Without Evidence

For independent cinema viewers, here is a super-realistic film touted as a true story. This production contains no special effects or actors who were famous at this time. One actress, Angeline Jolie as Jodie, became famous after this film and has starred in roles including Laura Croft, Tomb Raider. Despite the small budget, this film sports a down-to-earth plot with plenty of detailed twists.

Without special effects, this artistic film is suited mainly for the minority-viewing public that enjoys a complicated murder mystery without intervention from the supernatural or Hollywood's frequent sequence of improbable events. Prosecuting attorneys, and fans of murder trials, should see this film.

I put this film in my Amazon Prime queue because I was living in Oregon at the time of Michael Francke's murder.

It starts with a clip from "Unsolved Mysteries," and the rest of the movie has about the same production values, including the cheesy preview scenes. It was fun seeing scenes of Oregon and recognizing a couple of Portland stage actors, but otherwise, I lost interest, despite having seen the story play out in nightly news reports for months.

This movie rides on Angelina Jolie's name (and that's in retrospect looking at it from now)--she's not even a primary character here. She's a passing character here. This is (albeit announced as so) a story based on a real event, that basically follows the storyline to a: "Is that it???" You might as well watch an episode of America's Unsolved Mysteries (or whatever it was called). This takes you through a true occurrence that was never solved. BUT...it leaves you at the same place.... STILL UNSOLVED!!! What's worse is that it doesn't really leave you with anything to "chew" on (i.e., something to talk about at work or with friends/family to talk about). It just...ends. It doesn't even leave you with captions for "if you have seen call..." This movie is essentially HALF a movie that leaves you at the, "What's gonna happen now???" point. And there is no, "What's gonna happen now," the credits start rolling...

"Without Evidence" attempts to weave a gripping narrative centered around crime and conspiracy but ultimately falls short of delivering a compelling experience. Starring Angelina Jolie, the film explores themes of truth and deception, yet its execution leaves much to be desired.

The story follows a journalist who becomes entangled in a web of intrigue while investigating a suspicious death. While the premise has potential, the plot often feels disjointed and predictable, with twists that fail to generate genuine suspense. The pacing is uneven, with moments of tension interspersed with sluggish dialogue that detracts from the overall momentum.

Jolie's performance adds a layer of charisma to her character, but even her talents can't fully elevate the material. The supporting cast, while competent, often feels underutilized, leading to a lack of depth in character development. As a result, the relationships and stakes within the narrative fail to resonate with the audience.

Visually, "Without Evidence" has its moments, but the cinematography doesn't do enough to enhance the story or create a memorable atmosphere. The film's score is functional but lacks the emotional impact needed to elevate key scenes.

In summary, "Without Evidence" is a missed opportunity with a promising premise that ultimately feels flat. Its predictable plot and lack of character depth earn it a 5/10 rating. While it may entertain fans of the genre, those seeking a gripping mystery will likely be left wanting more.

Without Evidence had a really good, complicated idea of a conspiracy thriller, and I was expecting it to be tense and exciting. But I will say I was disappointed. It isn't the worst movie ever, but as a conspiracy thriller it does fail big time. One redeeming quality was the acting. Scott Plank is fairly good as the brother of the murder victim, and although she is (disappointingly) only in three scenes, Angelina Jolie also impresses. However, they are let down by plodding direction, unconvincing supporting actors and a lacklustre script. Another problem was that the characters and the plot were badly underdeveloped, they tried to get somewhere but because of the script, it never got across. The most disappointing aspect was the ending, the final solution is usually the most riveting thing in a film, but the film completely lacked that.Yes, someone gets convicted of the murder, but we never do find out if they're guilty, or if there's even a conspiracy. Honestly in that case, it needs a sequel, if it ends that abruptly. In conclusion, a disappointing and confusing film (I can't remember the amount of times I was going WHAT? at the screen), that had so much promise, but just failed to deliver. 4/10 Bethany Cox.