Detective (2005) (TV)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

David S. Cass Sr.

Writers (WGA):

Philip Rosenberg (teleplay)
Arthur Hailey (novel)

Release Date:

2005 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Detective Sergeant Malcolm Ainslie, a Catholic priest turned distinguished investigator for the police...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Tom Berenger	...	Sgt. Malcolm Ainslie
Annabeth Gish	...	Cynthia Ernst
Rick Gomez	...	Det. Rodriguez
Frank Whaley	...	Brewmaster
J. Karen Thomas	...	Ruby Bowe
Renee Rizzo	...	Det..Parici
Wanda De Jesus	...	Sanchez
Sean O'Bryan	...	Elroy Doil
Cybill Shepherd	...	Karen Ainslie
David Atkinson	...	James 'Little Jesus' Calhoun
Thomas Rosales Jr.	...	Carlos Quinones (as Tom Rosales)
Charles Durning	...	Councilman Max Ernst
Douglas Fisher	...	Theo Pallacio, Ernst's Butler
Vic Polizos	...	Collinwood
Stephanie Cameron	...	Wanda Fairly

Also Known As:

Arthur Hailey's Detective (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

USA:171 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Company:

Alpine Medien Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: In the funeral scenes, "Lieutenant" Newbold is wearing Captain bars on his uniform.

Had this not been a Hallmark presentation...

Tom Berenger plays Malcolm Ainslie, a former priest turned detective, and he has one big case on his hands. A madman is killing elderly residents in gruesome fashion and his actions seem to be somewhat borrowed form The Book of Revelations. As a former priest, Ainslie might just prove to be the perfect one to solve the case.

Mixing in Ainslie's troubled personal life, Detective has a good story throughout it's running time. I can't help thinking this could have been even better had it not been a Hallmark presentation. There's no gore here (but plenty of opportunities) and the suspense seems to watered down somewhat, especially during the climax. It's totally got that TV feel to it, but director choirs are well handled by David Cass, a seasoned television director.

The cast is mostly good. Tom Berenger is good as Ainslie, handling all aspects of the character well. Cybill Sheperd is fine as his wife but Annabeth Gish is completely stone-faced all the way through. It's fun to see Charles Durning but his role is a small one.

Had this movie gotten the theatrical treatment it could have been one hell of a thriller. Sourced from a good book by Arthur Hailey, it really cries out for better production values and some bloody set pieces. Still, it's quite good all the same.