Double Jeopardy, Ashley Judd, ...

'DOUBLE' TEAM Jones and Judd make an odd couple in ''Jeopardy''

Movie Review

Double Jeopardy (1999)

EW's GRADE
D+

Details Rated: R; Length: 105 Minutes; Genres: Drama, Mystery and Thriller; With: Tommy Lee Jones and Ashley Judd; Distributor: Paramount Home Video

Libby Parsons (Ashley Judd), wrongly convicted of murdering her wily, art-collecting husband (Bruce Greenwood), finds out while in prison that her dead spouse is alive, raising their son, and living with her friend (Annabeth Gish). A helpful fellow con suggests that Libby serve her time, then kill the SOB for real, since she can't be tried for the same crime twice. I like the noir setup of Double Jeopardy and I love Libby's spa-like lockup, where the lithe inmate spends quality time toning up in preparation for her superwomanly expedition -- to confront her evil husband and reclaim custody of her child.

But everything else about this toothless thriller -- directed, in a departure from the romanticism of his ''Driving Miss Daisy,'' by Bruce Beresford (with particular attention to the atmospheric scenery of Washington state and New Orleans) -- feels like a strained reworking of ''The Fugitive.'' And that includes Tommy Lee Jones' performance as a growly, drawly, drink-weakened parole officer who takes one look at dainty, well-toned Libby and, out of all his hard-boiled cases, announces, ''I'm gonna have trouble with you.'' Well of course he is: This parolee has been weight-training and putting highlights in her hair, and she's a mom. So look out, buster.

Originally posted Oct 01, 1999
You Might Also Like

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining
Advertisement