The Disappearance of Nora

Released on DVD under the title of "High Stakes," this TV film is only slightly above average. Performances are OK, but character development is sketchy, leaving the performers too many gaps to fill. Major asset is James Glennon's fine photography of Reno at night and the surrounding mountain landscape during the day. Glennon later was Alexander Payne's DP on "Citizen Ruth," "Election," and "About Schmidt." The premise is interesting, and the early scenes in the desert are promising. Dennis Farina brings his usual competence, making a thinly written role more interesting than it really is. This is certainly better than an average Lifetime Network movie, and may have originally been shown on HBO. One wishes it had been trimmed a bit to make the pace more lively.