Domestic Disturbance (2001)

Directer: Harold Becker

Frank (John Travolta) is divorced, and yet keeps a good relationship with his ex-wife. They even share responsibilities with the son (for whom she has custody). But she’s getting ready to marry Rick (Vince Vaughn). Rick seems like a nice guy, but when he kills a guy in front of Danny (the son of course) it causes a domestic disturbance (and a film devoid of any originality).

Disturbed law:

1. Danny ditches school and is picked up by the police. He’s done it before and demanded a lawyer. Way to know your rights Danny.

2. When Ray, one of Ricks old criminal buddies, comes to town, Rick tells him that scumbags are what he “came to hate most about working outside the law.”

3. After Danny sees the murder there is a police interrogation in which no one believes Danny. Finally, Frank believes him and sues for custody in order to get him away from Rick. He even kidnaps Danny in “custody play.” His lawyer says that he has no choice but to fight for custody and his girlfriend tells him that “mom’s always win these things.”

4. There is a custody hearing that Frank loses because Danny (under duress) retracts his accusations. There won’t be any perjury though because he was too young to swear in according to the judge.

5. Not really a legal thing, but man it was great seeing Vince Vaughn electrocuted by a well placed crow bar.

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Single White Female (1992)

Director: Barbet Schroeder

Another bad On Demand pick. This movie is a completely predictable thriller about a woman (named Allie … played by Bridget Fonda) who allows a possesive psycho (named Hedra … played by Jennifer Jason Leigh) to move in with her. The psycho of course goes on a killing spree. The one redeeming moment of the whole experience of watching this travesty on film is the scene where the Allie’s boyfirend (Steven Weber) is killed by a high heel…death by stilleto.

Very tenuous law in this baby:

1. The apartment is rent controlled so the psycho can’t go on the lease.

2. At the end when the psycho has Allie cornered Allie says . . . and I love this . . . “We’ll call a lawyer.” That always works with people who are on killing sprees.

3. Let’s hear it for shoddy cops. The boyfriend is axed with a size nine, Allie is framed by Hedra who has become an Allie look alike, and Allie manages to find out from the TV, get abducted, and go on a wild chase through the apartment building. Shouldn’t a police officer have showed up for questioning by now?

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