Routine thriller that never rises above mediocrity, although the attractive and competent cast gives some class to an otherwise very modest and forgettable production. Still, it's watchable enough to stay in the two-star rating territory.
7 Reviews
The movie is good thriller material but the last 30 minutes are ridicules.
Boba_Fett113812 May 2006
The movie starts of well. The story is nicely build up and the characters are portrayed nicely. The story itself is pretty well constructed and has some good thriller elements in it. Nothing too original but enough fine story material to make a good decent movie with. However in the last 30 minutes the movie loses all its credibility when the story becomes unlikely and the characters their actions also become ridicules to follow.
It's a real shame. Not that the movie had really much potential but it still seemed good enough material to make a pleasant, light easy to follow-thriller with. The actors certainly seemed to believe in the movie. It's too bad that after the well build up first halve, the second halve and especially toward the ending of the movie, all logic is abandoned and the movie turns into nothing more than a ridicules and unlikely thriller. All of the sudden several new characters pop-up that not only seem unnecessary but they are also lacking in fundamental things such as likability, credibility and depth. At times I didn't even knew who were the good guys and the bad guys anymore.
Bruce Greenwood does a really good job at portraying his character. Virginia Madsen also does a decent job but her performance is not as memorable. She also isn't always likable enough as the main character. Her actions don't always make her character believable and likable enough. Not Madsen her fault of course, just blame it on the script.
The movie is made without much style and flair. A typical made-for-TV movie. It's not the most exciting or original thriller to watch but it's still all decent enough, aside from the horrible final 30 minutes of the movie.
5/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
It's a real shame. Not that the movie had really much potential but it still seemed good enough material to make a pleasant, light easy to follow-thriller with. The actors certainly seemed to believe in the movie. It's too bad that after the well build up first halve, the second halve and especially toward the ending of the movie, all logic is abandoned and the movie turns into nothing more than a ridicules and unlikely thriller. All of the sudden several new characters pop-up that not only seem unnecessary but they are also lacking in fundamental things such as likability, credibility and depth. At times I didn't even knew who were the good guys and the bad guys anymore.
Bruce Greenwood does a really good job at portraying his character. Virginia Madsen also does a decent job but her performance is not as memorable. She also isn't always likable enough as the main character. Her actions don't always make her character believable and likable enough. Not Madsen her fault of course, just blame it on the script.
The movie is made without much style and flair. A typical made-for-TV movie. It's not the most exciting or original thriller to watch but it's still all decent enough, aside from the horrible final 30 minutes of the movie.
5/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
Where's Jack?
sol121812 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
(Some Spoilers) Having set up his faithful wife Annie, Virgina Madsen, is his own murder as well as implicating her in a 2.7 million bank heist that he engineered adulterous ex-cop and bank security guard Jack Westford, Bruce Greenwood, plans to disappear off the face of the earth to live off his ill gotten gains. Jack thinks that he's now home free to flee with his lover, a former teller at the bank that he just robbed, Isbella Martens, Kristen Hockings,to Mexico with the stolen cash. It just turns out that Jack didn't expect Isbella's jealous and hot headed ex-boyfriend Ray Partana, Carlos Gomez, to be casing him out and seeing what he did in framing his wife by staging his own phony murder. Ray now wants payback his former girlfriend Isbella and whatever, Ray doesn't know exactly how much,money Jack histed or else he'll go straight to the local authorities, the cops, and tell them everything that he knows.
Doing the stupid thing in confronting Jack, an ex-cop who was fired for brutalizing his prisoners, in his hotel room and demanding payback Ray gets it all right. Ray gets payback for trying to blackmail Jack by ending up with his guts spilling out of his stomach. With the boyfriend now out of the way Jack and Isbella are free take off south of the border with his old lady Annie holding the bag with a count of murder and grand larceny hanging over her head. It's then when Annie get her head and act together by playing junior private investigator and tracking down her rotten and good for nothing of a heel husband Jack; all this while she was a fugitive from justice.
A bit too much to take in Annie changing from a doting and naive suburban housewife into what looks like a tough "Biker Mama", dressed in both denims and leather. Annie ends up doing what not even the police as well as that sneering full of himself and obnoxious bail bondsman Harry Carven, Eddie Velez,could do; track down Jack and bring him to final and ultimate justice.
Like a female version of the fugitive Annie is on and the run one step ahead of the police all throughout the movie in trying to prove her innocence in her husbands Jack murder. The fact that Jack is suspected in having been murdered by Annie is one thing but how did the cops and bail bondsman Carven, who's to get 20% of the 2.7 million if he recovers it, connect her to the stolen cash? The half-a** explanation by the cops that she and Jack were in on the bank job and there was a falling out between the two, which lead to Annie murdering him, just doesn't wash with both Jack and the money never being found. Couldn't the police put together a far better explanation or scenario in the fact that both Jack & Isbella disappeared almost at the same time, with her quiting her job just two weeks earlier,right after the bank robbery!
In fact it was Annie who after finding a receipt for a diamond ring that her cheating husband Jack bought for his one and only love, whom he later murdered, Isbella proved that they both had the reason and means, by working in the bank, to pull off the robbery which the totally out of the loop and Innocent Annie didn't. Instead of going to the police, this while she was still on the lamb, with this very important piece of evidence Annie instead put her neck on the line tracking down Jack in Mexico to exact bitter vengeance on him for what he did to her. Maybe in Annie's mind this would be far more effective and justified then just having him arrested tried and convicted of his crimes. Crimes that Jack so maliciously concocted and framed her for committing.
Doing the stupid thing in confronting Jack, an ex-cop who was fired for brutalizing his prisoners, in his hotel room and demanding payback Ray gets it all right. Ray gets payback for trying to blackmail Jack by ending up with his guts spilling out of his stomach. With the boyfriend now out of the way Jack and Isbella are free take off south of the border with his old lady Annie holding the bag with a count of murder and grand larceny hanging over her head. It's then when Annie get her head and act together by playing junior private investigator and tracking down her rotten and good for nothing of a heel husband Jack; all this while she was a fugitive from justice.
A bit too much to take in Annie changing from a doting and naive suburban housewife into what looks like a tough "Biker Mama", dressed in both denims and leather. Annie ends up doing what not even the police as well as that sneering full of himself and obnoxious bail bondsman Harry Carven, Eddie Velez,could do; track down Jack and bring him to final and ultimate justice.
Like a female version of the fugitive Annie is on and the run one step ahead of the police all throughout the movie in trying to prove her innocence in her husbands Jack murder. The fact that Jack is suspected in having been murdered by Annie is one thing but how did the cops and bail bondsman Carven, who's to get 20% of the 2.7 million if he recovers it, connect her to the stolen cash? The half-a** explanation by the cops that she and Jack were in on the bank job and there was a falling out between the two, which lead to Annie murdering him, just doesn't wash with both Jack and the money never being found. Couldn't the police put together a far better explanation or scenario in the fact that both Jack & Isbella disappeared almost at the same time, with her quiting her job just two weeks earlier,right after the bank robbery!
In fact it was Annie who after finding a receipt for a diamond ring that her cheating husband Jack bought for his one and only love, whom he later murdered, Isbella proved that they both had the reason and means, by working in the bank, to pull off the robbery which the totally out of the loop and Innocent Annie didn't. Instead of going to the police, this while she was still on the lamb, with this very important piece of evidence Annie instead put her neck on the line tracking down Jack in Mexico to exact bitter vengeance on him for what he did to her. Maybe in Annie's mind this would be far more effective and justified then just having him arrested tried and convicted of his crimes. Crimes that Jack so maliciously concocted and framed her for committing.
Several factors combine to make this an excellent TV drama
president24200317 February 2003
Virginia Madsen provides a strong, first class, convincing and excellent performance in this interesting and enthralling drama full of suspense and intrigue. It is good to see Madsen portray the victim -as opposed to the victimizer-for once and she adjusts to this role adeptly and intelligently -proving her credentials as a wonderful and multi-talented actress. Bruce Greenwood, Kristen Dalton and a strong supporting cast also contribute into making this TV movie enjoyable and well worth watching. The plot could be interpreted as slightly recycled -having been portrayed on made for TV drama on several occasions previously-but a well written script and a strong supporting cast transforms it into a first rate movie.
TV version of Double Jeopardy.
OllieSuave-0072 April 2015
Virginia Madsen stars in a story where character Annie marries cop Jack Westford (Bruce Greenwood), who was later fired from the force six years later and begins an affair with an employee. He disappears with stolen money and fakes his death, framing the crime on Annie. As a result, Annie is suspected of killing Jack and stealing the money.
This movie contains the tension of the motion picture, Double Jeopardy, which also stars Bruce Greenwood that portrays a man faking his own death and framing his wife (although this TV movie came first). This TV movie has the mystery and suspense that captivates an audience and keeps the movie's momentum going quick. The tension builds in one scene after the other to its action-packed climax, from the moment Annie finds Jack missing to her struggling to clear her name and find her husband.
The movie may be a little predictable by the time the second half of the story comes along, but overall, it is a nice popcorn movie for the night.
Grade B-
This movie contains the tension of the motion picture, Double Jeopardy, which also stars Bruce Greenwood that portrays a man faking his own death and framing his wife (although this TV movie came first). This TV movie has the mystery and suspense that captivates an audience and keeps the movie's momentum going quick. The tension builds in one scene after the other to its action-packed climax, from the moment Annie finds Jack missing to her struggling to clear her name and find her husband.
The movie may be a little predictable by the time the second half of the story comes along, but overall, it is a nice popcorn movie for the night.
Grade B-
A great change of pace for Virginia Madsen, Very Good movie.
pizzawarrior1956-129 September 2005
Though this is not a GREAT movie, it is a VERY, VERY GOOD movie; and for once Virginia Madsen plays a character which not only do we have some sympathy for, but also very likable as well.
"Bitter Vengeance" tells how an ex-cop pulls off the so-called 'perfect crime', as well as what may be the 'perfect getaway', by faking his own death, and pinning his 'murder' on his stunned wife !!! Usually, Virginia is cast as the accomplice in this type of story, judging from her more recent work, so this is something new and something good for her, for she seems to be more suited to this type of role.
And when she discovers what really happened, she goes hunting down her hubby and his sexy mistress, with some help from friends and a handsome detective.
From her past credits and knowing her abilities, I would not want to be in Bruce Greenwood's shoes at the end.
Once again, it is good to see Virginia Madsen in such a role, and while I am not sure why she took this part, it is my hope that she learns that it is good to play such a role once in a while, and she seeks these roles out more often.
While she has every right to try her talent in new and daring venues, her audience deserves something like this, to be reminded how special she really is.
All in all, a VERY GOOD MOVIE !!!!!!!
"Bitter Vengeance" tells how an ex-cop pulls off the so-called 'perfect crime', as well as what may be the 'perfect getaway', by faking his own death, and pinning his 'murder' on his stunned wife !!! Usually, Virginia is cast as the accomplice in this type of story, judging from her more recent work, so this is something new and something good for her, for she seems to be more suited to this type of role.
And when she discovers what really happened, she goes hunting down her hubby and his sexy mistress, with some help from friends and a handsome detective.
From her past credits and knowing her abilities, I would not want to be in Bruce Greenwood's shoes at the end.
Once again, it is good to see Virginia Madsen in such a role, and while I am not sure why she took this part, it is my hope that she learns that it is good to play such a role once in a while, and she seeks these roles out more often.
While she has every right to try her talent in new and daring venues, her audience deserves something like this, to be reminded how special she really is.
All in all, a VERY GOOD MOVIE !!!!!!!
Starts out very good, but . . .
guilfisher-110 February 2007
This is a very taut film in the beginning and well played by the leading players. Bruce Geenwood, who is always good, does an admirable job throughout until the end. Virginia Madsen starts out good, which is a surprise as I've always thought of her as a Sharon Stone wannabee. But then after a while she turns into this Nancy Drew detective and goes about doing most unbelievable things. Changing from a mousy type into this Charlie's Angels character and does it badly. Once more she is a total disappointment renewing my original thoughts about being a bad actress. Kristen Dalton isn't that much better as the second women in Bruce's life. Just another pretty face, and not much else. Eddie Velez is good as another money hungry thief. Stuart Cooper directed this and I said earlier he got off to an excellent start and then it all got bogged down with ridiculous unbelievable events.
This viewer would have preferred the dame to stay in jail and Greenwood to get away with it all. Oh well, you can't have it all.
This viewer would have preferred the dame to stay in jail and Greenwood to get away with it all. Oh well, you can't have it all.
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