Double Jeopardy (1999, R)

Directed by Bruce Beresford

Written by David Weisberg and Douglas E. Cook

Starring Ashley Judd, Tommy Lee Jones, Bruce Greenwood, and Annabeth Gish

Read the epinion.

As Reviewed by James Brundage

Life is all a matter of perspective. No matter how professional you get as a critic you must always realize this. You can leave whatever predetermined thoughts you have about the movie at the door, but you cannot leave your mood… its just not possible. Thus, since I was seeing Double Jeopardy in the light of having just seen Random Hearts, Hollywood's answer to the thumbscrew, I was ready to have fun with just about anything.

And I did have fun with Double Jeopardy.

Although it does not have a brain to speak of, and has a simplistic plot that is ultra-easy to follow, Double Jeopardy is nonetheless and enjoyable movie. It concerns Libby Parsons (Judd), wrongfully imprisoned for a murder she did not commit (how many times have we seen that one?). The twist however is that she has set up a revenge/get her son back scheme involving the 5^th Amendment right of a criminal called Double Jeopardy: "A person cannot be tried more than once for the same crime."

So, when the parole board sets her free six years later, she embarks on a quest to find her husband, Nick (Greenwood) and get her son back, all the while evading her parole officer, Travis Lehman (Tommy Lee Jones).

As much as you probably can see from point A to B just by reading the above lines, the fact of the matter is that Double Jeopardy ends up being inexplicably enjoyable. You know exactly what's coming, and you just want it to get there. The cardboard cutout characters sink their hooks into you, the paper thin plot draws you in.

What I wonder is this: would I have still enjoyed it in another frame of mind? The answer is probably not as much. I still would have found it a little bit of fun, but not a pleasure to watch. However, if you've just seen a really bad movie and are down in the dumps, Double Jeopardy is just what the doctor ordered.

The tagline for Double Jeopardy says "murder isn't always a crime." Apparently, when in a bad mood, making a terrible bubble-gum movie isn't, either.