Director: Harold Becker
Starring: John Travolta, Vince Vaughn, Teri Polo, Steve Buscemi
Running Time: 89 minutes
Synopsis: In New England, divorced boat builder Frank (John Travolta) is devoted to his 12-year-old son Danny (Matt O'Leary). Still dealing with the trauma of his parents' breakup, Danny is prone to running away and lying. Frank's ex-wife Susan (Teri Polo) agrees to marry the new-to-town and wealthy Rick Barnes (Vince Vaughn), but the unexpected arrival of mysterious stranger Ray (Steve Buscemi) exposes Danny to the dangerous true nature of his new step-father.
What Works Well: While this is a routine thriller, John Travolta and Vince Vaughn add solid star power and a layer of gloss. The genuine father-son bond between Frank and Danny provides a sturdy foundation of warmth built to withstand the turmoil of lies and deceit. Director Harold Becker keeps the pacing brisk and the running time short, efficiently setting the context and steadily increasing the level of menace. In a brief but welcome appearance, Steve Buscemi is the uninvited slime exposing Rick's secrets.
What Does Not Work As Well: The plot holes are glaring, including slipshod police work, murder as the worst possible means to cover criminal tracks, a stabbing committed in the open when a secure warehouse was nearby, an antagonist believing he can hide from a past splashed across the media, and a victim downshifting to stupid mode to make the crime as easy as possible. The foundational heist that triggers all the action remains a frustratingly abstract event.
Key Quote:
Rick: You may not know me, but you do know Danny.
Frank: Oh, I know. He lies. He lies to just about everybody. But you know what?
Rick: What?
Frank: He doesn't lie to me.
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