Un coupable idéal

What a huge disappointment. In spite of having Richard Crenna and Beverly D'Angelo in this movie, the only reasons I gave it a shot in spite of the ratings, it was a total flop. Other than Richard Crennas character, I kept wondering "who are these people"? Totally under-developed and left you not knowing or caring who or what they were about. There was a feeling of watching bit parts from a few different movies, all thrown together. The only reason I watched through to the obvious ending is to see if just maybe it would get better. It didn't. Even if you're a fan of Richard Crennas or Beverly D'Angelos, don't waste your time on this mess.

Retired cop Jonathan Stone (Richard Crenna) moves to Seattle after his wife dies and gets implicated in a murder case where he is a chief suspect.

The local cop wants to pin it all on Stone, only a local socialite Annie Hayes (Beverly D'Angelo) is willing to help him out.

From the outset Crenna looks too old to be in this film. It was a surprise to see Jennifer O'Neill almost unrecognisable as the dying wife, D'Angelo looked gorgeous but why would she waste her time on Crenna who is as interesting as dishwater. There are several interesting character actors who are also wasted here.

As for the story, poor, plodding nonsense. The shock on Crenna's face is nothing compared what you will feel at the reveal. You never get to know the characters or care about them so the mystery will just make you shrug your shoulders.

The standards of cop television movies in the 1990s had really hit rock bottom.