TRIPLE CROSS
US, 1994, 95 minutes, Colour.
Michael Pare, Ashleigh Laurence, Billy Dee Williams, Patrick Bergin.
Directed by Jodi Reno.
Triple Cross is a Showtime telemovie, a conventional variation on prisoner working for FBI, set-up heist and double and triple crossing. The film gives the opportunity for Patrick Bergin to play yet another sociopath. Billy Dee Williams is the FBI agent and Michael Pare is at home with the ex-con who helps him.
Nothing particularly new - mainly predictable with a few twists at the end.
1.Telemovie thriller? FBI pursuit of criminals, set-ups?
2.The prison settings, the robberies, the affluent Colorado mansion? Musical score?
3.The structure of the screenplay: the confrontation between Oscar and Jimmy Ray? The set-up and Julia's betrayal of her accomplice? The shooting? Oscar and his recruiting Teddy? Teddy infiltrating, caution about the relationship with Julia? The relationship, the checking of the robbery? The double-cross during the robbery, the pursuit, the getting of Jimmy Ray? The escape of Teddy? Julia on her own? Oscar vindicated?
4.Oscar and his obsession, tracking down Jimmy Ray? The final irony when it was revealed that he was obsessed with Julia and had placed her in Jimmy Ray's household? The deal with Teddy, following him, the robbery, Teddy taking the jewels? The pursuit, his boss and his exasperation? The shootout and his bullet-proof vest? Helping Teddy to start a new future?
5.Teddy, playing chess in jail, his story and background told to Julia? Educating himself? His knowledge of Jimmy Ray? Infiltrating into Jimmy Ray's friendship, taken home, warned against Julia, falling in love, the relationship, the dangers? His persuading Jimmy Ray to believe him? the double cross and taking the jewels, trying to fence them, the guru and his trying to reform? The shootout, the gravestone, the chance of a new life?
6.Jimmy Ray, his violence, shooting the young man at the beginning of the film? Sexual relationship with Julia, the violence? At home, becoming respectable? The violence playing pool, the encounter with Teddy, taking him home, warning him? The power over Julia and getting her to find out the truth? His finding the truth - but double crossed? Collaborating with Oscar, shooting Oscar - and being shot himself? Portrait of a sociopath?
7.Julia, participating in the robberies? Her relationship with Jimmy Ray, dependence on him? Her coming on to Teddy, lack of trust, the relationship? Finding out the truth and telling Jimmy Ray? The irony of her being placed there by Oscar? His resentment of her staying with Jimmy Ray? At the grave, having lost both men? A future?
8.The FBI, pursuits of criminals, obsessions?
9.The psychological drama, the triple crosses, action? And the fashionable dollops of sex and violence?
