THE RIGHT TEMPTATION

US, 2000, 95 minutes, Colour.
Kiefer Sutherland, Rebecca De Mornay, Dana Delany, Adam Baldwin, Joanna Cassidy, Michael Ralph.
Directed by Lynden Chubbuck.

The Right Temptation is a private eye investigation with a twist. Rebecca DeMornay? portrays a former police officer, undercover, whose target was killed by a sniper. She now works as a private detective. She is employed by Dana Delany, wife of an affluent businessman, played by Kiefer Sutherland. At first she wants the private eye to follow her husband, then she wants the private eye to flirt with him to see what happens. However, there is quite a different twist resulting in murders and a violent ending.

The material is routine in itself – but the performers give it some strength, DeMornay? with a mixture of innocence and experience, Dana Delany with malicious intent, Kiefer Sutherland as the innocent-turned-villain.

1. A entertainment? Private eye thriller? Twists in marital surveillance? Financial dealings? Murder?

2. The city settings, the private eye offices, the business offices, the streets? Musical score? The focus on Derian, her age and experience, the flashbacks to the hold-up, the sniper killing her target, her disillusionment? Her dreams and nightmares? Her work as a private investigator, her boss? Taking on the case for Anthea Farrow-Smith? The initial interviews, her wariness? Her following Michael Farrow-Smith?, the phone calls to Anthea? No suspicions? The next visit from Anthea, persuading her to flirt with her husband and test him? The right temptation? The encounter at the squash court, the squash game, the returning of the watch, the drinks, the affair? The next visit from Anthea, her pleading her cause, the financial difficulties? The entrapment?

3. Anthea, the relationship with Michael? Her falling in love? The truth about the financial deals? The photos, the murder of her photographer assistant? The help of the police in getting information? Anthea’s phone call, Derian going to the house, the shotgun, the dead man on the bed? Her arrest?

4. Anthea, her initial visit, suave and smooth, the smoking? The task, the phone calls? The next visit, the right temptation? The next visit, the sorrow (**??) about the financial deals? The fears? Derian and her reporting back? The discussion with Anthea about Michael and the relationship? Anthea calling her to the house – the murder charge, Anthea’s smile? Her being arrested at the airport?

5. Michael, his story about his upbringing, poverty, the lucky watch, success in business? No bad reports from the police? The meeting with Derian, the squash game, the return of the watch, the build-up to the affair? The murder? The suspicion of the alternate victim? Anthea going to the office, the confrontation with Michael, his smooth words, the gun, her shooting him, his fall?

6. Anthea’s experience, the past? Her work as a police officer, undercover, the wires, her attachment to her target? The parallel with her relationship with Michael?

7. The death of Travis? His warning about the photo? The man in the photo – the victim?

8. The presentation of the police, Captain Wagner and his control over Derian, especially with the sniper? Maryanne and the interview, wanting Derian to investigate Michael? Falco and his support?

9. Popular ingredients for a popular thriller – with twists?