"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" In the Wee Small Hours: Part 2 (2005)

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Director:

Jean de Segonzac

Writers:

Dick Wolf (creator)
Rene Balcer (developer)

TV Series:

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2001)

Original Air Date:

6 November 2005 (Season 5, Episode 7)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

The case continues in part two as the evidence mounts against the judge, who strikes back in very personal ways. |

Plot Keywords:

Detective | New York City | Trial | Gun | Interrogation

Cast

Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Detective Robert Goren
Kathryn Erbe	...	Detective Alexandra Eames
Chris Noth	...	Detective Mike Logan
Annabella Sciorra	...	Detective Carolyn Barek
Jamey Sheridan	...	Captain James Deakins
Courtney B. Vance	...	A.D.A. Ron Carver
Colm Meaney	...	Judge Harold Garrett
Matt O'Leary	...	Ethan Garrett
Lucinda Jenney	...	Elise Garrett
Geneva Carr	...	Faith Yancy
Kathleen McNenny	...	Mrs. Lunden
Leslie Hendrix	...	Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers
Oni Faida Lampley	...	Eunice Peterson
Gerry Becker	...	Attorney Cleveland
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	D.A. Arthur Branch

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

New Zealand:M (DVD rating) | USA:TV-14

Company:

Wolf Films

Quotes:

District Attorney Arthur Branch: An arrest warrant for Judge Harold Garrett... Hot-tub Harry.
ADA Ron Carver: The circumstantial evidence and the statement from his son.
District Attorney Arthur Branch: Ah, This won't do...
[Tears the arrest warrant]
District Attorney Arthur Branch: At all.
ADA Ron Carver: Arthur?
District Attorney Arthur Branch: Arresting a judge for murder on an election year... is not peanuts. If the District Attorney is going to arrest a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of New York.
[Signs the new arrest warrant]
District Attorney Arthur Branch: The signature of the District Attorney damn well better be on that warrant. Arthur Branch, Esquire.
[Handles the arrest warrant to ADA Carver]
[...]

Well-executed by all parties concerned!

The fifth season of "Criminal Intent" saw a change in format: rotating stars. Regulars Vincent D'onofrio and Kathryn Erbe alternated with newcomers Chris Noth, reprising his "Mike Logan" character from the original "Law & Order, and Annabella Sciorra. Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance returned in their respective supporting roles of Captain Deakins and ADA Carver. The change in program allowed the writers variety in dealing with the different acting styles of D'onofrio and Noth, along with the different investigative techniques of the characters they played.

No where is this better shown than in the two-parter "In the Wee Small Hours," aired during the November sweeps. Both parts permit all six of the principals to appear together in a combined effort to solve the disappearance of a visiting high school student and the apparent involvement of a respected judge ("DS9's" Colm Meaney) and his son (Matt O'Leary).

Meaney, who appeared in the Oscar-nominated "The Commitments," affects a believable American accent (occasionally slipping into his Irish brogue) and effectively portrays a man with a fetish of his own coupled with a desire to keep his, as well as his son's, business private. His character will do whatever is possible, including intimidation of the detectives, to maintain his judicial standing and reputation.

Meaney, O'Leary, and additional guest Lucinda Jenney, as the judge's suffering wife, deliver Emmy-worthy performances.

And credit must be given to Geneva Carr in her role of the Nancy Grace-like "Faith Yancy". Not only does Carr match the lawyer/TV host's relentless hosting/questioning style but she does a pretty good southern accent, too.

The writers of this installment had fun crafting dialog that is reflective of the different characters, rife with sarcasm and wit. "In the Wee Small Hours" benefits from its longer length, allowing more character interaction and development, ending with a highly satisfying resolution.

And a revelation involving the Goren and Eames characters is surprising.