JANE DOE: THE WRONG FACE
US, 2005, 90 minutes, Colour.
Lea Thompson, Jack Penny, Jessie Schram, Jon Rubinstein, Roxana Ghazal, Ray Wise, Mike Starr.
Directed by Mark Griffiths.
Jane Doe is one of the earliest in the serious stirring Lea Thompson. She is a former agent, Cathy Davis, who is now happily married with teenage children. Jack Penny plays an investigative agent who is called in by other agencies and police forces for difficult cases. It is at that stage that he calls on Cathy, with her professional name Jane Doe, whose family thinks the job is solving puzzles.
This film involves an international drug dealer, his wanting to get rid of the aspiring DA, Jon Rubinstein, and arranges the abduction of his wife. The puzzle is who exactly organised the abduction and how it was carried out. There is also the mystery of the young woman who was placed in the situation of the woman abducted. The accused has a widely lawyer who is backing the aspiring DA in his campaign. He is played by Ray Wise.
With Jane Doe using intelligence and puzzle-solving, the case is closed satisfactorily.
1. The continued popularity of the Jane Doe series? An interesting, if easy, case to solve? The personality of Jane Doe, scenes with her family, being employed by Frank Darnell? The California settings – sunshine rather than gloom?
2. Settings, California, homes, offices, the police? Mansions of the wealthy? Seedier premises? The desert landscapes? The musical score?
3. The opening of the case, the young man reporting to the drug lord, his being killed? The deals, the international connections? The interference of the prosecutor? His being targeted? The arrogance of the dealer?
4. Cathy at home, the squabbles between her children, her easy-going husband? Domestic problems, the young boy’s date, his sister looking down on him? The makeover of the young girl going on the date? the boy? Cathy and having to go out, to solve puzzles? The love of her husband?
5. Frank Darnell, the case, going to the building site, confronting Jackson, his employing former prisoners? The arrest? The discussions in the prison with the prosecutor, with Jackson’s lawyer? Jackson firing the lawyer? Frank calling in Cathy?
6. The prosecutor, his wife, the plastic surgery, her being transported from the rest home, the abduction, the young girl escaping in the car? The 72 hours threat to drop all charges?
7. Kramer, private investigator, working for the dealer, substituting the girl for the prosecutor’s wife, keeping her in the house, her wanting to leave, promising not to tell anyone the truth? Cathy and Frank visiting the house, the interview, finding the women’s magazine? The death of the girl, Frank and Cathy going to the site of the body, identifying her as a model, Cathy going to the agent, the interview with him, taking the document?
8. Cathy and suspicions of Jackson, going to the building site, stealing the document? Her going to the nursing home, the interview with the nurse and not being able to help, her sapphire jewellery and its expense? Interviewing the night nurse, his being sacked, going to interview him, playing basketball, going to his home, getting information, offering him the interview for a job? Talking with Wilbur, his being mentally challenged, yet his observations, the information about the wheelchair and the need for oil? Cathy putting the pieces together?
9. The party for the prosecutor’s campaign, the lawyer hosting it, Frank going as a guest, Cathy in disguise, going upstairs, finding the wife, the discussions with the dealer, with the lawyer, everything being taped? The arrests? The roof of the prosecutor?
10. And Cathy going home happy evening with her husband? The continuing series?
