A deeply satisfying ’90s revenge thriller, a star-studded cheesefest
By Robert Scucci | Published: 2025-10-21 19:52:00 | Source: GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT
Written by Robert Scocchi | Updated
What if your husband faked his death in order to get insurance money, framed you for his murder, and decided to start a new life after ruining yours? 1999 Double jeopardy It answers that question with all the theatrics you’d expect from a crime thriller of this era. A fairly generic story that is lifted by its threads, Double jeopardy It’s a one-way ticket to the metaphorical city, but there’s great fun in getting there thanks to strong performances from Ashley Judd, Tommy Lee Jones, and Bruce Greenwood.
Although the concept of double jeopardy has been twisted (don’t try this at home, folks), it’s still a great piece of fiction if you’re willing to suspend some disbelief and enjoy this great summer movie for what it is.
I’ll spend six years in prison for $400, Alex
Double jeopardy It centers around a legal loophole: If you’re convicted of a crime you didn’t commit, you can’t be tried again for it because you’ve already served your sentence. Ashley Judd’s Libby Parsons learns this the hard way after her husband Nick (Bruce Greenwood) takes her sailing, kills her while she’s asleep, and then disappears. His body was never found, and the crime scene points to her as the guilty party.
Although she insists on her innocence, Libby is serving a six-year prison sentence because there is no way to prove that her husband is still alive. Behind bars, Margaret (Roma Mafia), another prisoner and former lawyer, explains that if Libby is implicated, the double jeopardy rule applies. Within the logic of the movie, she could find Nick, walk up to him in the middle of Times Square, and pull the trigger without consequence because he is, legally speaking, already dead.
Once she is transferred to a halfway house for the remainder of her sentence, Libby, under the watchful eye of her parole officer, Travis Lyman (Tommy Lee Jones), begins plotting her revenge. She’s not only determined to find Nick, but also her son Matty (Spencer Treat Clark), who lives with his father and his new partner Angela (Annabeth Gish).
Why double jeopardy works
The story hits all the usual ’90s revenge thriller beats, and the legal premise is questionable, but the chemistry between Judd and Jones makes… Double jeopardy Work perfectly. Jones has already played similar roles in The fugitive and United States InfantryHe is tasked with tracking down a dangerous and desperate person, no matter the cost. Judd’s interactions with Libby mesh perfectly with his tough-as-nails personality, and their dynamic feels grounded and believable in this context. Replace the trope of the runaway fugitive with an aggrieved mother seeking revenge, and you have a formula that still works.
He said that, Double jeopardy It has a strong “been there, done that” vibe. The plot beats are familiar, and it doesn’t try to reinvent the genre. It’s fun anyway because it’s a fast-moving, easy-to-follow revenge movie that lets you turn off your brain and look for the right people. The tension is not in the mystery. It’s about whether the good guys figure things out before the bad guys get away.
Double danger flow
Double jeopardy Features a montage of prison gym workouts, Tommy Lee Jones barking orders like only he can, and Bruce Greenwood strutting through fake identities as if he’s auditioning. Catch me if you can. Together they form a powerful trio that elevates an average script into something surprisingly satisfying. It won’t change your life, but it’s a very comforting watch for anyone craving a ’90s crime thriller.
Double jeopardy It is streaming on Paramount+.
(tags for translation) 90s Movies
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