River (2015)

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

There are cop dramas, and there are cop dramas. Sometimes the cop dramas that don't want to be like other cop dramas try too hard. But "River" _ a six-part British TV series airing on Netflix _ tries very hard to be different _ and gets it spectacularly right.The story focuses on DI John River (Stellan Skarsgard) who is grappling with the death of his partner, DS Jacqueline "Stevie" Stevenson (Nicola Walker), who is shot to death outside a pub where they had been having dinner.So far, nothing new, right?Think again.It seems that since his youth, River has seen and communicated with dead people. They haunt him (no pun intended), while he's sitting at his desk, attending meetings, interviewing people, driving, riding the subway, sleeping, eating, you name it. And they're not always Casper the Friendly Ghost (like Thomas Neill Cream, "The Lambeth Poisoner," here played by Eddie Marsan, who attempts to goad River into losing his cool).The series opens innocently enough with River and Stevie driving along chatting, laughing and even breaking into song. The first reaction is that this series is going to be slow, slow, slow and hackneyed. Then they stop at a drive-through to order a shake and burger. Something isn't quite right, the communication is off.As they drive on, River thinks he sees a suspect, we don't know for what crime, he bails out of the car and gives chase. His prey, a frightened young man, leaps to his death as Stevie trails behind and radios for backup. Or does she? As she turns and walks away, we notice the back of her head has been blown away.And we're off.Swedish actor Skarsgard is excellent as the brooding lead detective who tries to piece together the murder of his partner, who is also, as we learn, his great love. The ubiquitous Walker ("Spooks," "Last Tango in Halifax," "Unforgotten") is perfect as the wide-eyed, offbeat counterpoint to the stoic River, the female, we can't help but imagine, who could have brought him out of his shell, which makes the whole thing that much more tragic and urgent (Stevie warns River that at some point she will just fade away).The serpentine storyline never gets out of hand to the point of confusion, but challenges us to pay attention to every element, right up until the final denouement in the last part of the last episode. The conclusion is a shocker, but not so much that we think it could never happen in real life (minus the dead people chatting with the detective).Adeel Akhtar is terrific as DS Ira King, River's new sidekick, an innocent tough whose alarm at his detective partner's unconventional ways evolves into true friendship, even if we're never sure whether he thinks River is actually talking to dead people or is merely unbalanced.Sorcha Cusack of the great Cusack family of Irish actors, recently seen as the straight-laced Catholic housekeeper on "Father Brown," polishes off her acting chops as Stevie's angry mother.The rest of the cast is uniformly brilliant, from Marsan's wailing Lambeth Poisoner Cream to Rosa Fellows as the understanding police psychologist and Lesley Manville as the beleaguered head of the homicide unit. Not a weak link in the bunch."River," beautifully photographed in a cool, shadowy style to match its mysterious aura, is worth every moment of its six episodes. But you'll have to pay attention _ and you'll be glad you did.

So glad I found this. Genuine masterpiece. Acting is believable and tender. The plot is complicated but not unbelievable. It has grit and charm and love and pathos and comedy and music. "Sing! You nutter"

As per reviews below by Joe & Judy..... A GREAT BIG DITTO to both! Everyone involved in the making of "River" are to be congratulated on the perfection of this miniseries. It engrossed me and I paid full attention to every detail and nuance, which is most unusual! With a lot of the tripe churned out these days, especially from America, I switch off and also never go to the cinema anymore. English dramas are so far ahead of the world, in every aspect and "River" sits proudly on top of the pile for me. A BIG Thank you to all involved XXX

"River" is a police/ crime drama that stands out from so many others. It's very human. It tells a story that most people can relate to in one way or another. The development of the two main characters, "River," and his partner, "Stevie," is enjoyable to watch. The more we get to know who Stevie was, the more we know who River is. Much of what I liked about this series is sensory; beyond just the story line; rainy London streets and city lights, the soundtrack...and as we are seeing things from the point of view (mostly) of River, we see Stevie through his eyes, too. She is beloved. This is one of those rare series where once you've finished the last episode, you'll want to go right back to the first one again. And that's saying something; because there's only one season. Heartbreaking, warm, suspenseful. Just beautiful. Although Stellan Skarsgard very adeptly and tenderly plays the role of "River," I have to admit now I want to go back and watch everything Nicola Walker (who plays "Stevie") ever did.