neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Twisted
	Philip Kaufman Ashley Judd, Samuel L. Jackson, Andy Garcia, David Strathairn, Russell Wong, Mark Pellegrino, Camryn Manheim 2004		Ashley Judd seems determined to star in a great cops 'n' psychos thriller. She's been heroine, criminal or prey in the wildly mediocre "High Crimes," "Double Jeopardy," "Eye of the Beholder," and "Kiss the Girls." That's 0-for-4. With the initially engaging "Twisted," she tries again and comes up short. Accomplished director Philip Kaufman ("The Right Stuff"); top-notch co-stars Samuel L. Jackson, Andy Garcia and David Strathairn; Judd's own undeniable skill in front of a camera; and the scenic San Francisco settings don't quite make up for the addled convolutions and unbelievable stretches of the script. Despite problems with the scenario, the film's greatest sin is how early it telegraphs the solution to its mystery, even as it continues to point to false leads. Judd plays tragic, short-tempered, hard-drinking, recently promoted police detective Jessica Shepard, who was raised by her late father's partner on the force, John Mills (Jackson). Some of Jessica's colleagues are jealous of her rise through the ranks, especially since Mills is now police commissioner. But Jessica's new partner Mike (Garcia) appears to be on her side, until she boozes, blacks out and wakes up to her first case: the murder of her ex-lover. When another ex gets it and she has no alibi, she becomes a prime suspect. The shameless contrivances kill the suspense.