As Seen on BBC America Four gripping mysteries: Resurrection Men The First Stone The Naming of the Dead Knots and Crosses
In Detective Inspector John Rebus, the hero of Ian Rankin’s bestselling crime novels, Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson’s War, Casanova, Messiah) has found what critics call "a role he was born to play." Incorrigible, insubordinate, and deeply troubled, the hard-drinking Scottish detective plays by his own rules, hounding down murderers in modern-day Edinburgh with a single-mindedness that his superiors barely tolerate. Rebus’s partner, Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke (Claire Price, Poirot: The Hollow, Twelfth Night), learns from him even while she covers for him.
These four grim, hard-boiled mysteries—including those based on Resurrection Men (Edgar Award®, Best Novel) and The Naming of the Dead (British Book Award, Crime Thriller of the Year)—show Rebus at his wiliest and most willful.
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE Ian Rankin biography and cast filmographies.
The bitter, scowling Scottish detective John Rebus returns in four more grim and twisty mysteries, based on the hugely popular crime novels of Ian Rankin. The excellent Ken Stott again plays the surly sleuth as a bull in a china shop, who follows his gut and is rarely wrong. "Knots and Crosses" begins where most detective stories end, with the criminal on trial; when a confession proves inadmissible, Rebus finds himself under investigation as he tries to find out why a stabbing in an alley escalates into a series of killings. "The Naming of the Dead" uses the backdrop of the WTO protests in Edinburgh as Rebus falls for the sister of a government minister who may or may not have committed suicide--and for once, he may let his personal involvement get in the way of his dogged pursuit. In "The First Stone," the Scottish clergy work to keep Rebus from tearing the veil from a decades-old cover-up. And in "Resurrection Men," based on one of Rankin's most acclaimed books, Rebus is forced into a disciplinary treatment program, where a couple of corrupt cops try to lure him over to their side. This last film gives Rebus' partner, Siobhan Clarke (Claire Price, Poirot: The Hollow), the chance to spearhead an investigation and not merely follow in Rebus' wake--but of course, even when he's been taken off a case, he badgers her into seeing things his way. It must be noted that over the course of these four 70 minute TV-movies, Rebus may be becoming a lovable rogue (the sort whose gruff exterior hides a heart of gold) instead of the genuinely bilious, obsessive misanthrope that made the series so distinctive and fascinating. Nonetheless, the complex plots, vigorous performances, and crisp direction will keep you engaged. --Bret Fetzer
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