Welcome once again to Kobas On Film starring our very own KOBA-TV mascot, Maryland J. Koba. Today, our film review is Murder One starring our favorite Canucklehead, Jessica Steen.
Methinks our Jess is getting typecast. First she plays a doctor who was a spy. Now, she's playing an even lower form of life - a lawyer. Sorry, any lawyers on the list! Not only was she playing a lawyer, but she was a wanna-be sportscaster - an even lower form of life than lawyers! Pretty soon, she'll be playing a politician.
Jessica played Paige Wycoff, an assistant DA with dreams of being a sportscaster. Her first appearance was a throwback to silent movies - she sat in the second chair while the DA did all of the work. Her second appearance was a little better - she actually spoke! Last night, we discovered a lot more about her character.
The story, as I understand it, was that a black basketball star was accused of murdering the owner of the team he played for, who was white. The story threw in all kinds of hot-button issues like racism, the worship of sports figures, and ambition. The defense attorneys, who the story focuses on, did everything they could to get their client off - ethical or unethical. The sleaze was running pretty deep.
Jessica's character had big dreams of being a sportscaster. So much so that she gave information about the DA's case to the basketball player's agent - a showboating slimeball who isn't afraid of playing racial politics to his own advantage. When the defense attorney - a former DA - found out about her double-dealing, he threatened to expose her. She countered with a sexual harrasment suit. She was quite a cold customer! When the truth came out, as it eventually did, she was ruined. At the end, Paige went to the sleazy defense attorney and asked for a job. There was no Alonzo to stick up for her here - the defense attorney turned her down flat, saying that he couldn't trust her. Unlike on E2, she wasn't the only lawyer in town.
Jess did her usual incredible job. She was the consummate professional with ice water in her veins. The sad thing is that, since Murder One is being pulled off the air, she probably won't get a lot of notice for this part. Please, someone, give this woman a full-time job! She deserves it!
Frankly, I found the entire series of Murder One episodes to be very drawn-out, boring, and morally bankrupt. In this case, justice didn't triumph, even though the basketball player confessed to the crime. Everyone has a wavering moral compass, and they all live up to the reputation of lawyers. Jessica, however, did a bang-up job in her small part. I was actually hoping that she would be hired, so that we could see more of her.
In closing, Maryland J. Koba gives Jessica five out of five audition tapes for her role on Murder One.
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