Year: 1999
Runtime: 105 min
Language: English
Director: Bruce Beresford
Budget: $70M
Libby Parsons is wrongly convicted of murdering her husband and desperately seeks to find her son while uncovering a dangerous conspiracy that has destroyed her life. While on parole, she relentlessly pursues the truth, pushing her parole officer, Travis Lehman, to question his own judgments and confront a system that may be failing her. Their complex relationship intensifies as Travis is forced to challenge authority and reassess his perspective, leading to a tense and dangerous confrontation.
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Libby Parsons appears to have the perfect life. Married to her devoted husband, Nick, and raising their four-year-old son, Matty, they reside in a picturesque home along the Pacific Northwest coast. Celebrating one of Nick’s latest business successes, he surprises Libby with the idea of purchasing a sailboat for her. They plan a romantic weekend getaway, leaving Matty in the care of their friend Angie, who teaches at his preschool. However, when Libby wakes, she is horrified to find herself covered in blood with Nick missing. Disoriented, she discovers a bloody knife on deck and is soon confronted by the flashing lights of a Coast Guard vessel, which leads to Nick’s panicked mayday call reporting he has been stabbed.
Despite no body being recovered, Libby is accused of murder, as the evidence points to a violent altercation between the couple. Nick’s $2 million life insurance policy raises further suspicion of motive, prompting Libby to ensure the funds are allocated to Matty’s name. Unfortunately, a jury finds her guilty, and Libby is sentenced to a women’s prison far from her son.
During her incarceration, Libby battles feelings of despair, especially as Angie’s visits with Matty cease. One day, a fellow inmate reveals a crucial detail: Libby cannot be tried for the same crime twice due to the principle of double jeopardy. This revelation ignites a fierce determination within Libby; once paroled, she could pursue Nick in vengeance without fear of legal consequence. Over six years, she trains her body in preparation for the inevitable confrontation.
After being released into a halfway house under strict conditions, Libby is single-minded in her quest to find her son and Nick. She revisits the preschool but is rebuffed in her quest for information. Undeterred, Libby resorts to breaking in, only to be caught and handcuffed by her parole officer, Travis. Seizing an opportunity, she escapes into the ocean, eluding capture to begin her relentless search.
As Libby travels to various locations, Travis is hot on her trail, desperate to reclaim her before any harm can come to the public. Eventually, her journey leads her to discover that the man she once trusted as her husband, Nick, had faked his death to avoid financial ruin, leaving her to bear the weight of his deception. This crushing betrayal transforms her anguish into fury; she becomes determined not only to find Nick but to confront him for all he has taken from her.
In New Orleans, where she tracks Nick down, Libby learns that her son has been living a lie—believing his mother is dead, orchestrated by Nick and his new partner, Angie, who has also perished in tragic circumstances. As events spiral towards a climactic confrontation, Libby and Travis, after much peril and fight, find themselves face-to-face with Nick, who has remade his life at the cost of hers.
In a tense showdown, Libby seeks answers and, ultimately, justice. She discovers that double jeopardy protects her from being tried again, emboldening her to take control of her fate.
The concluding confrontation reveals truths that shatter past perceptions, ultimately leading to a reunion with her son, Matty. With the help of Travis and the evidence they collect, Libby prepares to reclaim her life and mend the shattered pieces left in the wake of deception and heartache.
In the end, Libby emerges not only as a survivor but as a warrior, learning that the true strength of a mother is irrevocable, and she will stop at nothing to protect her family.
Last Updated: October 28, 2024 at 17:38
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Ordinary protagonists pushed to extremes to clear their name and seek justice.If you enjoyed the high-stakes pursuit of justice in Double Jeopardy, this thread features similar movies about wrongful accusations and thrilling revenge. Discover other tense dramas and crime thrillers where protagonists are pushed to their limits to clear their name and confront those who betrayed them.
The narrative typically begins with a devastating betrayal that frames the protagonist for a crime they didn't commit. This inciting event propels them on a dangerous path of discovery, often involving a race against time, gathering evidence, and outsmarting a powerful antagonist. The journey is one of transformation, from a victim of the system to a proactive force challenging it.
Movies in this thread share a core premise of a shattered life due to a false accusation, creating immediate empathy and high stakes. They are united by a tense, fast-paced tone, a heavy emotional weight stemming from betrayal, and a central character arc defined by determination and a relentless pursuit of truth and retribution.
Thrillers where a parolee's quest for truth turns into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game.Fans of the cat-and-mouse tension in Double Jeopardy will enjoy this collection of thrillers featuring protagonists on parole or probation. These movies focus on characters operating under the watchful eye of the law while secretly conducting a high-stakes investigation, leading to tense confrontations and risky gambles.
The pattern involves a protagonist recently released from incarceration, navigating the strict rules of parole while secretly pursuing a personal agenda, often with a parole officer as a key antagonist or reluctant ally. The story is built on dual threats: the danger of the central conspiracy and the imminent risk of being sent back to prison, forcing the character to be clever and resourceful.
These films are grouped by their unique setting and source of tension: the precarious freedom of a parolee. They share a fast pace driven by the urgency of the investigation and the constant threat of recapture. The tone is consistently tense and suspenseful, with a high-intensity feel stemming from the protagonist's vulnerable position and high-stakes goals.
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Discover movies like Double Jeopardy that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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