Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Country Crossover (2006) User Reviews

He Said, She Said

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 22 August 2008]

Boy, the ending to this episode was a bit confusing. Explanations were coming so rapidly with this husband-and-wife story that I couldn't tell who was the guilty party or were they both guilty? Apparently so, since both were led off with handcuffs but I appears the husband was a lot more innocent, even though he actually committed the murder. See? It's confusing. At the end, both "Det. Logan" (Chris Noth) and "Det. Wheeler" (Julianne Nicholson) make remarks to this effect. Somebody loving their spouse so much that they kill their lover because of their love" or some such thing.

Agnes Bruckner plays the wife. She was voted "Star Of Tomorrow" in 2002 by the Motion Picture Club, and has a pretty good resume for someone only in her early 20s. Kohl Sudduth played her husband. He had great facial expressions, good enough to confuse the viewer of his guilt or innocence.

At any rate, the story has its usual twists and turns and also involves a big brute (and weirdo) of a bouncer, who also is a killer - but not the this particular one. Yeah, everything is pretty messed up in this story about music producers, clubs, and living vicariously through someone else's talent or non-talent, as this case becomes..

Film actor Griffin Dunne guest stars as a sleazy nightclub owner "Seamus Flaherty." Grubby guys is something Dunne is good at portraying. He is an excellent actor.

Murder with too many notes

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 4 February 2021]

"County Crossover" contains one of those types of story tropes that doesn't always appeal to me, with the risk of being too one-sided or sleazy. It was relatively common with the 'Law and Order' franchise and there were numerous cases where it was done well (more early on than later). Did like the basic concept however, although it isn't novel that has very rarely mattered, and anything centered around the music industry immediately grabs my attention.

On the whole, "Country Crossover" was a very good episode. Despite one aspect bringing it down somewhat, it is for me evidence that Wheeler was an under-estimated character and that her chemistry with Logan was good. If anybody disagrees, that's fair enough. "Country Crossover" could easily have been too sordid or gone overboard with the sleaze factor, which a few previous 'Criminal Intent' episodes did do, but just about didn't.

Production values are slick and professional, not ever resorting to cheap or untested gimmicks or anything. The music is haunting in the right places and isn't constant or too loud, and the direction gives the drama urgency and breathing space. The script is tight and thoughtful, not getting too smutty or overwrought. Including some dryly humorous lines from Logan, like the one regarding the cocaine.

Actually like Wheeler and liked that she was understated and a more sympathetic contrast to Logan, without going too far that way that she risked danger of having little personality. Julianne Nicholson and Chris Noth, on excellent form, have nice chemistry and interact well. They may not have the same playing off quality that Goren and Eames' chemistry has but it is always nice to see how Logan and Wheeler work individually and as a team, their attitudes towards each other and basically their whole dynamic. The supporting performances are fine, Kohl Sudduth expertly making one unsure of whether he is guilty or innocent.

However, the ending for me didn't quite come off. It has too much crammed in and moves too rapidly, making it on the confusing side. Haven't warmed to Ross yet for reasons said in previous reviews.

In summary, very good. 8/10

You shared a bed with the devil, and you lived to tell the tale

[Mrpalli77 · 8/10 · 24 September 2017]

Detectives Logan and Wheeler began to investigate a murder occurred shortly before some angry party-goer hit bystanders who are standing in line to get in a club. A low profile producer (Luther Creek) was killed by two punch and they supposed at the beginning the perp had to be a bouncer with a great strength, like a local "black rambo" (he acted like batman in cleaning the neighborhood from drugs and prostitution). Anyway they found out the scrawny producer was really sick (due to bad spleen) and anyone could take a deadly swing in his belly. The murdered occurred because of an affair, but what's more important, love or career?

It's not the first time a wannabe female singer ends up in bed with her producer, I guess it happens all the time, but sometimes people are not so emotionless.