As a TV movie psychological thriller, this is passable. However, it doesn't fit the style or the wit and charm of The Rockford Files we know and love. Too serious, too heavy-handed. It is overly pessimistic, and isn't befitting at all to the last installment of The Rockford Files. For a show that got an abrupt ending during its seasonal run, this final TV movie was an opportunity to celebrate Rockford, the wonderful characters, and showing another triumphant, witty, and satisfying James Rockford investigation, to end things right. It doesn't even end with the Rockford Files theme but some depressingly bleak piano solo. Seriously?
So, a real bit of a disappointment that way. As a thriller it is not great, and seems a bit unrealistic in its treatment of the falsely accused. I'm not sure exactly why the writers needed to take the final Rockford Files movie and turn it into such a serious indictment of the media and the police force. Just really kind of odd in its intensity.
If you are watching the Rockford movies in order, make an exception and don't watch this last. Swap it with the third to last or second to last movie, Punishment and Crime or Murders and Misdemeanors. They'll leave a much better taste in your mouth and they fit the Rockford style much better. This movie could have passed in my book as a mediocre installment in the middle of the TV movie series, but as the last one it's kind of unforgivable.
