Présomption d'innocence

After watching most of a movie that was so awful I fast forwarded through the middle, I saw this one as a suggestion on Amazon prime. The name Jessica Capshaw intrigued me because of course I know and like her mom. I never even thought about hitting the FF button! I made it though the whole movie even after my chips ran out!

The production values were decent. The acting was decent+ for most and Ms Capshaw and Art Hindle were very good especially together. But what was really surprising was the script. This production company should not let whomever wrote the script get away. The surprise after a twist was completely unexpected and well done!

Still a cheap indie, but I will be showing this to the wife soon - she loves mysteries.

Cheers!

Incendo media specializes in quickly shot, low-budget TV dramas with convoluted plots and has-been actors.

But...

This shot in Montreal (standing-in for New York, I guess...) crime drama is above their usual crop. Louis Bolduc, the director, could very well be the guy to save this segment of the entertainment industry by cleverly giving these quickies a bit more production value than the budget can afford and by getting decent actors who can give their best despite the obstacles of a tight shooting schedule and zero rehearsal time.

Jessica Capshaw is believable as a cute and clever young woman who must use all her wit to get out of a murder accusation. She may not be as drop-dead gorgeous as her mom was, back in her "Temple of Doom" days, but she can surely act circles around her !

Veteran Canadian TV actor Art Hindle has fun with the role of a charming media-loving lawyer who has a few tricks and surprises up his sleeves.

Overall, you won't get the feeling that you've lost your time watching this drama, even if it doesn't "feel" like a big movie.

Let's see what Louis Bolduc serves us next !

Insurance actuary Cassie Stewart (Jessica Capshaw) is dating Bobby Rose. Her roommate Diane Summers (Cindy Sampson) gives her a diamond necklace. Diane and Bobby are murdered in the apartment. Cassie is found unconscious outside and becomes the prime suspect in a lovers' quarrel gone wrong. She gets top lawyer L. G. Mennick (Art Hindle) who is doing the case for the media exposure. Police detective Rudy Shatz has doubts.

The initial case seems very flimsy. Cassie is more likely to be a victim than the murderer. It's a tough hurdle to overcome unless she makes a statement which seems to implicate her. The movie is missing that. It should be an easy fix. As for the reveal, it is obvious from the first big side eyes. The movie isn't really trying to make this a mystery. It could be, but it's not trying. This is fine for a TV movie.

It is gripping. Great story. Clever dialogue. Superb casting. Surprise ending. Jessica Capshaw and the actor who played her lawyer were totally believable. My husband and I often find crime stories so convoluted with details that it is hard for us to comprehend or to keep up with it. This was easy for us to follow and if it hadn't been for commercials, we would never have left the television! The camera shots were perfect for the drama and the whole story was paced just fast enough to keep us glued to the screen. Would love to watch another film by the same writer. Actually, this would be a great pilot for a series. Fran Watson Richards