À visage découvert

So it's Sunday evening and I had nothing better to do... But I was happily surprised by this movie. Scott Bakula undoubtedly makes the movie, but the plot's also not too shabby. It's twisty enough to hold your attention, but straight forward enough to not be too taxing on the old brain cells. Some of the acting is, admittedly, a bit wooden. And I'm not entirely sure who did kill the one guy half way through the film, or why. And why does his wife looks so happy at the end? Something amiss there, I'm sure. Maybe there were going to make a spin-off film about how she did away with him. But still, very pleasing Sunday evening viewing. And now it's time for bed.

If you're like me and often frustrated by illogical movie plots (Why do smart people do dumb things in the movies?), then you'll appreciate the ingenious ending to this little film.

You might also appreciate the acting job turned in by the teenager who plays the daughter. She was picked out of a local soft ball team and had no prior acting experience.

This is one of those films which apparently wasn't released - at least not widely - and I'd never seen it listed anywhere until now. I've always found Scott Bakula's work interesting, and he's one of the more likable actors around. The same is true of Annabella Sciorra, although their chemistry as the 13-year husband and wife, and model citizens/parents, etc., wasn't exactly "white-hot."

But this was still an interesting story, even in spite of this, and much better than a lot of the more elaborate releases both on television and big screens.

Although this wasn't the typical "Lifetime, made-for-TV" flick, it had the feel of one - and certainly one of the best ones. These movies often have the devious spouse, out to eliminate the other, sometimes with a "double life," sometimes not. Others deal with a secret, jaded past, and usually has a former significant other who arrives to spill the beans and menace his/her new family. And then there's the "best friend/neighbor" secretly disrupting the hero or heroine's life, and often planning to bump him/her off and fill the void.

So this picture, with the former life, long hidden, which eventually comes to light with substantial danger and consequences, and the inevitable suspicions that the "hero" may have a dark side, and be perpetrating the dangers which ensue - is not original at all. However, here it is presented with more believability and realism than normally, and with a satisfying resolution. Often these films take an hour and 58 minutes of the airtime to build to a predictable, all-too-brief, "2-minute" resolution. However, the last 20 minutes or so here present a truly interesting, strong (and heartfelt) climax.

Besides the two leads, the supporting actors (daughter, business partner and his wife, and the authorities from Bakula's past) are first-rate, and are a major reason this story is well-above the usual fare seen in this venue.

Watched this for Scott Bakula, who was very good. He plays a prominent businessman with a wife (Annabelle Sciorra) and daughter. He coaches a winning baseball team where his daughter is the star.

Unfortunately, he had a life before this, and it catches up with him. He is the son of a mafia kingpin, and he was accused of killing his fiancee years earlier. He now lives with a new name, in a new place.

The detectives after him believe he has a ledger of payoffs. If he will turn it over, they will walk away. He doesn't believe them.

Meanwhile, his wife learns he hasn't been honest with her about a recent trip; she finds a photo of another woman in his wallet, and asks a friend to check it out.

This was pretty good, with a fine cast: besides Bakula and Sciorra, there are Ed Asner and George Dzunda in support.

A couple of twists keep you interested, as well as the acting.

It's easy to tell a lie--create a new identity, move to a new town,sart a new life. But what happens when you're rediscovered by the people that lost track of you years earlier?

James Stockton (Scott Bakula) is a model citizen, a hard working contractor, husband, father, and baseball coach. He has established himself in a good life, earning a good reputation among the people in his town. When he is rediscovered at a funeral for his mother, even though he is incognito, people begin showing up, and James's perfect world comes crashing down. How can he safe his own life, as wll as the lives of his wife Lisa (Anabella Sciorra) and daughter Stacy (Cait Gentile)?

his suspensful drama, though it plays like a television movie of the week, is well-written and well-acted. Bakula, as James Stockton, plays the perfect family man, who happened to come from a troubling past. This is a different kind of role for him, as we are used to seeing him as the "Average" hero. The performances of the cast are all around good.

This is an all-around good movie, with enough suspense to keep the audience entertained. If you like movies that will make you think, enjoy a good thrill, or like Scott Bakula, then this is the perfect film for you.