"Criminal Justice" (2008) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

One man's journey through the criminal justice system of Britain.

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series | Male Nudity | Rear Nudity

Awards:

5 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Ben Whishaw	...	Ben Coulter (5 episodes, 2008)
Ruth Negga	...	Melanie Lloyd / ... (5 episodes, 2008)
Jaye Griffiths	...	Helen Marlowe (5 episodes, 2008)
Maxine Peake	...	Juliet Miller (5 episodes, 2009)
Zoe Telford	...	Anna Klein / ... (5 episodes, 2009)
Sophie Okonedo	...	Jack Woolf (5 episodes, 2009)
Bill Paterson	...	Harry Box (4 episodes, 2008)
Con O'Neill	...	Ralph Stone / ... (4 episodes, 2008)
Juliet Aubrey	...	Mary Coulter (4 episodes, 2008)
David Westhead	...	Barry Coulter (4 episodes, 2008)
Joe Dixon	...	Robert Lloyd (4 episodes, 2008)
Ian Peck	...	Milroy (4 episodes, 2008)
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Hooch (4 episodes, 2008)
Richenda Carey	...	Judge Ira (4 episodes, 2008)
Daren Elliott Holmes	...	Man at Petrol Station / ... (4 episodes, 2008)
Sam Alexander	...	PC Simon Jeary / ... (4 episodes, 2008)
David Harewood	...	Freddie Graham (3 episodes, 2008)
Nicholas Farrell	...	Painter (3 episodes, 2008)
Vineeta Rishi	...	Frances Kapoor (3 episodes, 2008)
John Hodgkinson	...	Rogers (3 episodes, 2008)
Johann Myers	...	Roland Roy (3 episodes, 2008)
Darrell D'Silva	...	Quick (3 episodes, 2008)
Craig Gazey	...	Flitcroft (3 episodes, 2008)
Bradley Gardner	...	Bright (3 episodes, 2008)
Blondell Taylor	...	Court Clerk (3 episodes, 2008)
Matthew Macfadyen	...	Joe Miller (3 episodes, 2009)
Charlie Creed-Miles	...	Simon Ticehurst / ... (2 episodes, 2008)
Seroca Davis	...	Lizzie Smith (2 episodes, 2008)
David Annen	...	Hugo Curry (2 episodes, 2008)
Grant Russell	...	Dr. Callaghan (2 episodes, 2008)
Dominic Letts	...	Charles Willis / ... (2 episodes, 2008)
Garry Cooper	...	Ruddock (2 episodes, 2008)
Clare Burt	...	Nurse Hulme (2 episodes, 2008)
Toby Alexander	...	Joe Fontaine (2 episodes, 2008)
Judy Norman	...	Hart (2 episodes, 2008)
Jake Curran	...	Bracewell (2 episodes, 2008)
Rupert Procter	...	Dom Rose / ... (2 episodes, 2009)
Eddie Marsan	...	Saul (2 episodes, 2009)
Madeleine Rakic-Platt	...	Kate Rose (2 episodes, 2009)
Denis Lawson	...	DCI Bill Faber / ... (2 episodes, 2009)
Nadine Marshall	...	Norma Fredericks (2 episodes, 2009)
Steven Mackintosh	...	DI Chris Sexton / ... (2 episodes, 2009)
Kate Hardie	...	DS Flo Sexton (2 episodes, 2009)
Alan Mckenna	...	Sergeant Frank Cross (2 episodes, 2009)
Pooky Quesnel	...	Alicia Rose (2 episodes, 2009)
Alice Sykes	...	Ella Miller (2 episodes, 2009)

Runtime:

300 min (5 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

A good solid drama

I have just watched this mini series and am pleased to say that it was pretty good overall with good performances in general.The plot was pacey and I liked the way that it showed prison life to be no bed of roses with a general feeling of fear as shown by new inmate Ben.The story is basically a murder mystery,did Ben do it or not?Obviously I won't disclose anything at all but the series did manage to keep me watching until the very end.

As mentioned earlier,the acting is generally impressive especially from Con O'Neil as Stone,Bill Paterson as world weary cop Harry Box and David Harewood as the intelligent but very dangerous prisoner Freddie Graham.One thing I didn't like was the near romance between Ben and his defence lawyer Frances.The lingering looks,the holding of hands,the hugs,the kisses.No,it just didn't work for me as I couldn't accept that a young lady with the chance to make a name for herself would show such weakness,especially as it was her first murder case.It may well happen in reality,maybe.But it seemed out of place and forced and at one time I felt it could have ruined this fine drama.Luckily,it didn't get out of hand but I did find myself losing a bit of interest whenever Ben and Frances were alone together.Another small gripe was that I felt that the ending was maybe a little rushed and I had a bit of difficulty accepting what Hooch did towards the end.I definitely won't give any hints here in case you haven't seen the last episode.These are relatively minor niggles in a consistently gripping and well made mini series.

You may have missed this five part series and I have no hesitation in recommending it when it is repeated which it undoubtedly will be.This is a decent drama that shows that British television can compete with more lavish crime series from America.Nice one.