AND NEVER LET HER GO

Mark Harmon and Kathryn Morris

AND NEVER LET HER GO (2-part 3 hour mini-series/2001). Director: Peter Levin. 

Anne Marie Fahey (Kathryn Morris) believes the stories that lover Thomas Capano (Mark Harmon) tells her about his failing marriage, but while she tries to break it off with him more than once, she keeps getting pulled back in -- this despite the fact that she eventually gets a nice boyfriend named Dan (Rick Roberts) and that Thomas already has a long-time mistress named Christine (Rachel Ward). One day Anne completely disappears, alarming her siblings. Detective Gugliatta (Paul Michael Glaser of Phobia) and FBI agent Connolly (Steven Eckholdt) combine forces to try to find out if the self-assured Capano is behind his latest girlfriend's disappearance. Meanwhile Capano's mother (Olympia Dukakis) excoriates Thomas' brothers for not being more like Thomas even as the authorities move in ... 

Harmon with Rachel Ward

And Never Let Her Go is a true story based on the book by Ann "Ghoul" Rule. The telefilm is interesting, but it would have been much tighter if it had been cut by an hour -- the second half is especially talky and tedious at times. It is greatly bolstered by excellent performances across the board, however. Kathryn Morris is outstanding as Anne, and Harmon, usually a lightweight, really delivers in his portrait of the determined and sinister Capano. The members of the supporting cast, especially Dukakis and Ward, are also on the money. 

Verdict: Some top-notch performances put over this true crime drama. ***

 

ALONG CAME A SPIDER

Morgan Freeman as Dr. Alex Cross

ALONG CAME A SPIDER (2001). Director: Lee Tamahori. 

After a senator's young daughter, Megan (Mika Boorem), is kidnapped from an exclusive private school by her teacher, Soneji (Michael Wincott), the villain contacts profiler Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman), bringing him into the case. Cross works with Jezzie Flannigan (Monica Potter), who had been responsible for the child's safety. Together, and working with other agents, the two of them play cat and mouse with Soneji, trying to figure out where he is and what he really looks like. Cross is fairly certain that Soneji does not intend to kill the youngster, but can anyone be absolutely certain of that? 

Michael Wincott

Along Came a Spider is a smoothly directed and fast-paced suspense thriller with good sequences, and a couple of twists that you may or may not see coming. Freeman is okay, if unexciting; Potter plays her part to perfection; and Wincott makes a fairly dynamic and interesting bad guy. There is also nice work from Michael Moriarty and Penelope Ann Miller as the girl's worried parents; Dylan Baker and Billy Burke as agents; and Mika Boorem as the feisty Megan and Anton Yelchin as her young friend, Dimitri. The talented Yelchin died tragically at age 27. 

Verdict: Slick and exciting. ***.