Alibi (2003)

So much average

How sad is this?

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

I will abstain from rating this 3 part movie because after watching part one I was so annoyed by the fatal plot flaw that I lost interest in watching the rest. The acting was good, the premise intriguing, but, from the beginning, the story revolves around the unlikely assumption that Marcey, the caterer, would put herself at risk by assisting a possible murderer, lying to the police and essentially becoming an accomplice. As the plot unfolds she gets in deeper and deeper ... why??? Why would any reasonable person do that? Sorry, I just couldn't buy it.

ALIBI: 2003 This is a rather good television thriller from the UK. Michael Kitchen and Sophie Okeondo headline this clever and tense television outing.Miss Okeondo is a just divorced civil servant who has a job working for a catering firm of the side. One evening, she is working a birthday party at a country home owned by Michael Kitchen and Phyllis Logan. Okeondo notices that the wife, Logan, is "friendly" with one of the party guests. The man, Tom Knight, is the business partner of husband Kitchen.The party ends and the catering bunch pack up their gear and head back to town. Several miles up road Okeondo notices that she has left her handbag at the house. She is dropped off and heads back to the Kitchen's house.She arrives to a darkened house. She knocks on the door with no response. The door is unlocked, so she enters. She heads up the stairs to grab her purse and stumbles onto Kitchen. Kitchen is moving the body of his partner, Knight. Okeondo lets out a scream. Kitchen drops the body and moves towards Okelondo.The woman hotfoots it up the stairs and locks herself in the washroom. Kitchen knocks on the door and says it is not what it looks like. Kitchen explains that it was an accident and that Knight had fell and hit his head. Kitchen, who had had more than a few drinks at the party, explains. Kitchen and the wife, Logan had, had a row over the cost of the party etc. She had then stormed off and driven to her sister's home. Kitchen and Knight had then had a dispute of their own over the company business. Knight had slipped and banged his noggin.For some reason, Miss Okeondo believes the man. She exits the washroom and the two talk. She asks why Kitchen never called the Police or the medical types. Kitchen says he was just about to when she appeared. Okeondo suggests that they thrash out an alibi for Kitchen. They soon realize that several hours have elapsed since the incident. How are going to explain this time lapse to the Police.They decide to load up Knight in his sports car, then, dump it off the road several miles up the lane. While Okeondo cleans up the mess, Kitchen moves the body and car. When he pushes the car off the hillside, it rolls down, hits a tree and bursts into flames.Now a whole series of events have the pair hopping back and forth with their stories etc. The burning car of course draws Police attention. Okeondo has the bad luck to take the taxi back to town that spots the burnt out car. The driver reports this to the Police.Now Okeondo discovers that Logan and Knight had been stepping out on Kitchen. Okeondo now thinks that maybe Kitchen had indeed done a murder. That is till she talks with him again. It is obvious to her that Kitchen never knew about Logan and Knight's extracurricular activities. Now Kitchen has to decide whether to let the wife know, that he knows about the affair. Logan of course is nearly off the deep end. She and Knight had planned on taking off for a new life.The Police are nosing around trying to figure out why Knight's car went off the road. Kitchen says the man was drinking while Logan tells the Police Knight never had a drop.Okeondo, now that she is involved, is spending her time helping Kitchen stay calm. She even helps out about Kitchen and his now dead partner's, business. She goes through the company books and finds that Knight had been lifting funds from the company. Knight had been using false invoices etc to bilk the firm out of 120 grand in cash. The cash was hidden in a bank account in Knight and Logan's name.Needless to say this leads to a showdown between Kitchen and the wife. Logan denies having anything to do with the cash scam. She does admit to the affair. She now accuses Kitchen of murdering her paramour. Again Okeondo has to step in to keep everyone out of jail.This one has plenty of twists and turns and more than a few red herrings. The writing is superb and the film has a nice look to it. The entire cast is in top form with Kitchen and Okeonde both delivering the goods.The more I see of Sophie Okeondo, the more impressed I am with her work. The one time Oscar nominated actress is equally adept at playing a plain Jane type, or a drop dead gorgeous sexpot. Check out her roles in SWEET REVENGE, HOTEL RWANDA and DIRTY PRETTY THINGS. Kitchen is best known for the long running BBC series, FOYLE'S WAR.The writer, Paul Abbott, worked on such UK series as, TOUCHING EVIL, CRACKER, SHAMELESS and STATE OF PLAY. The man can weave a tale! There are two different versions, the full length 180 minute one, and the shortened DVD release for the US. I recommend the full version.

"Alibi" tells of a British businessman who unwittingly kills his wife's lover, is serendipitously befriended by a young woman who provides his alibi, and becomes becomes embroiled in the cover-up, police investigation, discoveries of more sinister malfeasance, domestic issues, and more. Shot in the usual made-for-TV Brit no frills style with nonstop dialogue, this very civilized flick is sufficiently busy and twisty to hold interest for most of the 2.5 hour run. On the upside is a solid cast offering good performances. On the downside is mediocre production value and no subtitles or CC. Probably a worthwhile small screener for those into contemporary Brit dramas. (B-)

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All CostsAlibi is a gripping and thoroughly engaging TV movie thriller,with believable characters in believable situations.This is given extra credence thanks to the realistic,down-to-earth performances from the two leads,Michael Kitchen and Sophie Okelondo.They are given no sassy dialogue or outlandish situations to perform with,which,in this instance,has been for the better.The story manages to keep you gripped over it's two part duration,with it's clever and entertaining twists and turns.Be warned,though,as it's not all great.The director allows the pace to drag a bit in parts,there is an unwelcome comedy element spewing over things and the ending is the very definition of anti climatic.Still,it's a very audacious and well made effort for ITV1 to herald,and is well worth catching if you haven't seen it already.***