"Chasing Gold" is a combination crime film and domestic melodrama. The crime story involves the mystery of who killed a cop, then looted his safe filled with cash and gold bullion. The domestic melodrama involves an altruistic cop who takes a junkie off the streets and adopts her as his daughter.
There is plenty of detail in the film that eventually ties the two plots together and uncovers some unsavory drug dealing, human trafficking, and corruption in the Windy City. Big Paulie Sorvino is excellent as the decent police commander, Frank, who pulls a young woman up to respectability after she had fallen into a life of drugs and panhandling.
The police force in this film is a motley crew that includes one member who has gone rogue. My favorite scene is when the cops are completely stumped on the murder case, they all throw up their hands and say, "Ah, heck, let's all go out for a drink!"
In the crime drama, it was not clear how the murdered cop could conceivably amass a stash of $20,000 and a shoe box full of gold bars. We learn as well that he spent a lifetime losing at poker. Most beat cops would be unlikely to have this level of discretionary income by the time they reach retirement.
The character Judy, who is the street urchin, has one of the quickest rehabs on record. Despite the filmmakers' overreach, the relationship of Frank and Judy was touching and tender. For Frank, Judy is the embodiment of the daughter he lost in a tragic car accident. For Judy, Frank is the father she never had, growing up with the abusive stepfather Carmen Velente. Carmen will figure very neatly as the missing link that ties together the two plot strands.
While the film's ending was never in doubt, the audience is treated to an interesting set of clues in deciphering the crime story. And the budding relationship of a caring father for his daughter is well developed in the melodramatic narrative.
This film is well worth a watch for those who enjoy well-crafted Lifetime Channel-style movies.
There is plenty of detail in the film that eventually ties the two plots together and uncovers some unsavory drug dealing, human trafficking, and corruption in the Windy City. Big Paulie Sorvino is excellent as the decent police commander, Frank, who pulls a young woman up to respectability after she had fallen into a life of drugs and panhandling.
The police force in this film is a motley crew that includes one member who has gone rogue. My favorite scene is when the cops are completely stumped on the murder case, they all throw up their hands and say, "Ah, heck, let's all go out for a drink!"
In the crime drama, it was not clear how the murdered cop could conceivably amass a stash of $20,000 and a shoe box full of gold bars. We learn as well that he spent a lifetime losing at poker. Most beat cops would be unlikely to have this level of discretionary income by the time they reach retirement.
The character Judy, who is the street urchin, has one of the quickest rehabs on record. Despite the filmmakers' overreach, the relationship of Frank and Judy was touching and tender. For Frank, Judy is the embodiment of the daughter he lost in a tragic car accident. For Judy, Frank is the father she never had, growing up with the abusive stepfather Carmen Velente. Carmen will figure very neatly as the missing link that ties together the two plot strands.
While the film's ending was never in doubt, the audience is treated to an interesting set of clues in deciphering the crime story. And the budding relationship of a caring father for his daughter is well developed in the melodramatic narrative.
This film is well worth a watch for those who enjoy well-crafted Lifetime Channel-style movies.