I know Steve Fulcher and know the police. This is a 'good' story and a solid representation of how poor the management levels of the British Police are. Steve was totally screwed over by his supervisors, which in-turn led to failures in the case. Anyway! It's good TV and worth a look as it is pretty real to life and based around Steve's book about this part of his life.
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nm16925 July 2020
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leegal-655612 June 2020This is superb television drama. Don't know what the reviews talking about the camera motion are talking about-didn't notice a problem. Martin Freeman performance was outstanding as I expected and Imelda Staunton's performance as the untiring mother of the victim was truly award winning in every way. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and highly recommend it.
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Sleepin_Dragon24 November 2019A confession is a gritty six part drama, telling the real life crimes of Christopher Halliwell, the murders of Sian and Becky.
The fact that the crimes are still relatively recent, I found there to be a certain sensitivity in the way the story was told, it's presented as factual, rather then sensational, it's dramatic, but not stretched beyond belief.
I wondered how they could stretch this show over six episodes, but they do, it goes from the crime to the events of the trial.
You will learn the ins and outs of PACE and its right procedures.
Terrific performances, Martin Freeman and Imelda Staunton especially are both superb. It contains some real life footage.
The main talking point, the camera work, initially it irritated me, jumping about and zooming, after a few episodes I stopped noticing.
It's excellent. 9/10. -
Faircomment4 October 2019In 1984, when the Police and Criminal Evidence Act replaced the antiquated Judges Rules, nobody could have foreseen the dreadful consequences that this drama so vividly portrays. It would have been inconceivable that police procedures would have become paramount and the realities of dead bodies and grieving relatives judicially disregarded.
This story should be compulsory viewing for anyone who cares about our criminal justice system. The background and sub-plots are exceptionally realistic and the acting is superb. An excellent programme. -
akatic-218691 October 2019I can't understand all the pedantic reviews about camerawork,this is a great drama spoilt only because it's shown on itv interrupting the flow of the story,also I think Martin freeman is a great actor in everything he has played.the trouble with this is it's spread over so many weeks I will download the remaining episodes and binge.Once again cannot understand the negative reviews.
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earthlingsexperiencenottingham8 October 2019A terrible, sad story tastefully remade to tell the story of two beautiful girls who lost their lives to a hand of a murderer. Fantastic acting, especially imelda and martin. My only dislike, the comments made by one of the mothers'. It made me cut my rating. Definitely watch. Tear jerked.
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mmcshane-0823223 September 2019I agree that the idiot who came up with shaky camera work should be drummed out of film and I thought it had gone the way of the dodo but the negative reviews here are overdoing it.
There is some very good, understated, acting here. I also suspect some of the styling is intended to reflect the era.
It's also a long time since I've seen a film with the trailer "This is a true story" as opposed to the fatuous "Based on true events". I recall the story and this appears fairly accurate.
I agree, it's not as well made as it could be, but it's a lot better than some of the reviews here make out. -
itaylor-506659 October 2019Only watched 3 episodes so far. Suspenseful. Enjoyable. I don't know the real story, which is good. No spoilers. Normally, I hate any shows or movies that use hand-held cameras. In this case the show was so good I hadn't even realized that hand-held were used until I read the horde of crabby reviews that all focussed on that. Can't wait to binge watch the last 3 episodes.
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emilie-declerck13 January 2020I wish I could continue watching this series, this is my cup of tea and such great actors.... but the camera work made me seasick. So so sad, what a missed chance.....Stopped after episode 1 😢
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victoria-4329724 September 2019Yes, the camera work initially got to me too and for the first 10 minutes I wondered how on earth I would power through. However, after that 10 minutes I didn't notice it anymore. The storyline is captivating and the cast of talented actors is brilliant, the camera work slides into the background. It's your typical British crime drama.
I would urge anyone that was really excited about the prospect of watching this to do so and put the camera work to one side as once you get in to the story line (which you do so quickly as it's that gripping) you won't even notice!
It's a shame that such a good show has received such negative reviews as it's sadly going to be overlooked by many, but they'll be missing out!
I would have rated it higher but there's two episodes to go so I'm not sure how it will end! -
Interesting, good to watch, and there's nothing wrong with the camera
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andyking448 October 2019Loved this drama. It gets better & better. The 4th to 6th episodes are gripping. The use of the Camera work made it more realistic. Don't let the camera reviews put you off.
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pcting3 September 2019Gave me a headache watching it... i can't believe the horrible camera work
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KingMushCharva3 September 2019The cameraman is acting like he's had 5 cups of coffee and a full 4 pack of red bull.
Sad that such a simple mistake can ruin such a good series with plenty of potential -
Imagine speaking to a customer service representative on the phone. You have a genuine problem. You don't have answers. You want help. You are desperate. You are human. Yet, the person you're speaking to sounds like a robot. He or she is trained to be formal and follow a rulebook. The person speaks in script. This frustrates you more. You want the person capable of solving your problem to empathize with you first. You want the person to have a personality. You want to shake the person out of automated mode - innovate a little, lower the guard, react, be human. You blame the "higher-ups," the company, for being so inflexible.
A Confession, a six-part mini-series, examines that one 'representative' who decides to break script for the greater good. It tells the true story of a man who, in the heat of the moment, places instinct over procedure to preserve the humanity of the situation. That he is an officer of the law - a Detective Superintendent investigating the case of a missing girl - only heightens the honesty of what is quite an unusual narrative. The rules here are literally set in stone; they form an unemotional system that is designed to solve emotional conflict. (Notice, for example, the way a police officer delivers bad news to a family; every stoic expression is rehearsed.). As a result, A Confession is a police procedural about the deficiencies of procedure - a rare beast that distinguishes, and walks the fragile bridge, between truth and justice.
DS Steve Fulcher (Martin Freeman; going from Watson to Sherlock) launches a search mission for 22-year-old Sian O'Callaghan, who has disappeared after a night at the local pub. Her family, led by her mother (Siobhan Finneran), hopes for a miracle. Fulcher makes difficult decisions, like choosing to shadow a suspect instead of instantly arresting him; he presumes this will lead them to an alive Sian, while his superiors expect her to be dead. Most of all, he improvises in a tense interrogation sequence: a moment that, over time, will define his career. Some may view his thinking - as a father, not a hardened cop - as a careless mistake, while others may appreciate it as an act of inherent humanity. In a way, the series is a sadder, less revolutionary version of Clint Eastwood's Sully, where Tom Hanks played the heroic American pilot who successfully landed an airplane in the Hudson only to be hauled to an National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) hearing about suspected "pilot error". His employers look at him as a defaulter; the passengers look at him as a God. Sometimes, the line is blurred between the two, and it's the Captain's self-doubt - or lack of it - that pulls focus. The film exaggerates the close-mindedness of the NTSB, but A Confession looks at PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) with a similarly critical but less sensational gaze. It doesn't forget that, in the end, it's always about the victims and survivors. In the end, the hero is often relegated to the epilogue of history. -
BeneCumb18 March 2020A note "based on true events" or the like is often a sign of interest for me - then the story does get out of hand, and some aridity at the expense of realism is permissible. As for crime series, it is a plus if I am unaware of tenor and outcomes - then it is catchier to follow.
That is why A Confession was largely to my liking - in spite of gloominess and a few scenes outdoors only... And of course, the performances, particularly among the "older" generation: Martin Freeman, Siobhan Finneran, Imelda Staunton... And, as mentioned, I had no idea of the real events, the course had several moments of what´s next? to me, enabling me to address it as a crime story where the result and the guilt of the detainee were revealed in the end. Thus, a real police and court work, no constant chases-shootings, no people with "model face", etc. -
Siddhartha1419 October 2020A thoughtful and well-acted series based on a true story. Martin Freeman is amazing, as usual. Overall, I thought this was a very good mini-series.
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MsCateArcher27 January 2020I am upset because I have been wanting to see this mini series very much. What is this with that shaky camera work? It was impossible to watch. What are we, 10 year old kids to get excited over a wobbly screen? .I am so very sorry for everyone who worked and invested in this series, the camera just ruins it all.
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cepayne4 September 2019Seems the usual reviews from people unable to watch an episode without criticising the director/the acting/the camerawork. I am actually enjoying this show so far. Yes the camera work is different but it I guess supposed to mirror a fly on the wall type situation. So far it's a solid police procedural show. Hopefully it keeps its pace and energy.
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grandmabrat30 May 2020Good writing, Good acting, but then you are distracted by that jerky camera technique that has become necessary to some. Stop it and your work will be so much improved.
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b_marr-054977 October 2019This is a brilliant drama, probably because sadly it's true. Ignore the stuff about dodgy direction, and stuff about shaky cams, it's so involved you won't notice it. Excellent cast too. Martin Freeman always reliable and Jo Absolom who was excellent back in the day in EastEnders is an underrated actor.
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jackak-207534 September 2019The show is ok and the camera work is no more herky jerky than most shows we see in the last 20 years.
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ercoh21 September 2019I have decided to write this review to contradict many of the current other reviews that are negative despite the fact that, as of this time, no other regular TV watcher that has reviewed the show - has also seen the whole story unfolds - because it has not been completely aired yet. Therefore, any current account is partial and incomplete at best.
Given the above state of affairs, in my humble opinion, this far - after 3 episodes - I can say that the series is interesting, well acted and emotionally engaging. It is true that one has to get through the first episode that is somewhat less appealing, but afterwards the tension and drama intensify considerably. By and large, that is the case with many good TV shows, as not every good one start with a bang like Call of Duty.
Give it a try. -
emmabrown1-848-41205825 September 2019Good solid work, well scripted and performances excellent. Lots of comments on the camera work, which was a surprise to me as I didn't notice anything different from any other drama. Maybe small size or poor quality/ picture processing TVs are in the dock again? There is a vast difference in this nowadays. Don't know, but truly didn't see excessively shaky camera when watching.
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grandcirque3 September 2019With good actors and an intriguing plot, what could possibly go wrong? The answer is quite simple: a wobbly camera and insane close-ups..Why directors insist to use this kind of utterly annoying filming technique it's a mystery: when they'll learn that a shaking camera doesn't add realism? Another good series ruined by bad filming, what a waste