Stillwater

THE GIST: Bill's daughter, Allison, is jailed in France for the alleged murder of her partner, for which she claims innocence. When her lawyer declines to pursue new information that could exonerate her, Bill decides to take matters into his own hands.

Stillwater is a mystery and family-drama vehicle that expertly leverages the talents of Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin to serve up a tense, well-developed film.

Camille Cottin is also excellent in a fairly large supporting role.

The story clearly recalls a true-life murder investigation of an American exchange student in Italy. She was released on appeal after having spent a good amount of time in prison.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely a good movie, well written, and with a great cast. Plenty of action keeps the engine humming along, so don't be scared by the runtime.

Grade: 8