JACK TAYLOR: CROSS
Island, 2016, 100 minutes, Colour.
Iain Glenn, Siobhan O' Kelly, Jack Monaghan, Elva Trill, Ross Mc Kinney.
Directed by Stuart Orme.
2016 saw three more television films featuring Iain Glen as Jack Taylor.
In this film, he’s got much older, more grizzled, but less angry. He has received a bequest and now has a studio where he does woodwork. He is approached by a friend in the police force to investigate a murder, a crucifixion. He hesitates but finally follows through.
The investigation leads him to the family of the dead man and the dead man’s involvement in drug deals – but more information about his brother, Rory, who had been accused of manslaughter in a car accident but had disappeared prior to the trial. It is now three years later. The early part of the film focuses on the two brothers and their parents.
Taylor meets a cousin of the police officer, Darragh who has spent some years in jail for drug deals but has got a degree and has become absorbed in Confucius and his philosophy, full of quotes and ideas. He gets paid by Taylor to observe people going to the dead man’s funeral. He later encounters the daughter of the dead woman in the accident and gets close to her, a sexual relationship, to further his investigation.
It is the family of the dead woman the film focuses on as well, especially the angry daughter who has visions of her mother, blames her father and causes his death by not providing him with tablets. Her brother is the angry one responsible for the crucifixion.
In a humorous encounter with his friend, Father Malachy, Taylor realises what happened during the accident and confronts Rory’s girlfriend.
The dead woman’s daughter is bent on revenge and confronts Rory’s parents – saved by Taylor’s intervention.
Standard material but Iain Glen is always interesting.
1. The popularity of the Jack Taylor series? Investigations? The role of the police, ex-police? The mysteries? The Galway setting? The town, homes, the streets? The musical score?
2. The title, the focus, the image of the crucifixion, the second crucifixion?
3. The introduction to Taylor, his age, semi-retired, the bequest, his studio, the woodwork? A touch grizzled? Less angry than in previous stories?
4. Kate, her police role, the particular case, and not handling it, feminist issues? Giving the information to Taylor? Giving him the option? His decision to follow-up?
5. The explanation about John, as a student, drugs, his mother devoted to him, telling the story, the father in his chair, angry at Taylor, getting him to go out? The story about Rory, the accident, his failing the court case, his disappearance?
6. The mother killed in the accident, Gail and her anger, having visions of her mother? Sean, his anger, violence, the hammer – as being responsible for John’s death? The father, his bitterness? Gail and her anger with him? His having to restrain Sean? A family consumed by revenge?
7. Taylor, going to see Kate, the news of her breast lump, the diagnosis?
8. Darragh, his exercises, his time in prison, study, degree, absorbed in the philosophy of Confucius, quoting him talking with Taylor, suggesting he help with the investigation, exchange of money, a secret from Kate? Going to the funeral, texting that he didn’t see Rory? His continuing the investigation, the chance encounter with Gail, her seeing her mother across the street and stepping into the traffic, his saving her? The cup of tea together? Later meeting her, the sexual encounter, the effect on her? His investigations, going to the attic? Her leaving, return, her anger with him? Sean and his return, accusing her of killing their father? Her stabbing him? Tying up Darragh?
9. The background of her bitterness, memories of her mother, her father’s illness, her defying him, refusing him pills? His death?
10. Taylor and his encounter with Father Malachy, jokes about his size, the realisation about the photo of the car?
11. Taylor and his getting the homeless men around the town to search for Rory?
12. The story of Rory, his relationship with his girlfriend, the child, his disappearance, forfeiting the court case? For his girlfriend to have her own life and career? Her marriage? Rory’s return at the death of his brother, their talk, the news of his crucifixion? Taylor realising what happened confronting the girlfriend, admitting her responsibility and Rory letting her have a life?
13. The explanations of the crucifixion, going to Rory’s girlfriend, her husband, the accusation, his denials, admitting the truth?
14. Darragh, the phone call, Kate rescuing him? And punching both him and Taylor? Her later relenting, kissing Taylor – the possibilities about his illness?
15. Gail, going to the family, confronting them, turning on the gas, the visions of her mother, Taylor intervening, telling her the truth, Rory’s girlfriend
confirming the truth?
16. The solving the case, the intricacies?
