When Justice Fails (1999)

When Justice Fails (1999). 1h 31m | R

“Gotta wonder about Jeff Fahey and Marlee Matlin.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHere are two decent actors – expressive, appealing, hard-working – who went from enjoyable network series shows to substandard direct-to-video fare while seemingly at the top of their game.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;When Justice Failsu0026quot; isnu0026#39;t as bad as some of their other DTV pictures – just try to sit through Faheyu0026#39;s u0026quot;Absolute Zerou0026quot; all the way through – but it requires too much patience and forgiveness from the viewer, without working hard enough to deserve it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFaheyu0026#39;s a hard-boiled homicide detective and Matlin is a D.A. who somehow becomes the suspect in a spate of serial killings.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe movie begins to deteriorate once Fahey inevitably becomes romantically involved with Matlin, and yet, remains the lead detective on the case. Really, thatu0026#39;s OK with the cops? Aside from a few u0026quot;Yer throwinu0026#39; yer career down the toilet!u0026quot; admonitions from his scene-chewing captain, nobody seems to be too concerned about the really huge conflict of interest there.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTsk-tsking the situation occasionally, too, is his new partner, who announces early on that heu0026#39;s gay, because Not That Thereu0026#39;s Anything Wrong With That.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs the movie chugs along, it becomes a decent, if pedestrian whodunit, as weu0026#39;re made to wonder if the killer might be Matlin, her creepy sign-language interpreter, her wacko diva mother, or even Faheyu0026#39;s partner.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe reveal isnu0026#39;t very surprising and only somewhat satisfying, as it leaves so many other questions unanswered.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAside from Fahey and Matlin, who are charming as usual, most of the other actors are hammy and unappealing. The one exception is Canadian actor Carl Marotte as Faheyu0026#39;s partner, who has a pleasant Zachary Quinto aura about him.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe direction is heavy-handed and obvious. At one point, the camera shook so badly for no discernible reason, I wondered whether the cameraman may have zipped his fly with one hand and held the camera with the other.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf youu0026#39;re a fan of Faheyu0026#39;s or Matlinu0026#39;s itu0026#39;s worth a watch. Otherwise, u0026quot;When Justice Failsu0026quot; fails.”