Following the tradition of military cover-up dramas that attempt to expose jaded secrets of American foreign policy, 20th Century Fox’s High Crimes delivers a routine crime thriller that, despite talented performances, comes up a bit short on enticing and original storytelling.
Ashley Judd plays Claire Kubik, a successful hardball attorney of a large San Francisco firm. Life seems perfect for Claire and her ex-Army husband Tom (Jim Caviezel) until the FBI raids their home and arrests Tom for concealing the murder in a 1988 massacre of nine civilians in a village in El Salvador.
As the story unfolds, Claire learns that her husband has a second name and identity. Believing in her husband’s innocence, Claire chooses to defend him in a military court, a justice system she is unfamiliar with.
Strong signs of a conspiracy are evident throughout the film from stolen defense documents, the murder of key witnesses, obvious gaps in testimonies and a tough judge who doesn’t bother to adhere to a fair justice system.
Freeman and Judd have already created box-office chemistry in 1997’s Kiss the Girls. Although they rekindle their magic in High Crimes, the two talented actors get tangled up in a movie that seems a bit careless and clichCB)-ridden. The movie does bring a gripping plot with some tricky twists and turns, but there seems to be too many distracting subplots that get in the way. But.with the support of some very powerful actors, the inconsistent storytelling can be brushed aside for a couple of hours of enjoyment.
Making a movie about strong, capable and resourceful women deceived by their husbands in some way requires one crucial thing, Ashley Judd in the lead role! Unfortunately she has been type cast in this role too many times, but she still lights up the screen with a Southern grace, classy style and modern heroism.
Morgan Freeman, as always, gives a great performance as a warm and streetwise “wild card” with a tender individualism.
He battles alcoholism, the military and loneliness all in two hours, but he pulls it off with quiet modesty that gains our support and attention.
High Crimes, directed by Carl Franklin, is now playing in theaters.
The running time is 115 minutes and the film is rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language.
