Final Justice (1998) (TV)

Director:

Tommy Lee Wallace

Writer (WGA):

Babs Greyhosky (written by)

Release Date:

1 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A brother's murder. A killer set free. A woman's had enough.

Plot:

A teacher kidnaps the attorney who successfully defended her gay brother's killer.

Plot Keywords:

Acquitted Of Murder | Independent Film

Cast

Annette O'Toole	...	Gwen Saticoy
Michael McKean	...	Merle Hammond
Brian Wimmer	...	Mark Sherman
Mary Marsh	...	Barbara Saticoy
David Meyers	...	Assistant D.A. Potts
Robert Shampain	...	Art DeSoto
CCH Pounder	...	Danielle Kline
George Fosgate	...	Gordon Osborne
Tobias Anderson	...	Father Halligan (as Tobias Andersen)
Sam A. Mowry	...	Judge Czarneki
Karen Trumbo	...	Judge Rosaria
Duffy Epstein	...	George Saticoy
Kevin Loomis	...	Damon Benning
Sharonlee McLean	...	Coroner
Todd Hermanson	...	Detective Partner

Runtime:

Brazil:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Portland, Oregon, USA

Company:

Gleneagle Productions

Quotes:

Merle Hammond: [at Gwen's secluded mountain hideaway, the morning after kidnapping Hammond] ... Miss Saticoy, surely you've got something better to do than hole up in a cabin with me.
Gwen Saticoy: I used to, until I got fired by my school. It seems my blood-ties to a murder victim don't make me fit to teach 5th-graders. Of course, that could be since George is no longer seen as the victim.
Merle Hammond: It's not as if the term has much meaning anymore... Everybody's a victim nowadays. Damon Benning was a victim of threats from your brother, and your brother in turn became a victim of Benning's gun. You're a victim because you lost, and now I'm a victim because I won.
[...]

Soundtrack:

MURDER IN THE STREETS

Like it more with each viewing !

I have always thoroughly enjoyed films, like "Star Chamber" or the Charles Bronson vigilante movies where people take the law into their own hands to redress the wrong done by a decaying and unfair justice system. In this particular film Annette O'Toole gives an extremely moving, emotional and lifelike performance of a young lady aggrieved by the brutal murder of her brother who cannot bear to see his murderer get off scot free due to the garbage and slander spilled before the court by the pompous and greedy Merle Hammond. Technically one may argue that she should not have taken Hammond prisoner but rather the judge himself who let the murderer off but this film implies that Hammond's defense was so powerful and persuasive that the judge had no other alternative ! That is a matter for debate but the fact is that Hammond was the chosen victim and it there is a real feel good factor in seeing him humiliated ! The film contains good storyline and also a memorable music score. The ending is extremely touching and laid back .... no gloating over victory ... just the feeling of "having done the necessary to be able to continue with her life". A very laudable piece of cinema which confirms Annette O'Toole as one of my favourite actresses, very human, very real and also very fragile at the same time !