Double Jeopardy (1999)

This movie by Australian director is now a weekly DVD but definitely worth seeing. Ashley Judd plays Elizabeth "Libby" Parsons who loses her husband, Nick, during a Yachting trip with him. During the police investigation it is discovered that Nick was in a financial crisis at the time of his death but left a two million dollar life insurance policy collect. Suddenly a whole set of evidence is produced to reinforce the allegation that she had a motive to murder her husband and she is convicted of murder. There is a plot problem that in reality she would have to wait seven years if he went missing from a boat before the claim was paid and it would be unlikely she would be convicted of murder without corroborating witness testimony from an independent party. Nonetheless somehow she is convicted of her husbands murder and it provides the intrigue.

In prison Libby studies law in order to prove her innocence and when she phones her friend Matty who has custody of her 4 year son she accidentally stumbles on the fact that her husband may still be alive. The insurance claim has been paid to her son and her friend can use the money in his care apparently. Libby also learns that once convicted of murder of someone that you cannot be sent to trial again over the same murder and its called "Double Jeopardy" in legal terms. Libby is determined to hunt down her Husband for what he has done when she is released.

Libby is released into supervised sentence under parole officer Travis Lehman ( Tommy Lee Jones) but escapes custody and sets out to track down her husband to prove her innocence.

There is lots of action and Ashley Judd is such a great actress that you become emotional attached to her battle through the film.

Tommy Lee Jones also performs well in his role as he breaks ranks to assist Ashley in quest to be reunited with her son in freedom.

Fmovies: Tommy Lee Jones and Ashley Judd team up in a story where happily married Libby Parsons (Judd) finds her financial-troubled husband Nick (Bruce Greenwood) missing. An investigation leads to the conviction of Libby for murdering Nick to obtain the insurance policy he had. While in prison, Libby learns Nick is still alive and had framed her. Therefore, after being paroled she escapes probation officer Travis (Tommy Lee Jones) to look for Nick, with Travis hot on her trail.

This movie combines the tension of Judd's "Kiss The Girls" and Jones' "The Fugitive" to provide a movie that is double the mystery and suspense, captivating an audience and keeping the movie's momentum strong. The tension builds in one scene after the other to its action-packed climax, from the moment Libby finds her husband missing to her struggling to cope in prison, and to her avoiding her probation officer to her attempting to track down her husband.

Movie may be a little predictable, and some of the plot elements are the same as the TV movie "Bitter Vengeance," which stars Bruce Greenwood playing a character that also escapes, fakes his murder, and frames his wife. But overall, this is another nice popcorn movie for a night.

Grade B-

Great plot - excellent acting - beautiful sights and scenes. Exciting story with lots of action. Thoroughly enjoyable - even if one knows the plot in advance. Many touching moments. Strongly recommend this movie which has something for everyone.

Double Jeopardy fmovies. ... but enough about Ashley Judd.

Standard Tommy Lee Jones fare here, a thriller in which he is the cop/law enforcement officer of some sort (in this case a parole officer) with a dark past who saves the day.

Some good action, not bad stunt scene on a ferry, and the ever lovely Ashley Judd, particularly fantastic in her working out scenes that were there for nothing but gratuitous titillation, and who can complain about that?

I couldn't belive it when I read these comments and most of them were negative. This is one of my favorite movies!! I absolutely loved it. I think Ashley Judd is an incredible actress and Libby is my favorite character that she plays. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. What I love most is all the steps she goes through to finally find her husband and son. I just feel like screaming "GO Girl!!" like half the time. I love the character of Libby and how she is so strong and smart and doesn't take any crap from anybody. I don't know why people didn't like this movie more. I think it is wonderful and really touching about a mother's love. Regardless of what these other comments say... go see this movie!! Decide for yourself what you think but I doubt you will be bored. Wonderful movie!! 10/10

I've read all the bad reviews-I can say that it's really not THAT bad-granted-this picture has no realism whatsoever but-I could rattle off the names of many movies even more unbelievable that are still considered good films.

Not that this is a really GOOD film or anything-but it does what it does well-which is to get your attention and hold it-no great analysis, no deep conversations afterward about "what it all meant". Just a bit of time away from day to day life.

The movie is also trying to appeal to a particular crowd, the type who like these type of "mind thrillers'(Guilty as sin is another one, Malice, Final analysis etc etc) There's a whole host of movies like this one.

Now this particular movie stars Ashley Judd who is so talented she almost had me thinking she really was locked up-definitely a quality actress-and if your a female and have just had a really BAD breakup you may wanna see it for that "woman will triumph" quality.

Not that I'm saying this movie is great but I always tend to look for the bad AND the good-I thought one of the worst thrillers(a lot worse then this) was malice with Kidman and Alec Baldwin-that one was not only improbable but also extremely boring-but I'm getting off the subject at hand...

I liked this. saw it in the theater and rooted for Ashley all the way.

Seen a lot worse in my time.

And lastly if you wanna check out ridiculous movies(and it's a SEQUEL to boot) rent "revenge of the stepford wives".