The screenplay, by Ian David, is the primary reason why BLUE MURDER is the best TV ever produced in Australia -- in fact, it is better than 95% of the features produced in that country. And, yes, calling it the GOODFELLAS of Down Under is not exaggerating.
Other reviews here have detailed the content of this mini-series, so no point going there. I just hope my raving about it inspires people who haven't seen it to check it out and marvel at the sharp characterizations, brilliant performances, Michael Jenkins' intuitive direction and ultra-realistic dialogue.
The series captures the Aussie vernacular like nothing else ever has and portrays a "matey" political and social environment within the police force that allowed corruption to fester and become an accepted part of everyday life.
One powerful sequence, where a crooked lawyer is indifferently dropped into Sydney Harbor with a stove around his neck, perfectly captures the dark side of the Aussie "She'll be right, mate" approach to dealing with problems.
Richard Roxburgh as Roger Rogerson is nothing short of a revelation, but major nods must also go to Gary Sweet (his best performance by far), Gary Day (brilliant), Bill Hunter (solid as usual) and Alex Dimitriades (chillingly real).
If you're only retiring to that desert island with one Aussie DVD, this should be it.
Other reviews here have detailed the content of this mini-series, so no point going there. I just hope my raving about it inspires people who haven't seen it to check it out and marvel at the sharp characterizations, brilliant performances, Michael Jenkins' intuitive direction and ultra-realistic dialogue.
The series captures the Aussie vernacular like nothing else ever has and portrays a "matey" political and social environment within the police force that allowed corruption to fester and become an accepted part of everyday life.
One powerful sequence, where a crooked lawyer is indifferently dropped into Sydney Harbor with a stove around his neck, perfectly captures the dark side of the Aussie "She'll be right, mate" approach to dealing with problems.
Richard Roxburgh as Roger Rogerson is nothing short of a revelation, but major nods must also go to Gary Sweet (his best performance by far), Gary Day (brilliant), Bill Hunter (solid as usual) and Alex Dimitriades (chillingly real).
If you're only retiring to that desert island with one Aussie DVD, this should be it.