Writer/director Simon Moore has fashioned a twisty turny film noir.

Set in Brighton in 1959. Tony Aaron (Liam Neeson) is a down on his luck former policeman turned private investigator.

He sets up fake adultery situations for clients so they can get a divorce. He uses his wife for the set up in some hotel. The same woman that got him drummed out of the police.

One night he drops in on his wife who is supposed to be in bed with a famous artist. He finds them both dead.

The artist was estranged from his wife and shacked up with American femme fatale Angeline (Laura San Giacomo.) In the artist's will, Angeline will inherit everything which includes the paintings that will skyrocket in price.

Aaron becomes a suspect as his gun was used for the murders. His former police superiors hate him and his only ally is his former cop partner Frank (Kenneth Cranham.) Aaron needs to get the goods on Angeline who he has always suspected.

Although made like an overdramatic period piece with overbearing music. It took its cue from 80s steamy American thrillers such as Jagged Edge and Body Heat, especially with an outrageous twist ending.

There seemed to be little chemistry between Leeson and Giacomo. The whole thing looked a little bit off and lead to an improbable climax, a race against time to save someone from the gallows.

This is one of those decent crime movies that few people have heard about. It has a lot going for it. I should rate it higher since the story kept my interest all the way both times I saw it (four years apart). The violence and profanity are not overdone, the main characters are very interesting and the story finishes with a unique twist.

Actually, that twist is something you have to ponder to determine whether it makes sense. I am not sure it did. You'd have to watch this again soon and check on a few things. It's either very clever or its totally unfair to the viewer, which is why I kept it at an '8."

It's nicely photographed and I bet it looks much better on a widescreen DVD than on the tape I viewed it on in the '90s. Liam Neeson and Laura San Giacomo star. I was familiar with the latter from the film, "Quigley Down Under." She's much more appealing in that film than this one. Neeson is almost always interesting to watch.

i want to give a STRONG plug for this very fine film that has received almost no acclaim. if you enjoy cinematic plot twists and suspense, sexuality and greed, but not blood and guts, this is a film you should see. when i say it keeps you guessing up till the last minute, i mean just that. art, money, sex, mistresses, wives, good cops, bad cops, murder! got it all-give it a try.