CITIZEN JANE
US, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Ally Sheedy, Sean Patrick Flanery, Meat Loaf Aday, Patti Mc Cormack, Nia Peeples, Anne De Salvo, Jon Polito.
Directed by Armand Mastroianni.
This Hallmark television movie is about a true case. Jane Alexander pursued the case of her former boyfriend murdering her aunt until he was brought to justice. She then went on to establish an organisation of citizens for murder victims and helped a whole range of people until her death in 2008.
The film is set in a very attractive San Francisco. Ally Sheedy is Jane Alexander, rather girlishly in love with her boyfriend, played by Sean Patrick Flanery. All seems idyllic, especially with the approval of her Aunt Gertrude (Patti Mc Cormack, originally in 1956 the little girl in The Bad Seed). When the aunt is suddenly murdered, investigations begin with the police, detective played by Jon Polito, then Jack Norris, a taciturn detective played very well indeed by rock star Meat Loaf Aday.
As the truth is revealed, Jane Alexander starts to interview people, collecting evidence, finally having her boyfriend arrested for fraud. While he is then tried for murder, the defence tries to make out that Jane herself was the murderer, pursuing her boyfriend out of anger and revenge.
The film is interesting in its character studies, with Ally Sheedy giving a strong performance and Sean Patrick Flanery being smooth as the Jekyll and Hyde boyfriend. The film also shows strong court case sequences, the effect of the defence in its attack on Jane herself.
The film was directed by Armand Mastroianni, who has directed a number of crime and horror films over the decades, especially contributing to Leah Thompson’s Jane Doe series.
1. A true story, the issues of justice, the justice system?
2. San Francisco, the beauty of the city, homes, streets, restaurants, the courts? The California atmosphere? The visit to Las Vegas?
3. The title, Jane Alexander as an ordinary person, her pursuit of justice, the organisation she founded, its influence? A tribute to her life and pertinacity?
4. Jane and Tom, in love, idyllic, their life together, jogging, meals? The plans, the financial situation? Tom and his being solicitous for Jane, the financial deals, the phone calls, international deals? The mortgage? Gertrude and the visit, approving the plans?
5. Jane’s story, her parents’ death, Gertrude looking after her, a wonderful mother figure, their talks, visits, the money loan?
6. Tom’s personality, pleasant, plans, deals, going to Los Angeles, the plan to go to Ireland, watching the football on TV? Masking his violence?
7. The murder, the prologue and the images, the setting, the news reports, the re-creation of the crime, its brutality?
8. Jane in the news, Tom and his support, the visit to the house, the occasion for Tom to change the evidence? Romer and his investigation, his care? Virgil the handyman, the clashes with Gertrude, Virgil’s wife and her denouncing him, Virgil stealing the plate, the cheque? His alibi?
9. Jack Norris, taking over the case, his type, silent, the discussions with Romer? The visit to Jane and Tom, suspicions, the FBI report and its focus on the type of murderer, the possibility that it was Jane? The fingerprints, the polygraph, Jane and her reaction? The dead end and its becoming a cold case?
10. Tom and his plan to go to Europe, not keeping in contact, Jane ringing his friends, the disillusionment, her becoming more determined, collecting the facts, interviewing people, working with Norris? The years passing?
11. Norris, the tissue and the lipstick, Jane identifying it?
12. The rental car, the distance, Tom and his ingenious ways of adding to the mileage? The friend in Los Angeles and his dying of cancer?
13. The trap in Las Vegas, Tom going to prison, convicted of fraud, Jane and the interview with him, pretending to support him, his agreement to the extradition? Her plausibility in this behaviour? The trial, the four years, the comments of the judge, Tom and his vindictive speech against Jane?
14. On parole, Jane and her being desperate, her attack on the DA, his refusal to move because of lack of evidence, his concern about being re-elected, suggesting Joyce? Discussions with Joyce, her taking the case, her performance in court, cross-examinations, the defence lawyer, his interrogations, of Norris, of Jane, trying to provoke her to anger? The motivation of anger and obsession?
15. Jane and Joyce, Jane remaining calm? The support of her friend? Norris on the stand? Jane on the stand? The sudden introduction of the insurance policy, her shock?
16. The policy, the jury, the prison sentence for Tom? His vicious speech about hunting? The juror and her support of Jane?
17. The importance of objectivity, citizens, justice?
