When Justice Fails

Detective Tom Chaney (Jeff Fahey) is a lonely man, having a new partner, the gay Detective Rod Lambeau (Carl Marotte). They are investigating two similar murders in Manhattan, and their main suspect is the successful prosecutor Katy Wesson (Marlee Matlin). During the investigations, Tom and Katy fall in love for each other. However, the lack of trust of Tom on Katty leads to a series of problems. The end of the story reveals many secrets. This film-noir is very reasonable, but something is missing in the story to be an excellent movie. The screenplay really need some improvement. Marlee Martin is very expressive and has a good performance. Jeff Fahey and Carl Marotte are also good as two colleagues who learn to respect each other. Anyway, it is a worthwhile entertainment and hooks the attention of the viewer. This is the second time that I watch this movie and I do not regret. The IMDB User Rating of 4.1 is unfair. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `Assassinato em Manhattan' (`Murder in Manhattan')

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".

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.

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.

Gotta wonder about Jeff Fahey and Marlee Matlin.

Here are two decent actors – expressive, appealing, hard-working – who went from enjoyable network series shows to substandard direct-to-video fare while seemingly at the top of their game.

"When Justice Fails" isn't as bad as some of their other DTV pictures – just try to sit through Fahey's "Absolute Zero" all the way through – but it requires too much patience and forgiveness from the viewer, without working hard enough to deserve it.

Fahey's a hard-boiled homicide detective and Matlin is a D.A. who somehow becomes the suspect in a spate of serial killings.

The movie begins to deteriorate once Fahey inevitably becomes romantically involved with Matlin, and yet, remains the lead detective on the case. Really, that's OK with the cops? Aside from a few "Yer throwin' yer career down the toilet!" admonitions from his scene-chewing captain, nobody seems to be too concerned about the really huge conflict of interest there.

Tsk-tsking the situation occasionally, too, is his new partner, who announces early on that he's gay, because Not That There's Anything Wrong With That.

As the movie chugs along, it becomes a decent, if pedestrian whodunit, as we're made to wonder if the killer might be Matlin, her creepy sign-language interpreter, her wacko diva mother, or even Fahey's partner.

The reveal isn't very surprising and only somewhat satisfying, as it leaves so many other questions unanswered.

Aside from Fahey and Matlin, who are charming as usual, most of the other actors are hammy and unappealing. The one exception is Canadian actor Carl Marotte as Fahey's partner, who has a pleasant Zachary Quinto aura about him.

The direction is heavy-handed and obvious. At one point, the camera shook so badly for no discernible reason, I wondered whether the cameraman may have zipped his fly with one hand and held the camera with the other.

If you're a fan of Fahey's or Matlin's it's worth a watch. Otherwise, "When Justice Fails" fails.