FACING THE ENEMY

US, 2001, 95 minutes, Colour.
Lyndon Ashby, Alexandra Paul, Maxwell Caulfield, Connie Preston, Melanie Wilson, Max Gail, Bruce Weitz.
Directed by Ron Malenfaunt.

Facing the Enemy is a routine television melodrama, a focus on a broken marriage, a detective who becomes infatuated with a woman he is investigating, loses his job because of her suicide in his apartment, is threatened by her partner, a murderer, who tries to take advantage of his wife.

The popular ingredients are competently done with Lyndon Ashby as the strong-jawed hero, Alexandra Paul as his distraught wife. Maxwell Caulfield does yet another variation on his suave and sinister character.

1. Popular entertainment? Portrait of a marriage? Murder and investigation?

2. The affluent settings, the homes, the millionaires, the police precincts? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Griff and his eventually confronting Harlan?

4. The opening, the boy, the accident with the gun, the parents in the kitchen, their grief at his death, a year later, the mother and her being unable to move forward with her life, the exasperated husband, his not being able to cry for his son (and his story about this)?

5. Griff, his police work, his work with Cass, the authorities? The pattern of the killings, the investigations, the photo of the girl? The second murder, his going to the house, seeing the girl? His investigation? His meeting her, saving her in the street, the talk in the diner, her following him back to the apartment, his relationship with her, her death? The repercussions for himself, for his job, his partner, his wife?

6. The millionaire, his affair with the girl, her persuading him to kill his wife, suggesting the murderer, the meeting with Harlan, the set-up, his consent? The murder of the wife, getting the money, murdering the millionaire?

7. Nicky, her relationship with Harlan, dependent on him, seducing the men, setting up the murder? Alone in the house, being attacked in the street, with Griff, talking, following him home, her death?

8. Harlan, his return, his menacing Griff, meeting Olivia, his charm, continually going to the restaurant, the date, at home?

9. Griff and Olivia, the divorce papers, clashes?

10. The confrontation, the phone call, Harlan in the house, Griff and his arrival, the attack, Olivia shooting him? The shared experience - and a possible basis for their reconciliation?