"Double Jeopardy" starts out rather rough and
lifeless, not quite sure how to set itself up for the
real story. This is where Libby (Judd) is framed (or
did she really do it?) for the murder of her hubby
Nick. She's quickly herded off to prison where she
spends six (or was it eight?) years in what seems
like 30 seconds. From there she's released to an
institution for parolees which is overseen by Tommy
Lee. This is where the movie really starts (so show
up to the theater at least 30 minutes late).
Double Jeopardy gives Libby the right to blow Nick
away (if he's still alive) without worry of a second
trial ("not true" says one real life lawyer I've
heard). Anyway (for the purposes of the film), we're
left to wonder if this sweet loving wife, would do
it. But Libby is more interested in finding her son.
So she busts out of the parole halfway house and
begins breaking all kinds of laws. Which leads to two
or three big action sequences. The first making me
painfully embarrassed for the filmmakers. The second
being very enjoyable and almost perfectly believable.
At that moment I was willing to change my mind about
this picture. But an absurd cemetery scene near the
end buried any hopes of that.
Tommy Lee is awesome as always. Ashley Judd is
unusually un-inspired, though on occasion delivers a
zinger. For example, when getting hit-on by some
unknowing male she responds, "Sure, I'd love to sit
and chat with you, but I've just got to call my
parole officer first." The movie for the most part is
a hodgepodge of drama, action and even comedy. It
just doesn't flow, giving the feel of too many
writers and/or directors.
The film would have benefited from a longer more
in-depth prison experience, during which we could
have seen Judd learn all the tricks of the trade.
Tricks that would come in handy later. To do this,
time could be taken away from the frame job
sequences. Or trash that whole section altogether
(it's simply not compelling, even if you don't know
if she really killed him or not). Start in prison,
tell the frame-job story in flashbacks (if needed).
Kill and bury the cemetery scene. Develop Lee's
conflicting motivation to both arrest and assist Judd
-- that's the most interesting aspect of the film
anyway.
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