BLACK JACK: DVD

SYNOPSIS:
When detective Jack Kempson (Colin Friels) helps catch a corrupt colleague (John Brumpton), he is shunted off to the basement archives for data transfer duties - and held in contempt by his fellow officers. He comes across the files of the unsolved kidnapping of a 7 year old boy (Yiani Andrikidis) 30 years earlier and begins to chase down the clues, with the help of fellow archivist Julie (Kate Beahan), aggravating his superior Inspector Terry Kavanagh (David Field), even further.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:
The first of half a dozen telemovies featuring The Jack Kempson character (Colin Friels) shows why there were more commissioned; it's a well written, high quality drama with outstanding performances, led by Colin Friels in a role that fits him like a glove. A principled cop with a no-nonsense attitude and not cowed by authority or rules. As the genre demands, he is a single father with a domestic problem, which complicates his emotional world, but makes our engagement richer.

Excellent performances from David Field as the squad chief who won't tolerate Jack and from Kate Beahan as the lowly constable in archives who proves invaluable - and intelligent company. Also notable is Victoria Longley as the married police officer having an affair with Jack - providing scenes away from the chase but integral to Jack's character development for the ongoing series.

Peter Andrikidis does a great job pacing the film without rushing it, and the script is intelligent, informed and sharp. A top entry in the rogue cop genre.

Published: May 1, 2008