Today’s quick review: Double Jeopardy. Wrongly convicted for the murder of her husband (Bruce Greenwood), Libby Parsons (Ashley Judd) spends six years in prison before being released on parole. Libby immediately sets out to find her son, who was taken away from her, and her husband, who she believes is still alive and living under an assumed name. But first she must shake off Travis Lehman (Tommy Lee Jones), her tenacious parole officer.
Double Jeopardy is a crime thriller and mystery about a woman framed for her husband’s murder. Double Jeopardy drops an ordinary mother into a web of lies and deceit, with only her wits and her determination to see her through. The movie features a pair of capable leads and a fairly involved story, as Libby sacrifices more and more to reclaim her son and claim her revenge. However, mediocre thrills and a mixed payoff keep it from standing out.
Double Jeopardy invests heavily in its premise. The movie goes to great lengths to show Libby’s life before her incarceration, the disappearance of her son, and the circumstances of her release. The result is a story where the stakes are clear and the lead has a strong motivation for the actions she takes. Seeing Libby push through the obstacles in her way and hunt down her missing family is the movie’s primary appeal.
The tradeoff is that Double Jeopardy doesn’t provide as much adrenaline as it could. There are a few action scenes, but they are neither visually impressive nor important to the plot. The film’s tense moments are diluted by its slow pacing and the mundane aspects of Libby’s investigation. The cerebral side of Double Jeopardy is likewise hurt by a linear plot and the lack of a larger truth for Libby to find.
The result is a serviceable crime movie with an interesting premise and just enough craftsmanship to justify a watch. Double Jeopardy ends up caught between two more compelling alternatives: a full-blown action thriller and a mind-bending mystery. Though it falls short of either extreme, its focus on story and character lets it make good on its premise. Fans of the serious, personal side of the crime genre may want to give it a shot.
For a crime drama about a woman trapped in a similar situation, try Changeling. For an action thriller starring Tommy Lee Jones in a similar role, try The Fugitive. For a more grandiose tale of revenge, try The Count of Monte Cristo.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for an interesting setup missing a little in the way of thrills.