Mirren gives a typically magnificent performance in the lead. The supporting cast are not on the same level as Robert Glenister in 'The Lost Child' as far as 'Prime Suspect IV' goes but still do solidly, with only Reilly not impressing.Altogether, very good indeed and shows 'Prime Suspect IV' continuing to go strong. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Superintendent Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) is on loan replacing DCI Raymond for a murder case. The victim Denis Carradine lived with his elderly mother. The investigation starts as a robbery with sexual overtones but it gets more and more complicated. The prime suspects start with drug-addicted Sheila Bower and low-life Micky Thomas. Maria Henry runs the nursing home and her daughter Polly Henry (Kelly Reilly) is connected to Micky Thomas who was chased into traffic by the cops and killed. As she digs deeper, Tennison uncovers class divisions, corruption within the local police and government.This is Helen Mirren on her own. What I mean is that the actors are either not good enough or their characters are not good enough. It's missing a second compelling character either in support or in opposition. None of the villains of the piece are that scary. It's a bunch of weaselly old white people scheming about money. Whenever they gather to talk about the situation, the movie slows down a little. The most compelling support character is probably DS Cromwell but actress Sophie Stanton is still a newbie at that point. It's also an early one for Kelly Reilly. It still has primetime Helen Mirren who keeps the train moving. It's a functional police TV drama.

In this second episode of Prime Suspect 4, we begin to feel the loss of creator Lynda La Plante. The episode is weaker than previous series and the first episode of the current series. Helen Mirren continues to shine and the supporting actors are all good, but the writing is not up to par. The story becomes a bit muddled and the ending is a bit hard to swallow. Spoilers: This time, Tennison is called in to investigate what at first appears to be a break in and murder, but turns into a look at political corruption and scandal, as well as class struggle. When a man is found dead in his home, of what appears to be autoerotic strangulation, all is not what it seems. It is quickly determined that the manner of death is a cover up for what really happened. Tennison enters a world of wealth and privilege, surrounding a country club and nearby neighborhoods. At the fringe of this well-to-do community, is a low-income housing estate. The housing estate is at odds with its wealthy neighbors, who also control the local council. Tennison ends up caught between the "haves" who try to brow beat her and manipulate her investigation, and the "have-nots" who appear to be her prime suspects. Added to the mix is a young female detective who came out of the low-income area. Tennison solves the case, although the final solution comes across more like a pulp novel than the type of drama we are used to. Mirren rises above the material, as do the supporting performers, but this episode is less satisfying. The ending is too muddled in double-crosses and manipulation. The writer tries too hard to add layers to what is a straightforward crooked real estate deal and murder. Unfortunately, this fourth series resembles a downward slope as it progresses. The next episode would fall even further.

In this "Prime Suspect" movie, Helen Mirren continues to show why her Jane Tennison is nothing less than one of the greatest characters in the history of television. "Inner Circles", while not one of the better stories in the series, is still worth watching just to see Tennison confront human darkness once again, this time in an upper-class milieu.