Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

Blistering performances.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It's sad to see the iconic British cop drama that star the amazing Helen Mirren reduced to a failed American show. Instead of blatant sexism, we have a hat. Maria Bello is a great actress. Whatever problem this show had, Maria couldn't have fixed it by herself. Sadly the most interesting part of the show is that hat. This Detective Jane Timoney is all attitude.In the British one, the show started in a different times. The whole theme of sexism and an aggressive DCI Jane Tennison who bullied her way onto a case is very appealing. It just doesn't make as much sense now, and it doesn't have the same tension. I'm not saying it doesn't happen now. It's just the intensity isn't the same. Maybe Prime Suspect is past its prime. At least, starting it as a modern show may not make as much sense.

Prime Suspect is a great TV show, and i would not complain if someone loudly proclaimed it worth of a 7/10 or 8/10; but it's not that good.The main character("Jane Timoney",Maria Bello)'s struggles with life in the force and her own humanity (trying to quit cigarettes, trying to fit in with "the boys") are close to reality than most shows but don't really make for an engrossing character, and while well acted throughout, the show lacks any real punch compared to the - now sadly cancelled - Chicago Code and other, similar police dramas - Jane's just a cop, and that's that.The show's plot lines are nothing to write home about either, with hardly any suspense, twists, or hints of unusual writing going on in the series - which could also use some stronger underlying theme than just "end of the day, back to the bar".So, great show, amusing for the easily amused, but for the more cynical - or more demanding, Prime Suspect not only fails to soar, but shows little promise for future developments. My vote: 6/10Great to pass some time, but it's OK to miss an episode or two.

First off, the casting in Prime Suspect is excellent. Maria Bello is outstanding as the lead character, showing all the grit necessary to pull off the role with class and realism. What's truly outstanding is how Bello borrows nothing from Mirren's British adaptation, instead relying on her own interpretation of the flawed - yet gifted investigator Jane Timoney entirely. In short, this woman has some serious acting chops.Her supporting actors are also brilliantly cast. Kirk Acevedo, a favorite of mine since OZ, gave weight to my initial interest in the show, and I'm glad he did. Should also add that the camaraderie between Acevedo and Tim Griffin is refreshing and portrayed very naturally, not at all contrived like so many other 'buddy' teams on NBC and other networks. (See the Hawaii 5-0 buddy team for a great example of contrived, forced, and utterly horrid 'buddy' performances) All in all I really can't say enough about the casting director. Obviously he/she is at the top of his/her game and we're all the better for having a proper ensemble to unveil some pretty compelling storytelling.Speaking of the storytelling, every episode (I'm up to the latest - 6) are all based firmly in reality, the procedural aspects are depicted spot on and quite in line with how an investigation is actually run by most big city police departments. In fact the realism is most of why this show is so refreshing, as it seems to purposefully avoid the typical clichés present in other police drama/procedural (see: CSI) But alas, since this show was cursed enough to be picked up by NBC, I fully expect the corporate 'Talent Assassins' will be released from their dungeons soon enough to summarily kill this fine show from their line up of otherwise useless crud, thereby making room for some unoriginal trash. Perhaps we're finally in for the premiere of 'Real Housewives of Afghanistan' as it's replacement.Yes, unfortunately I fully expect Prime Suspect to go the way of Trauma, Detroit 187, The Chicago Code, The Unusuals, and of course, Dinosaurs. So bloody unfortunate for the networks to continually tease audiences with quality and talent, only to have it fall away before having been given a proper chance, consistently replaced by retarded nonsense. Even more unfortunate that Prime Suspect is on NBC, as they seem to have the worst record out of all the networks for leveling the death blow ax to truly quality TV.

I've been a big fan of the British series since it started way back when so was interested to see an American version, I'm still waiting.If your a fan of the original avoid this, all it has in common is 1/ the title, 2/ its a woman trying to make it in a mans world, 3/ her first name (they even changed her surname) Based on it being a "prime suspect" id rate it 1 outta 10, it lacks everything that is good about the British one, every episode is wrapped up neatly after an hr, it lacks the grit an depth of the original and, well, everything but the three things named above.If you watch it not knowing the original series then you'll get your usual formula cop show that seems to be thrown at us from all sides these days and would rate it maybe a 7 based on the first few episodes