JACK REED, DEATH AND VENGEANCE

US, 1996, 86 minutes, Colour.
Brian Dennehy, Charles S. Dutton, Susan Ruttan, Anthony Zerbe, Joe Wharton, Peter Outerbridge.
Directed by Brian Dennehy.

Jack Reed, Death and Vengeance is a further telemovie in the series directed and written by Brian Dennehy. The character is a former priest who works now for the Chicago police. Susan Ruttan appears as his wife. Charles S. Dutton is his partner.

The film shows Jack Reed trying to bond with his son at camp but called in to investigate a murder - much to his son's relief. The focus is on killings among the Russian immigrants in the Russian section of Chicago. Peter Outerbridge effectively plays a ruthless killer and wheeler dealer among the Russians. Parallel to this story is a focus on a car accident where the son of the mayoral candidate, played by Joe Wharton, is responsible for reckless killing. Charles S. Dutton is in the hot seat as the politicians try to take over the investigation. Anthony Zerbe appears as an old-time civil rights lawyer who has accommodated to the 1990s and is manipulating politics.

The two stories work well together, Dennehy is effective as the star, also effective in his quality writing and his low-key direction.

1. The popularity of the Jack Reed films? Brian Dennehy's screen presence, his contribution in writing and directing? His background as an ex-priest, a policeman on the force, unorthodox methods, something of a rebel?

2. The Chicago settings, the Russian Orthodox church, the Russian sector, apartments and streets? The contrast with the precinct itself? The contrast with the banquet halls and offices of the politicians? The atmospheric musical score, quietly underlining the drama? The use of Russian hymns?

3. The title, the reference to death and vengeance to both stories?

4. The character of Jack Reed, age, experience, relationship with his wife, bringing the Russian woman home and her welcoming her, his son and daughter, the attempted bonding? His partner, detection, confrontations, wily, physical strength? His support of Charles Silvera, hoping for his honesty, supporting him after the mayor's announcement?

5. The Russian story: Vasily and his mental incapacities, urged on by Sergei, the killing of the man after taking the jewel, the brutality of Sergei, forcing Vasily to shoot? Their part-time work at the cemetery - and burying the bodies? The strike, the shooting of the people in the cemetery - because they would discover what was already in the graves? Sergei and his urging Vasily to kill Satan in the forms of the investigating police? Vasily and his arrest, the interviews, taking the play? In prison, Sergei not answering the phone, not visiting him? Reed supplying the cigarettes? Sergei, the siege, his shooting, the surliness of the interviews? His gang and their terrorising people? His escape from the building disguised as blind? The ultimate arrest, Reed and the interrogation, turning out the light, his fear of darkness? Going to prison, appealing to Vasily? Their deaths - each having arranged for the death of the other, Vasily using the cigarettes? The impact on Reed?

6. The Russian citizens, the priest at the church, the young woman and the death of her husband, a professor working at the cemetery, her child, not trusting the police? Her visit, Sergei and his threats, the gang and her throwing hot water at them? Her trusting Reed, the explanations? Reed realising where the bodies were buried and why there were the shootings at the funeral? Her return to her flat, Sergei and his threats, her being cared for by Reed's wife? The priest and his unwillingness to speak? Sergei's racket, the refugees, taking their money, killing them? Sergei and his delight in killing, his explanation of watching people's fear as they were about to die?

7. The parallel story of the candidate's son: Silvera in the precinct, the boy brought in, his having been warned about his drinking, at the party, his excusing himself, the deaths? The arrival of Miller, the other police, throwing their weight around, forcing Silvera to drop the charges? The affidavits and false testimony? Silvera and the other police as victims of the politics, the campaign for mayor? Miller, his speeches, the shared past with Silvera, his accommodating to the present? The mayoral candidate, his relationship with his son? The son and his surliness, the party, the smile, his father hitting him? Silvera and his wife, the discussion about the case, all their friends knowing the candidate? Silvera having worked on the garbage run with the candidate? At the social, dancing, Miller and his finding out stories from Silvera's wife? His speech, the memories of the past, the candidate and his speech, his talking about good and evil? The press conference at the precinct, announcing that his son would plead guilty, his standing by his son, standing by the campaign, announcing Miller's retirement? Miller's speech and acceptance?

8. The aftermath with Silvera and Reed discussing the case, the assistant - and his having taped the whole conversation, Silvera thinking that there was pressure from the discussion - but the assistant saying he was doing it, hoping that Silvera would be honest - as he was?

9. Another police story, the workings of a precinct, the range of cases for the police, immigrants and their fear of the police, brutality? The contrast with political power, corruption and the police?