Lynda La Plante - Trial And Retribution - The First Collection - 1 to 4 [DVD] [1997]
RRP: £49.99
Our Price: £5.66 (subject to change)
QUITE THE BEST AUTHOR OF CRIME FICTION TODAY - LINDA LA PLANTE
Review date: 2010-07-08 Rating: 10 out of 10
This is a well worked series from crime writet Linda la Plante. I think there may be in one instance a section missing from the end of the DVD (a trial of the apprehended culprit) but even so it is hard to think of a series which matches this - unless one considers Above Suspicion by the same writer. Personally I still prefer the entire series of Trial and Retribution. Five stars and three cheers for Linda la Plante.
Reviews
Superb acting; formulaic, incredible plots; weak back story...Review date: 2009-12-19 Rating: 6 out of 10Thought I'd play Devil's Advocate since everyone else here is raving about T&R. It's great entertainment, no question.
Having watched the first 2 DVDs it seems that the formula is the same: the evidence keeps the viewer guessing; jury delivers a ludicrous verdict; denouement - attempt at a surprise ending.
La Plante has written/produced thrilling entertainment here but a forensic examination of her story-lines reveals that the case in her favour has several counter-arguments.
For example, in the first story featuring the fantastic Rhys Ifans, we are expected to believe that an unbalanced individual who is in an alcoholic stupor has ability to break in and steal a bottle of sherry and a washing line from a house some distance from the locus of his alibi, abduct a little girl (La Plante uses children for emotional effect.. it works!), torture and stuff her in a cement pipe, wrap up and bury the murder weapon in a remote location... all without his absence being noticed! And how convenient for the police that he wrapped the bottle in plastic hence preserving the blood, dna and fingerprints!).... why would he do this? If he was compes mentes enough to do all that surely he would have cleaned and smashed the bottle?! Daft!
Also in this first episode we are expected to believe that presented with overwhelming evidence suggesting the accused is 'innocent' (including an admission by the police that they illegally planted key evidence at the crime scene) the jury 'unanimously' found him guilty!
This was the twist in the tale I suppose but it was just silly. However the cast carry it off with Rhys giving a terrific performance closely followed by 'Max' from 'Eastenders' who plays the cop who planted the incriminating evidence - blistering acting!
The female defense lawyer was also superb.
2nd episode is similar; all the evidence suggests guilt, so of course he is found 'not guilty'. Great acting from the demonic Iain Glen (who brilliantly plays the hateful Damon), and that woman from Eastenders (the one who looks scarey and has an obesely fat friend) who plays a prostitute/victim. This one has a real twist involving the bad guy's wife who also is superb. The back story in this one features the female detective dating a colleague and the main character David Hayman (great Scottish actor) facing the breakdown of his marriage due his ever-presence at work. Does not work! The viewer is focused on the tense, dramatic crime and could not care less about petty domestic disputes, but I guess La Plante could not resist making Walker 'dysfunctional' OR PERHAPS someone noticed that Walker kept on his wedding ring all through DVD episode one but never once called or referred to his wife and never went home! - was this an oversight :)
That's enough... Can't wait to watch 3 and 4! Superb entertainment.
3 stars because the plot/story/trial/jury is weak/incredible.
5 star acting (Simon Callow is a wonderfully pompous prosecutor and the defense lawyer is unbelievably realistic - goes to show how much court lawyers are really just actors).
UPDATE.
3rd episode is disappointing with La Plante focusing on the back/side story (and like a backside it's far from fragrant :). This sideshow is embarrassing. Impressive as he is, David Hayman is NOT a romantic lead and his unlikely romance with his assistant is cringeworthy. Hayman (Walker) prances about like Jimmy Somerville in a vest offering his concubine colleague mugs of cocoa as a panacea to all ills. Despite having just started the romance he bleats endlessly of how 'he loves her'. At one point she calls him 'a big Jessie' and she is spot on. Sadly, all this makes his tough detective image looks ridiculous and you end up seeing him as a camp pretender! Why did La Plante have to make this excellent series into a cheap soap opera.
Richard E Grant is excellent as a nutjob confessional suspect, but the police reaction to his manic stalking is ludicrous - he be banged up in 5 minutes.
The trial is the usual inevitable unexpected verdict contrary to the facts; and why are the lawyers and the Judge always the same people? God knows there are plenty of lawyers. And all the clients know the lawyers - the same lawyers as in the last story - personally!
How can that be? There are more holes in this episode story than a large slice of Emmental cheese!
The split screen cinematography really adds to the enjoyment.
JP :)
PS. My new Amazon supplied DVDs deliver poor grainy quality. Perhaps this is to make the show look like a documentary? but I suspect it's poor manufacture.satisfiedReview date: 2009-11-26 Rating: 10 out of 10this dvd series is brilliant well acted and full of suspence was well pleased when i managed to complete the series thanks to amazonTrial and Retribution 1 to 4Review date: 2009-11-17 Rating: 10 out of 10Great cast, great stories, excellent value. I live abroad and missed this when first time on TV.
Will order the next series.TRIAL & RETRIBUTION (volumes 1 to 4)Review date: 2009-11-08 Rating: 10 out of 10We have watched all the Trial and Retribution Series over the years and I thought it would be great to be reminded of how it all started! This box set will be a treat for my Husband at Christmas! He is a fan of good, gritty crime dramas, and Trial and Retribution really "hits the spot" - great stories and a great cast! The cold winter days will pass by quickly while absorbed in these great dramas! Recommended for all crime lovers!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
David Hayman
Kate Buffery
Dorian Lough
Hakeem Kae-Kazim
Jake Wood
Creators:
David Hayman (Primary Contributor)
Kate Buffery (Primary Contributor)
Keith Richardson (Producer)
Liz Thorburn (Producer)
Lynda La Plante (Producer)
Lynda La Plante (Writer)
Vaughan Kinghan (Writer)
Director(s):
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Recording label: E1 Entertainment Manufacturer: E1 EntertainmentEAN: 5032438510405Binding: DVDNumber of items: 4Format: PAL, Release date: 2004-09-27Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and overRegion code: 2Running time: 800 minutesTheatrical release date: 1997-10-19Language: English (Original Language)
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