JACK REED: A SEARCH FOR JUSTICE
US, 1994, 90 minutes, Colour.
Brian Dennehy, Charles S. Dutton, Susan Ruttan, Miguel Ferrer.
Directed by Brian Dennehy.
Jack Reed: A Search for Justice is one in a series of telemovies starring Brian Dennehy as a former priest who belongs to the Chicago police. In many ways a rough diamond, he is too intense for fellow police, too upright and too dedicated. He never receives promotions.
In this film he confronts an ex-biker, bored with life, who owns a strip club and who eventually murders a pregnant girlfriend. He is played by Miguel Ferrer - who has a strong speech at the end explaining his boredom and the need to make excitement of his life, even with transgression. Susan Ruttan is Dennehy's wife, Charles S. Dutton his partner who gets promoted because of the need for affirmative action as regards race presence in the police force.
The film was executive produced and co-written by Dennehy, who not only stars but also directs. It is an interesting people investigation.
1. The popularity of this kind of telemovie? People investigations, crimes?
2. Brian Dennehy and his contribution to the series, production, writing, direction, acting? His screen presence, his size, his intense dedication to justice, his being passed over, his background in the priesthood, his family life?
3. The plausibility of the plot: the presentation of biker gangs, the strip joints, the drug deals? The bored ex-biker who becomes a local celebrity, astute businessman, contributor to charities, with friends in the police? His attitude towards Reed, trying to sell him a car, clashing because of Reed's visit to his wife, covering up the murder, the pressure, the violence? His final arrest and confession? The deals and his contact with the authority, "The Machine"?
4. The pregnant girl, at the club, the businessman, the clients, her relationship with Wyn, her pregnancy and wanting the baby? Her death? Her friendship with the black lady, her information to the police, reluctant with Reed, at home with Charlie, going to the funeral? Her testimony?
5. The investigation, interrogations, the body, the connections, the addresses, the autopsy, the discovery about the gun and the bank robbery? Confronting the bikers in the club, their wanting to do violence to Mike? The pinpointing of Wyn, interrogations, the confession?
6. The family life, Reed's wife, at home, the son, the daughter? Her going to the club and getting all the information? The biker's threat to her and her daughter in the car?
7. Charlie, black, his wife, partnering Reed, learning from him, Reed suspecting him of giving information to the authorities, his integrity, promotion, following the leads, interrogating Mrs Rooney? The socials? His being approached by The Machine, asked to collaborate and play in the team, his own personal integrity?
8. Mike, working for Wyn, driving the car, his lies to the police, his explanations - and his being discovered lying, his fear of death, collaboration, the threat to his life and his house? The flashbacks and what actually happened?
9. Films like this developing a sense of justice, the law, responsibility, guilt? Violence in contemporary society and the role of the police?
