New Tricks is not the best of the British crime genre. In fact, it is closer to Fawlty Towers than to Prime Suspect. However, I appreciate it for its light touch and its ability to use British women actors "of a certain age". British TV and movies make good use of their talent pool of women over 40. If Hollywood needs a mature woman actor, they usually take a gorgeous twenty-something and make her spend two hours in the make-up trailer prior to shooting. Think Charlize Theron in "Monster". In "New Tricks" we have seen some splendid faces from the past, most of whom have been making a steady living in British theater and TV since their glory days on the screen. Guest actors have included Honor Blackman, Jane Asher, Harriet Walter and Rita Tushingham. Long may they grace our TV screens.
Review of New Tricks
