Above Suspicion

So it's Sunday evening and I had nothing better to do... But I was happily surprised by this movie. Scott Bakula undoubtedly makes the movie, but the plot's also not too shabby. It's twisty enough to hold your attention, but straight forward enough to not be too taxing on the old brain cells. Some of the acting is, admittedly, a bit wooden. And I'm not entirely sure who did kill the one guy half way through the film, or why. And why does his wife looks so happy at the end? Something amiss there, I'm sure. Maybe there were going to make a spin-off film about how she did away with him. But still, very pleasing Sunday evening viewing. And now it's time for bed.

This is one of those films which apparently wasn't released - at least not widely - and I'd never seen it listed anywhere until now. I've always found Scott Bakula's work interesting, and he's one of the more likable actors around. The same is true of Annabella Sciorra, although their chemistry as the 13-year husband and wife, and model citizens/parents, etc., wasn't exactly "white-hot."

But this was still an interesting story, even in spite of this, and much better than a lot of the more elaborate releases both on television and big screens.

Although this wasn't the typical "Lifetime, made-for-TV" flick, it had the feel of one - and certainly one of the best ones. These movies often have the devious spouse, out to eliminate the other, sometimes with a "double life," sometimes not. Others deal with a secret, jaded past, and usually has a former significant other who arrives to spill the beans and menace his/her new family. And then there's the "best friend/neighbor" secretly disrupting the hero or heroine's life, and often planning to bump him/her off and fill the void.

So this picture, with the former life, long hidden, which eventually comes to light with substantial danger and consequences, and the inevitable suspicions that the "hero" may have a dark side, and be perpetrating the dangers which ensue - is not original at all. However, here it is presented with more believability and realism than normally, and with a satisfying resolution. Often these films take an hour and 58 minutes of the airtime to build to a predictable, all-too-brief, "2-minute" resolution. However, the last 20 minutes or so here present a truly interesting, strong (and heartfelt) climax.

Besides the two leads, the supporting actors (daughter, business partner and his wife, and the authorities from Bakula's past) are first-rate, and are a major reason this story is well-above the usual fare seen in this venue.

The story for this film was a good idea, but it seemed to me that there was just something lacking, perhaps more attention to detail could have been employed. The main character was believable but the relationship between him and his wife was very flat. There was just no chemistry between the actors and I never believed for one moment that the wife loved the husband. Shame really, because how could you not love Scott Bakula!!

The remote slipped out of my hand and remained there till the final credits rolled. Great writing. Insanely unpredictable plot twists, almost all of them believable (the one that bothered me is hidden in a dictionary). This movie will make you doubt your closest friends and suspect them of murder. It will have you hiring private investigators and calling them from burner phones. Your own spouse's quirks will suddenly no longer make sense and you'll go rifling through their things for clues. You'll find them, then act strange around them till they accuse you of paranoia. Then you'll find out they never played Donald Duck at Disneyworld, that everything was a big lie. Or was it? Highly recommended to all fans of fine thriller mysteries.

Watched this for Scott Bakula, who was very good. He plays a prominent businessman with a wife (Annabelle Sciorra) and daughter. He coaches a winning baseball team where his daughter is the star.

Unfortunately, he had a life before this, and it catches up with him. He is the son of a mafia kingpin, and he was accused of killing his fiancee years earlier. He now lives with a new name, in a new place.

The detectives after him believe he has a ledger of payoffs. If he will turn it over, they will walk away. He doesn't believe them.

Meanwhile, his wife learns he hasn't been honest with her about a recent trip; she finds a photo of another woman in his wallet, and asks a friend to check it out.

This was pretty good, with a fine cast: besides Bakula and Sciorra, there are Ed Asner and George Dzunda in support.

A couple of twists keep you interested, as well as the acting.