"Double Jeopardy"... Legal Thriller Or TV Game Show?

Double Jeopardy (1999)

Rated R

Starring Ashley Judd, Tommy Lee Jones, Bruce Greenwood

Directed by Bruce Beresford

The Story:

Libby (Judd) is sentenced to prison for the murder of her husband, Nick (Greenwood). She swears she's innocent and has been framed. As she rots away in prison, she discovers that not only was she framed, that Nick is actually alive. Once she is paroled, she escapes from her parole officer (Jones) and begins a mad dash across country to find her husband and retrieve her son. Staying one step ahead of the law and getting her son back is Libby's frantic mission.

What if "The Fugitive" was a girl?

That would be an easy way to sum up this film, especially when you include Tommy Lee Jones in the cast.

The difference is the spin of adding the child into the mix.

If it weren't for Libby wanting to see her son, she would have served her time and went along with her life after prison.

However, her son kept her drive and passionate because she missed him, and knew something was wrong.

Add in one seemingly innocent phone call when she hears him say, "Daddy", the film turns into her mission of revenge.

Great job by all three of the lead actors who elevate the story above just a regular thriller.

Worth a look if it's been ages, or never.


Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I do own this one. It's been over a decade since I had last seen it, but still holds up.

You'll Take The Turn With Them..."Driving Miss Daisy"

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Rated PG

Starring Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, Dan Aykroyd

Directed by Bruce Beresford

The Story:

Daisy (Tandy) is an old Jewish widow who has wrecked one car too many, so her son (Aykroyd) hires a driver named Hoke (Freeman) to drive her wherever she needs to go.  First, Daisy refuses to let him drive her anywhere.  Eventually though, she warms to Hoke, and the two spend the next two decades getting to know each other and enjoy some adventures together.

Sounds like a sweet little character study, and it is!

Welcome to the Best Picture winner of 1989, in a year that turned out many memorable films, this one rose head and shoulders above the rest.

Amusingly, the biggest slight of this movie was that Beresford was not nominated for Best Director. How do you have a Best Picture without a Best Director? Makes no sense, but so be it.

It really is a quiet film that builds slowly as the years slip by and the bond between Hoke and Daisy grows and intertwines.

All of the accolades and awards, this film deserves them.

I don't usually say that about award-winners.

Tandy is great, Freeman is phenomenal.

When isn't he? :)

Watching it again for the first time in a few years, the movie still holds up very well today.

I also recommend a Kleenex handy for the end.

Gets me every time!

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it and it gets watched every 3-4 years, which is pretty good for a drama! Well worth it if you haven't seen it in awhile.