The Soft Kill

Former cop Jack Ramsey wants to move to Oregon, but there's a problem. Evidence has been found that makes him a suspect in the murder of gossip columnist Kimberly Lewis. His former partner Ben McCarthy, who visits his wife's grave frequently, is the lead detective on the case. Kimberly's sister Jane wants to hire Ramsey to find evidence that the killer is actually Martin (possible romance here?). Jane has a feeling it is, but she can't prove it. Ramsey and McCarthy work together to find out who committed the crime, and Ramsey gets in even more trouble as more evidence points to him. Ramsey also spends quite a bit of time with Jane. A number of people are identified as possible suspects, and we are deceived plenty of times as to who is doing the framing, and who is trying to blackmail whom and why. This is just as any good mystery should be, though there's nothing that great about it.

Brion James gave quite a performance, considering this is just an average movie. Later, he got to demonstrate a wide range of skills. We think he is tough and strong and not particularly nice, but there is more to him. I don't know what Brion James is supposed to look like, but unless the character was supposed to resemble something out of sci-fi or horror, that was one hideous makeup job. I suppose the chemistry between Ramsey and McCarthy was supposed to be an attraction, but I didn't think there was much to that. Ramsey and Jane, on the other hand, made a more interesting team. Jane was the guardian for Allison, who was adorable and almost made the movie worth seeing.

This movie is not for kids, in spite of Allison's presence. The first recognizable image is that of Kimberly topless in bed (on TV, certain body parts were blurry). The male leads seemed to like using the f-word a lot (at least I think that's what it was). There is some violence but not a great deal, though Allison is in danger at least once.

I've seen better mysteries. This one wasn't too bad.

When one of easily aroused officer Michael Harris (as Jack Ramsey)'s sexual conquests turns up strangled, he becomes a prime suspect. It's apparent (to viewers) that Mr. Harris is being framed, as the killings continue. Harris' police pal Brion James (as Ben McCarthy), who recovers from hangovers exceptionally well, is an odd ball; perhaps, he is involved? Victim's sister Carrie-Anne Moss (as Jane Tanner), who can be roughed-up before sex (with Harris, anyway), has a secret; perhaps, she is involved? Or, is it someone else? The killer's identity is almost as explicit as the sex. Whatever those dopers paid Johnny Medina (as Manny Ortega) wasn't enough.

*** The Soft Kill (1994) Eli Cohen ~ Michael Harris, Brion James, Carrie-Anne Moss

Private investigator and former police detective Jack Ramsey (Michael Harris) is enjoying an affair with the local district attorney's wife, but when she is strangled not long after he has departed following a session of amorous activity, Ramsey is pegged as the primary suspect due to "clues" obviously planted at the murder scene in order to incriminate him, and additionally because of a zealous detective (Matt McCoy) who has personal reasons for disliking the former policeman. As Ramsey tries to clear his name, the sister (Carrie-Anne Moss) of the deceased shows up, and soon she and Jack begin their own affair that is complicated by subsequent homicides and by Jack's former police partner, performed by Brion James, ostensibly, despite private devils, the sole individual Ramsey can trust as additional evidence mounts against him despite entry of other suspects. Harris, a charismatic player who has created excellent roles, can do but little with a script that defeats as well the rest of the cast, hindered by a wandering plot that is clichéd and predictable from the film's opening while, despite helpful cutting, there remains an obligatory slow motion love scene, as well as embarrassing emoting from McCoy, Moss and James that is made unduly prominent because of faltering direction.

Here's an idea. If you are going to load a "who done it?" with intriguing suspects, don't give away the obvious murderer in the first reel, and then continue to cloud the water with "red herrings". Unfortunately that is the sad case with "The Soft Kill". Thus suspense and logic take a back seat to sex scenes, some of which border on being X rated material. I really like the late Brion James, and here he has quite a meaty part. It's just a shame that the script isn't fully developed. This plays more like an episode of "Columbo" than a mystery thriller, because like "Columbo", everyone knows right from the start who done it. - MERK

Michael Harris is a PI and former cop with a lot of women in his past and present. When the married woman he is carrying on an affair with is murdered, his name comes to the top of the list of suspects. Fortunately, his former partner, Brion James, catches the investigation and shields him. He also uses Harris in the current investigation. Meanwhile, Harris becomes involved with Carrie-Ann Moss, who's came to town when her sister died and left her the sole heir. But the question remains, who killed Harris' lover, and are the subsequent murders that come in related?

It's easily solved from the audience's viewpoint early on, although waiting for the evidence to show up requires waiting until the end. Although it attempts to show subtext about the issues of right and wrong, it's rather ham-handed in its scripting, with little for the performers to do except try to get through their parts in a workmanlike fashion.