Reviews

Javier Falcon is a cool Spanish Chief Inspector based in Seville Spain. He is the brainchild of a British crime writer, Robert Wilson, who combined crime solving and the psychological development of the hero in a series of four mysteries. I think that understanding the author's background and intent may help readers understand some of the negative reviews of this highly entertaining and sophisticated work.

One reviewer complains that Falcon makes mistakes. In my view this is not a weakness of the work. Wilson's characters are fallible and thus human, credible and interesting.

Other reviewers complain that the actors do not affect Spanish accents. Well, it is an English language production. The Spanish setting for the story is well evoked through the scenery, the backgrounds of the characters, the sense of heat, a bull fight and the legal system in play. I was not at all distracted by the actors' natural English accents. If anything, they contributed positively and reinforced understanding of roles.

I am inclined to disagree with the reviewer who found the gore was extraneous. Shocking, yes, but it was relevant.

I agree that the sex did not have adequate lead-up. I too found the hero's constant drinking of bottled water tiresome. I have no idea what powdered street drug he uses to spike it. It certainly does not seem to alter his behaviour.

Yes, the plot is complex. Another strength. You will likely be left with questions and possibly a wish to watch the film again for the answers. It is that good.

The hero, played by Kevin Kline, appears to be an immature 57 year old obsessed with money. He has inherited an apartment in Paris but can't convert it to cash because an elderly lady, played by Maggie Smith, has a lifetime lease.

Spouse and I agreed that the script was poor and the hero thoroughly unlikable. I was ready to stop watching when he grabbed money from another man's wallet. The clincher was his righteous moralizing to a woman (the old lady's daughter) who was having an affair with a married man.

Was hoping for something with the kind of witty sparkle that Maggie Smith provides in her Downton Abbey role. Instead, just a flat story with little going for it but the beautiful Paris setting.

Cool male Italian detective, Soneri, with likable goofy sidekick and good looking girlfriends. Stories in the series are interesting and easy to follow. English subtitling is so good that this viewer and his spouse found the dialogue easier to follow than many stories in English, for example, in the Inspector Lewis series.

The hero's constant cigar smoking seemed phony when first encountered but we got used to it. The Russian girlfriend became tiresomely predictable after a while but the series editors found a way of sending her home and providing Soneri with a new love interest.

Good cinematography. Fun to experience Italy.

We like the series. Hope to eventually see all available episodes.