BLACK JACK: SWEET SCIENCE
Australia, 2004, 100 minutes, Colour.
Colin Friels, Marta Dusseldorp, David Field, Vince Colosimo, Alex O’ Loughlin, Anthony Hayes, Lara Cox, Russell Dykstra, Steve Jacobs, Nina Landis, Tony Llewellyn- Jones, Doris Younane.
Directed by Peter Andrikidis.
Black Jack: Sweet Science is the second in a series of Channel Ten productions focusing on a detective, Jack Kempson, played by Colin Friels. Sweet Science is the second in the series.
Jack Kempson is in charge of cold cases and opening up investigations and solving them. This film focuses on a shooting at a kids’ football match, then transfers to a big security guard robbery. The two crimes are interconnected, evidence emerging, the solution found by the end. The film is very interesting in terms of the presentation of Sydney police at work, rivalries in the department, pigheadedness on the part of ambitious superiors, collaboration between the detectives and those presenting forensic information.
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. Vince Colosimo is the villain of the piece and there are two brothers played by Alex O’ Loughlin and Anthony Hayes (who won Best Supporting Actor AFI award for Look Both Ways). There is an interesting supporting cast of character actors from Australian television.
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 entertainment value of this kind of film? The series? Familiarity with the central characters?
2.The Sydney settings, the city itself, landscapes, buildings, streets? The interiors for the police precincts, shops, warehouses, garages? Authentic atmosphere? The score?
3.The team investigating: Jack Kempson in charge, a loner, abrupt, hard on Sam? Sam and her decision to work for the police, her dentist father? Kavanagh as ambitious, obtuse, lacking imagination? Buchanan and his investigations – and his shady associations from the past? Christine, forensic evidence, the background of her training for boxing and her bout? An interesting team? The superiors giving consent to Kempson to continue his investigations?
4.The opening murder, Peter Anderson, with his kids, their playing football, seeing their father gunned down in front of them? Their age, Brad giving the emblem to Jack? Their mother and her grief? The years passing, Luke having spent time in jail? The absent father? Turning out like their father? The money enabling the mother to set up a café? Brad and Luke, their involvement in the robbery, the execution of the robbery? The partnership with the various members of the group, with Nick? Their denying their involvement? The subsequent links to their father’s death?
5.The investigation of the robbery, Kavanagh and Buchanan, interrogations? The cross-examination of Nick, Jack and his casually meeting Nick, sharing the hamburger, suspicious of him? Following through and finding the connection, the DNA on the hair and in the balaclava, the people on the building site finding the gun and that leading to further evidence? Kavanagh and his anger, short-sightedness, preoccupation about wasting taxpayers’ money?
6.The investigation of Peter Anderson’s death, opening it up again, Kavanagh forbidding it, Jack leaking it to the newspapers? The mother and her wariness, her boys not wanting her to talk to Jack? Her further information, the interviews with Luke and Brad? The information about the video of the match? The DNA, the gun, the balaclava, the association of the gun with Wayne Tippett? Information about Tippett as a possible killer – leading to his meeting with Luke, Luke’s anger and shooting him?
7.Jack, his abruptness, single-mindedness, working with Sam, her trying to make him express his gratitude? His shrewdness, following up, ease at meeting people? The information, trying to save the day, Nick and the confrontation with Brad and Clare, his saving them? His giving the emblem back to Brad at the end?
8.Sam, age and experience, the feminine touch? Jack and his ignorance of computers and her having to work hard? Her investigations? The subplot about her teeth, her father as the dentist, his not wanting her to work in the police? The shots and her mouth being injured, her making a decision to defy her father?
9.Christine, the boxing, the relationship with Jack, working partnership, at home, the training, the bout, her being knocked out, Jack’s sympathy, taking her home, the bath, the relationship?
10.The world of petty criminals, Wayne Tippett and his background, his lies? Nick, the connections, his shooting Peter Anderson? His part in the security van robbery? The other members of the gang, dividing up the money? Hiding it – and the police discovering it?
11.The subplot of Brad, his relationship with Clare, her pregnancy, wanting him to reform, his trying to reform, his relationship with his brother, suspicions of Jack, love for his mother? Nick pressuring for the money, his confrontation, the shoot-out?
12.Popular murder mystery material, police investigation material? Good television entertainment?
