BLACKJACK: IN THE MONEY
Australia, 2005, 90 minutes. Colour.
Colin Friels, Marta Dusseldorp, David Field, Max Cullen, Bille Brown, Russell Dykstra, Gigi Edgley, Paul Gleeson, Mary- Ann Halpin, Elaine Lee, Damian Richardson.
Directed by Ian Watson.
Black Jack: In the Money is part of a series of Channel Ten productions focusing on a detective, Jack Kempson, played by Colin Friels. Jack Kempson is in charge of cold cases and opening up investigations and solving them. Colin Friels is at home in this kind of role after his starring in the series Water Rats. Marta Dusseldorp, who appears in many of the films, is an engaging assistant. David Field is the obtuse police commander. There is an interesting supporting cast of character actors from Australian television, including Max Cullent and Bille Brown.
The film, as with a number in the series, was directed by Peter Andrikidis who has worked in television direction since the late 1970s.
1. The place of this film in the series? Police thriller? Expectations? Australian style?
2. Sydney, the overviews of the city, the suburbs, the police offices, the greyhound track? The musical score?
3. The title and the theme?
4. Colin Friels as Jack Kempson, developing his character in the series, his relationship with Liz, the suicide of his wife, conditions at home? Kavanagh and his inabilities, seeking promotion, his antagonism towards Kempson? The work and the cold cases? Sam, working with her, the relationship? The Chinese assistant? Christine? His inability with computer programs, getting information, his strong detective work? His expectations of people, doing police, clues?
5. Howard, his wife’s death, the funeral, Jack late, the wrong music? At home, the talking, inviting Howard to stay, the drinking, Liz and her relationship with her grandfather? The truth about the affair, the motivation for the murder? The suspects?
6. The opening, Julia in 1993? The black and white photography? In the city, Olympic news, going home, the gun, her death? Her relationship with her family? The affair with Howard? Wanting to leave her husband? Audience suspecting the family?
7. Sandra, her work as a beautician, the appointment with her father, the sign that the lift was out of order, his leaving, going down the stairs, his collapse? His disappearance, the search, the rescue, her helping him? Her animosity towards her father? Steve, his relationship with his father, the work with the greyhounds, at home? Gary, in jail for the murder of his mother? The eleven years? The issues of the money, the mother leaving it to Sandra? Sandra wanting to sell her business, the threats? The discussions with Jack? The hostility of the family? Sandra being abducted, in the zoo, Sam and Jack finding her, leaving her? The issue of the secret hiding place, the diaries, Jack and his getting the camera, photographing them?
8. Gary, simple person, the years in prison, his personality, working with people, the visits from the family, Jack and the discussions, the possibilities of his getting out? His becoming hostile? His brother’s visit? Sandra not visiting? The truth, Jack and helping Gary to face reality, getting out of prison?
9. Steve, his relationship with Sandra, his father, Gary, the training of the dogs, Frank Bird as the corrupt official, the wins, Jack and the interrogation, his being devastated by the truth about his father?
10. Tes, his life, tough, the antagonism with Julia, Gary taking the prison rap for Steve, for his father? His imposition on Gary? His heart, with Sandra, the collapse, in hospital, antagonism towards Sandra, organising her abduction, to warn her? With Steve at the races, his hold over Bird, Bird and the abduction? Jack seeking out Bird, getting him to admit the truth?
11. The solution, the arrest of Tes? Gary getting out? Reassurance for the others? The resolution for Jack, for Howard – and Jack driving him to his home and explaining the truth on the way?
12. An efficient and effective police investigation thriller?
