Das Doppelleben des Sam Brooks

Having seen this TV film twice I was especially taken with the rather ingenious plot involving a doctor's widow attempting to learn the truth after he apparently dies a second time 5 years later. Why did he first fake his death in a boating accident despite a successful practice and a happy marriage? Little wonder she engages the services of a handsome young private investigator to get to the bottom of the baffling mystery. The viewer is kept off balance throughout thanks to numerous novel plot twists. Moreover the acting of the two likable leads is quite satisfactory and the dialogue rings true. Even the photography is a notch above average. All in all I would give this cleverly conceived and executed movie 10 out of 10 stars.

(2005) Lies and Deception MYSTERY THRILLER

Chicago housewife, Jean Brooks (Madchen Amick) receives a notice that her certified doctor husband's dead body had been discovered in a car located in Detroit who assumed to dead five years ago from a boating accident . And that because this recent news of her late husband's death was labelled as a suicide, the investigation was deemed to be closed. However, Jean then finds out that she has problems returning his body back to Chicago, only to find out later that her husband had lead a double life, and that he has already been cremated by a wife Jean knows nothing about who lives in Detroit. Advising by the Chicago police department not to get involve, the homicide detective who closed the file suggests to Jean that if she wanted to find out more about this other life Jean knows nothing about, that she should employ the services of a private investigator, and he hands her a card. At first, she is reluctant but later gives in meeting, Eddie Fate (Andrew Walker) and upon his investigation there is foul play. And of course, both Jean and Eddie relationship escalates the more they uncover about her late husband's business dealings.

Not bad despite already been done before as there is one revelation after the next, despite attempting to be family friendly - the subject matter is not so much family friendly.

Dreadful film, with some of the worst acting this side of "Dynasty." I've seen Mädchen Amick before, and liked her, but this time she definitely sank to the level of the script. But give her credit--at least she had the good sense to look embarrassed and uncomfortable (constipated even) virtually every time she uttered one of her poorly-written lines. And who is Andrew W. Walker? My best guess is, he's related to the director or casting director, because how else could such an unappealing and untalented actor be cast in this part? The chemistry between the "leads" wasn't just missing--it had actually turned putrid and emitted a foul odor. Save yourself a lot of aggravation and 2 hours of your precious time. Avoid this movie!!!

The very first couple of times when I saw this film I was actually bored by it but then When I saw Andrew walker I was a bit surprised to see him there and also a bit disappointed with his acting but even tho the story line is a bit to predictable you still want to watch it till the end of the movie to find out what will happen. Madchen Amick still looks beautiful as ever and Andrew Walker is hotter so my guest is that maybe the acting is bad,the story line is a bit low with a little bit of a bad directing I think if you give this movie a chance I mean you will see that its not so bad they are worst films than this, more will come on later who knows.

The twist where obvious, and the links from clue to clue where so forced. Have seen worse films but not by far. The films starts with the news thats Jeans husband who died 5 years ago wasn't dead after all and had died the previous day hence the detectives visit to jean. This was enough to catch my attention but the film did not live up to what could have been a very intriguing plot.

The police can only confirm that her husband is dead and take the case no further, no post mortem and no questions ask, the film then turns romance based which also fails to capture the imagination.

certainly won't go down in history as a classic, give this one a miss