Sometimes, films are unjustly judged. Other times, popular opinion needs to be challenged. Either way, our review of Double Jeopardy will almost definitely be Unpopularity Content.
In truth, Double Jeopardy could easily have been one of our Films That Time Forgot. Despite a solid cast, it’s barely remembered two and half decades afters its original release, and that seems a little odd. A taut ’90s thriller with an outlandish premise, it’s exactly the sort of movie that finds a foothold in cinematic history. So what happened?
Double Jeopardy‘s central cast consists of Ashley Judd, Bruce Greenwood, and Tommy Lee Jones. Despite a handful of other characters becoming entangled in its plot, it’s essentially a movie that follows the three main characters. Libby (Judd) and Nick (Greenwood) are happily married, only for Nick to disappear during a boat trip. After being charged with his murder, Libby discovers that he faked his death to frame her, and sets about getting revenge.
The film’s title comes from the notion that no one can be charged with the same crime twice. It’s a very liberal interpretation of the idea, which naturally results in a handful of major conceptual flaws with the movie. However, there’s much more to Double Jeopardy than a simple misinterpretation of law.
Double Jeopardy Is As Thrilling As It Is Ridiculous
Double Jeopardy‘s plot comes with a lot to unpack, but let’s boil it down to a few key points. Nick, the villain with the genius plan, fakes his death, frames his wife, and absconds with their nanny and young son. After establishing a new life and identity, he fakes his death again, popping up later under a completely new name. Now, we can’t be certain, but surely it’s not that easy to fake an identity? Nick has very little trouble with it, anyway.
In truth, the best aspect of the movie is the cross-country chase between Libby and her parole officer Travis Lehman (Tommy Lee Jones). Lehman’s cynicism doesn’t prevent him from empathizing with Libby, eventually coming to realize that there’s truth in her insistence that Nick is alive. Caught between his duty and helping an innocent woman, Lehman’s journey is perhaps the most substantial despite being a secondary character.
In this, Double Jeopardy feels lopsided. Its villain gets little screen time, with the main focus being Libby and her hunt for the truth. Judd’s performance is genuinely strong, and the dynamic between her and Jones buoys the otherwise ridiculous nature of the plot. The film’s core cast is able to sell the unbelievable story, and also ups the tension considerably. In honesty, with other actors, it would have been a truly terrible movie, but somehow, Judd, Jones, and Greenwood are able to salvage entertainment value from a markedly contrived story.
It’s not a remarkable film, but it’s not a bad one, either. It’s suspenseful, engaging, and even thought-provoking on certain levels, making it a distinctly entertaining movie. It’s a shame about the laughably liberal interpretation of a pretty simple legal premise, but if you can get past that, Double Jeopardy is probably worth watching.
Rating: 55%
Summary: Based though it may be on a gross misunderstanding of a simple legal premise, Double Jeopardy is a solid thriller.
Highlight: Ashley Judd’s prison workout montage is pretty badass.