RICOCHET

US, 2011, 90 minutes, Colour.
John Corbett, Julie Benz, Gary Cole, Kelly Overton.
Directed by Nick Gomez.

Ricochet is based on a mystery novel by Sandra Brown. Its focus is on Detective Duncan Hatcher, played in a peculiar way by John Corbett, at times very dumb, at other times self-indulgent and angry, not a particularly interesting or likable character. His more conscientious partner is played by Kelly Overton.

The film is set in Savannah, Georgia, focuses on drugs, clubs, corruption. Gary Cole is a judge who is in partnership with the local drug lord. He has a trophy wife, played by Julie Benz.

In a series of mysterious actions, the wife kills an intruder, the judge covers up and then reveals that he has set a private detective on his wife, the wife meets mysteriously with the drug lord... as well as having an encounter with the detective.

The film all works out in the end – although, it does have a difference. The seemingly femme fatale is not the deadly woman that she seemed at first but is rather ultimately the romantic heroine.

The director Nick Gomez has had a prolific career in directing television series. He did direct the feature film, Drowning Mona, with Bette Midler.

1. The popularity of this kind of telemovie? The law, detection, corruption, drugs? The intricacies of a murder mystery?

2. The settings in Savannah, Georgia? Anywhere in the United States? The city, the homes, the country clubs, apartments, the countryside, the holiday retreat? Musical score?

3. The title, as applied to the actions of the central characters?

4. The introduction to Duncan Hatcher? Drinking, the TV information? The flashbacks? The intricacies of other flashbacks and dramatising alternate scenarios in the flashbacks? The audience able to believe testimony or not?

5. The court case, the role of the judge? The club boss, Robert Savich? The mistrial? Hatcher’s anger? The judge charging him? The presence of his wife – and Hatcher’s interest?

6. Hatcher, his work, getting the decoration, attributing it to Deedee Bowen? His record? Seeing him in action – moods, depression, his roving eye? His relationship with his partner? Her devotion to him, saving him, giving him orders?

7. The situation with the intruder, Elise shooting him? The judge and his response? The interrogation, the judge interfering, Hatcher harsh on him? The further questionings, the further information?

8. Elise, the femme fatale? Her background, her brother, his drug-dealing, arrest, imprisonment, rape and murdered? Her wanting vengeance? Infiltration into the drug ring? Her keeping the books? Savich and his confidence in her? The judge and the truth about him, the cases? Her marrying him? Trying to get the information? The judge and his private eye, her shooting the man intruding in the house? Her liaison with Duncan Hatcher? Why? Her meeting him, turning up at the club with her husband? Her encounter with the private eye, his death, the audience assuming she killed him? The framing of her death? The judge identifying the false body? Her meeting up with Hatcher, going to the country house? The truth – and Deedee Bowen coming, believing her? The final setup with the judge, getting him to betray the drug lord? The drug lord, the confrontation, recorded, arrest?

9. The judge, in court, his high life, his trophy wife? The revelation about the truth, his interventions, his callousness, his investigating his wife, identifying the body? His being intimidated by the police, his giving up the drug lord? In court, his reactions – and his arrest?

10. The picture of the police, Duncan Hatcher and his ups and downs, his breaking his own rules, crossing the line? The pickup in the bar? With Elise? His work with Deedee Bowen? The future?

11. The popular ingredients of detection, corruption, murder mystery – twists?