DEADLOCKED
US, 2000, 90 minutes, Colour.
David Caruso, Charles S. Dutton, Jo D. Jonz, Tom Butler.
Directed by Michael W. Watkins.
Deadlocked is a quite efficient and interesting courtroom thriller. It stars David Caruso as an assistant district attorney and Charles S. Dutton as the father of the convicted prisoner.
What begins as a courtroom drama, with background between the two stars and their relationships with their sons, turns into a somewhat overwrought siege situation when Dutton takes the jury as hostages after their decision to convict his son. The film takes place over twenty-four hours where Dutton, rather crazed and in a somewhat overwrought performance, demands that the assistant DA find new evidence to prove his son innocent. In some surprising turns, this happens and the true murderer is apprehended.
The film moves with some pace, echoes the rather extroverted violence that takes place in American society, the gun culture where anybody can grab a gun and hold people to ransom. Allowing for this, it is actually quite an interesting and effective drama. It was made for television and the director is Michael W. Watkins, a television director from such series as Lois and Clark who made some television movies but continued his main work with television series like CSI. David Caruso attempted a film career but has been more successful on the small screen in CSI Miami. Charles S. Dutton (who, in fact, spent some time in prison for fatally stabbing someone and linked (??) theatre from prison) has appeared in many films as well as directing a number including Against the Ropes.
1.Interesting crime drama? Courtroom drama? Hostage siege drama? Police investigation?
2.The Seattle settings, homes, court buildings? The streets? Authentic atmosphere?
3.The title, the decision of the jury to condemn Demond Doyle? Jacob taking them hostage? The confrontation with Ned Stark? The deadlock?
4.The introduction to Ned Stark, the clashes with his son? His son spurning his father? The later meeting with his mother? The comparison with Jacob Doyle, watching the home movies of his son?
5.Information about the crime, the socialite murdered and raped, Demond Doyle and his not defending himself, not speaking, the conviction in court? The final scenes of the trial, the presiding judge, the jury? Prosecutor and defence? Ned Stark pleading for the death penalty?
6.Jacob Doyle, the explanation of his background, as a warden, helping young people, an upright citizen? His blaming himself for his treatment of his son, his son’s criticism of his lifestyle in the past? His making his son what he was? Sufficient motivation for getting the gun, for holding the people as hostages?
7.The action, the sudden movement with the guns, herding the jury into a room? The husband of the murdered woman with the group? The judge and the others leaving after the fear, everybody hiding from the guns?
8.The strategies, the district attorney and his attitude, wanting evidence, wanting to save the lives of the jurors no matter what? The SWAT team and their wanting to go in, the lead with the television camera, Jacob seeing it and shooting at it? The plan for a mistrial and his seeing through it?
9.The twenty-four hours, Jacob pleading to Stark to get the evidence? Stark’s discussion with the defence counsellor and his having done nothing? Looking at the tapes of the arrest?
10.The chance mention of the anonymous phone call, tracking down the reporter, tracking down the phone, tracking down the charge sheet? Going to the house, chasing the young man? The truth about the robbery, the blackout?
11.Stark and his assistant retracing the steps, searching for the surveillance film, finding it? The realisation of what had happened, seeing the husband on the screen? The clock stopping?
12.The truth about the relationship between Demond and the wife? The affair for a year, their meetings, his giving her the necklace, Stark finding it in the house? The change in the attitude of everybody towards Demond? His father satisfied?
13.The portrait of the jurors, the redneck man, his taking the pencil, later using it, stabbing Jacob? The shooting and the death of one of the jurors? The accusations against the husband, his calling out and getting the SWAT team to come in, the machine guns, Jacob’s death?
14.Stark and the vindication of the investigation? The TV information that he would be prosecuting the husband?
15.Farfetched – but enjoyably so? The heightened American violence with guns and sieges? The nature of justice, race issues, class issues? The investigation – and the solution within twenty-four hours?
