When Justice Fails

It's hard for anyone, even Jeff Fahey, to carry an unskilled amateur like Marlee Matlin through a film. He tries, to his credit. Matlin is essentially a character actress who can (what a surprise) manage a "handicapped" character, but her essentially zero range and inability to hold anyone's attention should keep her out of major roles like this one. This is about the third movie she's ruined, and I for one am getting tired of it. Soon she'll b e like Ed Asner -- an early warning to "skip this film."

This one isn't awful, but it isn't worth watching unless there's absolutely nothing on anywhere else.

I found this film to be slightly suspenseful. The cast of Jeff Fahey, and Marlie Matlin carried the film. I felt the rest of the cast overdid their parts in an effort to make the film appear better than it was. I viewed this film on Canadian Superchannel at 12:00 Midnight. At this time it would be fair to say it had little if any challenges to overcome to be the best program to watch. If not for the two previously mentioned actors, I would probably rate this film a "4".

When Justice Fails is about a couple of cops that track down a kinky murderer. The movie runs pretty smoothly from start to finish and has some good acting. Maitlin plays a troubled prosecutor that cop Fahey falls for. No reason to question that, she's great. Some high profile murders keep the cops running. Fahey's tough guy gay partner is a character unto himself in this film, a mild Dirty Harry type in the NYPD Blue kind of setting, but a good guy. Some good twists and turns as the cops suspect everyone in the film of being the murderer. Finally, Fahey figures out who it is and that brings us to the end of the film. If you want fast paced action, go somewhere else. If you want an OK crime drama, this is a good one.

Check out the incredible Title Sequence. Marlee Maitlin does her best role since Children of a lesser God. If you haven't see this movie yet, RENT IT.

Jeff Fahey leads a brilliant cast, including Montreal native Carl Morotte.

I'm not sure that anyone could be charitable enough to say that this is a great movie. The writing is fairly trite, and any high-schooler with a C average could see the "twists" coming a mile away. But to fault Marlee Matlin for it (and I do realize that was done some time ago), and in such insulting terms? Unnecessary.

First, character actors do important work, so attempting to slander one by using the term is pointless. A low number of leading roles does not necessarily indicate a lack of success. Also, categorizing her as an amateur? An Academy Award for her first movie role ever (in 1986), then a number of years in standout *character* roles to a great deal of critical acclaim (ever heard of The West Wing?) - that certainly doesn't add up to a rookie career.

What was most insulting, though, was the "what a surprise" comment. Why focus on an actor's disability just because you don't care for them? Admittedly, Marlee Matlin would be unable to play a character without a disability - there's no way to hide deafness, or an inability to speak without a deaf "accent." But she is eloquent, expressive, and impossible to ignore in most any part. Uninformed, prejudiced comments can't take that away from her.