JACK REED: ONE OF OUR OWN

US, 1995, 100 minutes, Colour.
Brian Dennehy, Charles Dutton, Susan Ruttan, Kevin Dunn.
Directed by Brian Dennehy.

One of Our Own is part of a series focusing on the character of Jack Reed. Jack Reed is a former priest, now married, father of children, a policeman in Chicago.

Brian Dennehy appeared in all the films as Jack Reed. He also co-wrote and directed a number of them.

The film covers familiar ground in terms of crime in an American city, muggings, drive-by shootings, attacks in homes. It also focuses on police detection, hardened criminals, investigations from Internal Affairs.

However, Brian Dennehy’s screen presence and the strength of the writing makes this film above average.

1. The popularity of this kind of television police drama? Action, the issues? The Chicago settings?

2. The popularity of the series, the development of the characters? Jack Reed and his age, the background of his being a priest and the references to this? His marriage to Arlene, relationship with his children, relationship to his boss? The years of working in the police force? His style?

3. Brian Dennehy’s contribution, the role, the writing, the direction?

4. The opening with Sarah reading, the sudden assault at her car, in hospital, the support of her girlfriend? Mike and his being assigned to look after her? The siege at her house, Mike and his being killed? Sarah’s fear, talking with Reed, going to his home, Arlene inviting her to stay, her reticence, unwillingness to give information, being in a state of denial? Her past relationship with Phil? Her finally going to his house, getting the data, his attack, her ripping her clothes so that he would be accused of rape, her going free?

5. Criminals, in high places? The ordering of the hit on Sarah? Its seeming to be senseless, yet its being planned? Money, the attack on Sarah at home, the killing of Mike? Reed and his detection, finding Michael, the way that he was treated, the good cop, bad cop routine? Giving him the cigarettes, putting him at ease, getting him to talk? The information about Bobby, the records? The interview with his grandmother, her love for him, her explanation, the fact that he would go to the church? His being wounded, her going to see him, putting him in to the police for his own good? The arrest?

6. Phil Bremner, sleazy character, his violence, the relationship with Sarah, the connections to the lawyers, his working out at the gym, constant attention to his fitness, his assistant? Defying Reed? The reality of the code with the fairytale characters, the references to the judges, their pay-offs? His attack on Sarah, her turning the tables on him? The fake shooting, his accusing Reed? In hospital, his death? The assistant, the confession, the explanation?

7. The chief, relating to Reed, the other members of the force, managing the detective work, the shoot-outs? Wanting to give an alibi to Reed, Reed wanting to go by the book? Internal Investigation and their hostility towards Reed? Assuming he was guilty?

8. Reed and his tough style, following leads, the shooting of Bremner, his alibi, going to Mike’s funeral – and the reaction of his father, his mother referring to him as 'the priest’? Internal Affairs, the interrogations, getting the proof needed for his vindication?

9. The vindication, going to the court, the judge and her speech, his unmasking her, her being willing to collaborate for immunity, the corrupt judges? The party, the lawyer, his connections and being unmasked?

10. The solving of the crime, police methods, the human touch concerning the victims, the criminals, homes, Reed’s relationship with his wife, his children and their being adolescents and reacting? Satisfying crime drama?