P.D. James - A Certain Justice (1999)

aCertain Justice

The DVD is suffciently close to the original P. D. James nopvel to partake of its pistache, and that is an advantage, to me. The scenery is of the usual quality for BBC products, making it more enjoyable. IO recommend it to all mystery lovers. August 26, 2008

When vengeance isn't left to God

This 1998 Anglia TV adaptation of P. D. James' "A Certain Justice" is not as sumptuous in scenery and production values as the more recent BBC ones are, but it is nonetheless an excellent film. This features actor Roy Marsden who is best known as Lady James' stock character, Commander Adam Dalgliesh of New Scotland Yard. Mr. Marsden portrayed Dalgliesh for fifteen years and "A Certain Justice" was the last James adaptation for him. I have watched him all throughout the `80s and `90s and have grown very fond of his interpretation of my favorite fictional detective.

This particular mystery is set in the English legal community where adversarial matches are not limited to the courts. Combative Venetia Aldridge, Queen's Counsel, is an ambitious and intelligent lawyer. She is found murdered in chambers shortly after successfully defending Gary Ashe who's been tried for the stabbing murder of his aunt. As in most James whodunits, there is no paucity of suspects, from Venetia's colleagues who have axes to grind to those who'd rather see her dead than for her to put another murderer back in the streets. Venetia's dead body is discovered wearing a judge's horsehair wig that's been doused in blood, the desecration of the body an act of mockery. Cmdr. Dalgliesh is called upon to investigate the macabre murder and as the investigation deepens, more killings occur.

This is Lady James' 10th Dalgliesh novel and there were signs in the book that indicated she was tiring of her sleuth. For example, in the book, Dalgliesh does not make an appearance until about a third of the way and there seemed to be a remoteness to his participation. In the adaptation, however, there is no such indication. This is, in every sense of it, a Dalgliesh film, and a superbly-acted one at that. It preserves the precise plotting and sardonic style of characterization in the novel, a faithfulness to the source that I appreciate and admire. The mystery itself is sterling James. Just when you think you've solved it, you're proved wrong, finding yourself reassessing the facts.

The resolution, as jaw-dropping as it is, is partially open-ended. Even if its logic is unassailable, the viewer may not find complete satisfaction. I rather prefer it as is and believe it to be more realistic. Everyday, millions of people seek justice in courts, but the courts are a fallible system. Justice, we sometimes find, has very little to do with fairness. Both the book and the film are titled "A Certain Justice" and I'm afraid that's all we will get--not an absolute justice, but just a certain justice.

[As I'm wont to do, I've included in the Comment section a list of characters and brief notes about each, hopefully, to help. For those who'd prefer to do without, kindly just skip it. Also, not meaning to insult anyone's intelligence, there's a phrase that's spoken several times in the film that some American viewers may not be familiar with--"taking silk." It refers to being conferred the status of Queen's (or King's) Counsel, when a barrister wears a silk robe amongst other privileges. Additionally, cases are referred to as Regina vs ______, using the Latin word for queen.] May 31, 2008

Rough Uncertain Justice

"P.D. James -- A Certain Justice" was released in 1999 as a three part television serial, based on "A Certain Justice," by the celebrated, successful English mystery author, Baroness James. It ran on many Public Television stations. It starred an older-looking Roy Marsden, 15 years into playing the author's best-known character, Commander Adam Dalgleish, sensitive poet/homicide detective, who solves most of her intelligent, complex, atmospheric mysteries. The drama was not made by the British Broadcasting Company, but rather by England's Anglia television for ITV. This may explain the fact that very few of the players are well-known, expensive. You may only recognize Ian McNiece and Frederick Trewes among her fellow attorneys, and many of the players that surround Marsden are not as expressive as they might be.

The tv series follows the novel closely. It centers around Venetia Aldridge, QC, a star of the British legal system -- we can tell that because, as the action begins, she's defending a murder case in London's historic Old Bailey courthouse, in the hallowed Courtroom I. We're told by many of her fellow barristers that she's a win at any costs kind of gal, a fact the opening makes clear. She wins acquittal for her client Gary Ashe, one of the most villainous- and psychotic-looking, smirking,unlikable defendants you will ever see. (Although her victory comes as a result of one of the hoariest devices of courtroom drama, the old lady witness and her new glasses.) However, in what must surely be a repeating nightmare for this sort of attorney, with this sort of client, Ashe is no sooner off the hook than he schemes to get acquainted with her dumb, snippy, hard-to-take daughter Octavia, who's just dropped out of convent school. The young couple's doings will be the major subplot; driving the film to its suspenseful conclusion.

Venetia, who has her chambers in one of London's historic Inns of Court, is all-around abrasive. In her professional life, to her fellow attorneys and the chambers' staff; in her personal life to her housekeeper, her daughter, and her married lover, who's itching to end the affair. One morning she's found dead, stabbed with her own letter opener. The murderer, or another party, has placed a judge's wig on her head, and spilled a third party's blood over her. When Dalgleish is called to investigate, he has an embarassment of candidates to consider.

Mood and atmosphere are nicely set. The Inns of Court are portrayed in all their Dickensian glory, black robes, wigs and all. As a matter of fact, at one point Venetia verbally abuses a chambers' clerk, telling him that if Dickens were to return, that famous Victorian writer would recognize the employee.

In the manner of many English mystery shows, the episodes move slowly, no car chases to wake us up. The series is dark in its outlook, a downer, the three main characters, almost all the characters, are unlikable, and it's hard to care much about them. Furthermore, it's probable that none of the murders we are presented, particularly Venetia's, will ever come to court, giving us an emotionally unsatisfying ending in which only a rough justice is achieved. April 14, 2007

A Certain Justice

P.D. James' mysteries rank as outstanding entertainment. This CD featuring Roy Marsden as Adam Dagliesch is excellent. It has well developed characters, a complex plot involving actions that took place years before, and scenes in both London and on England's coast. I highly recommend this product. March 12, 2007

As usual a smash hit.

This is a great movie. As usual P. D. James' characters (all of them) are well crafted. The actors are well cast (as usual in almost anything from England). The story grabs you and holds you until the end. The people who make decisions for American TV should be required to do at least 10 years with the BBC learning the craft they haven't a clue about. August 6, 2006

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