Everybody Wins (1990) - Arthur Miller

July 17, 1988

ALMOST EVERYBODY WINS

Screenplay by Arthur Miller

Synopsis by Brian Aldrich

TOM O'TOOLE is a private detective who has gone up against the system one too many times. He's worn out. But a sexy young woman named ANGELA approaches him with a seemingly worthwhile case. FELIX EPSTEIN is in prison for killing his uncle, DOCTOR DANIELS. But Felix and Angela swear that he was set up by the police to take the rap for someone else. Tom is reluctant to take the case. Angela seduces him. He takes the case.

Tom's wife, CONNIE, is suspicious of his dealings with Angela and the midnight phone calls. Angela tells Tom that she knows that the murderer is a burnt-out case named JERRY. Tom goes to see AMY who might lead him to Jerry. She says the cops let him go even though he confessed to the murder. Tom sees Jerry who is building a church out of a shack in the woods. Jerry gets away on his motorcycle. Tom runs into Angela who acts strangely. It turns out she has many personalities, one of which is a debutante, one a hooker. Tom has his friend JUDGE MARKS take a look at Felix's trial transcript. Tom lets his arch enemy, STATE ATTORNEY CALLAGHAN know that he is investigating the Epstein case. Tom takes Angela and Jerry out for a pizza. Tom gets the sense that Jerry is filled with guilt and would like to confess, but isn't being allowed to do so. Tom visits Angela's shrink to find out if he can trust what she is saying to be the truth. The shrink says yes. Tom talks with Jerry again. Jerry agrees to talk about what happened. Angela informs Tom that Jerry ran drugs for Doctor Daniels. The police department was involved in the drug sales. So when Daniels was killed and Jerry confessed, Callaghan was worried about Jerry talking about the drug business. Thus, Callaghan framed Felix and released Jerry. Tom and Jerry talk. Jerry is suicidal. Jerry reveals that Angela was in the room when he killed Daniels (he was one of her lovers). Jerry kills himself. Tom goes to Judge Marks with the information. Marks gets Felix released and a new trial, but keeps the police involvement out of the picture. Tom returns to his wife. Angela stays with Marks and future Senator Callaghan.

Summary Criticism: While the crime itself is an interesting premise, the steps leading to its detection are contrived, exposition-laden, and boring.

Everybody Wins (1990) - Arthur Miller - imdb

Everybody Wins (1990) - Arthur Miller - wiki