FINAL JEOPARDY

US, 2001, 90 minutes, Colour.
Dana Delaney, Levilly Burke, Joelle Carter, Chris Potter, Sherman Augustus, Colm Feore.
Directed by Nick Gomez.

Final Jeopardy is based on the first novel by Linda Fairstein, focusing on the assistant district attorney, Alexandra Cooper. Fairstein’s series of novels was very well written, very popular, giving an insight into the workings of the New York legal system as well as a focus on sex crimes in the city.

The film’s screenplay keeps the spirit of the original, in the characters, in the style and personality of Alexandra Cooper. She is played quite strongly by Dana Delaney. The rest of the characters in the series of novels are well represented in the film.

The film is a brief murder mystery, interesting in the range of suspects as well as the methods of detection.

1. A popular telemovie? New York City, police and legal methods, the murder mystery? Personal relationships?

2. New York City itself, the precincts, locations? Martha’s Vineyard by contrast? Musical score?

3. The title, the danger for the actress, for Alex Cooper? The play on the Jeopardy program?

4. The opening, the killing of the woman outside the house, the identification of the victim as Alex Cooper, her watching it on the television in the airport? The revelation that it was her actress friend? Her establishing that she was alive, the response of people in her office, the media, Paul Battaglia?

5. The situation, the actress staying at Alex Cooper’s house, the revelation of her relationship with Alex’s boyfriend? The woman stalking the boyfriend, stalking the actress, finally stalking Alex, interviewing her, the final confrontation in the train? The plausibility of this kind of stalker behaviour?

6. Alex, strong personality, her work, skills, relationships? Detection, her relationship with Mike Chapman, his protecting her, her sense of independence? Discovering the truth about Jed, confronting him? With the authorities, those for her, against her? With the media? The magazine interview and the revelation about her knowledge, skills, especially in sex crime cases? The final danger, the confrontation with Sandra?

7. Mike Chapman, young, brash, skilled in detective work, especially telling the FBI what they should have done? Protecting Alex, the interaction, prickly? Good friends?

8. The police force, Paul Battaglia as in charge, Mercer and his skills, investigations, support?

9. The suspects, the interrogations, alibis?

10. A satisfying portrait of detective work, legal and police personnel, solving of a mystery?