Detective Phyllis Webber is both a devoted mother and a driven criminal investigator for the San Francisco police force. "My Silent Partner" is an effective drama about how she multi-tasks in both roles under great duress.
Working with her partner, Jeff Wong, Phyllis makes the arrest of a madam of a high-priced escort service. But the charges for pandering are dropped when the worldly Clara Hauser hands over a little book of the names and phone numbers of her clients. When Phyllis discovers that her husband Steven is one of the johns, the couple's falling out leads to a bitter divorce and custody battle.
Concurrent with the divorce, Phyllis and her partner are on the trail of career criminal Billy Sullivan, who is the underworld boss running the escort service, as well as other shady ventures. When Billy pays for the services of a slick attorney to represent Phyllis in her divorce case, it appears that she is working in league with the devil when she tips off Billy about potential police busts.
The filmmakers were successful in juggling the criminal case against Billy Sullivan with the domestic dispute between Phyllis and her husband. The little boy Sean was caught in the middle, and he figures prominently in the action. Like the film audience, the son comes to suspect Phyllis of being a dirty cop.
The tight screenplay was supported by an extremely competent cast, especially the actress playing the role of Phyllis Webber. As Phyllis's life seems to be imploding, it appears as if everyone is against her, including both her colleagues on the police force and her son. As the pressure mounts, there was a clever plot twist that resolved the complicated dual situation and resulted in accolades for both a dedicated cop and a proud mom.
My Silent Partner
2006
Action / Thriller
My Silent Partner
2006
Action / Thriller
5.0Plot summary
San Francisco based Phyllis and Steven Webber have hit an extended rough spot in their fifteen year marriage, as Steven, who manages a chain of dry cleaning stores for his wealthy parents, feels that she is more devoted to her work as an SFPD vice detective than she is to him as a wife. She working extended hours on her latest case, that of mobster Billy Sullivan, who is legitimate on the surface but who has his hands in several different illegal activities, he feels is only the latest in a long line of such cases for which she has been required to work long hours. So when Phyl learns of Steven's infidelity, she throws him out of the house. She is surprised by Steven's resulting move: filing for divorce, with a separate filing for custody of their only offspring, thirteen year old Sean Webber, Steven's belief being that he is a more stable parent than her. Phyl's problem in this matter is that she knows that she cannot afford the expensive lawyers that Steven can with his parents' money, the custody case which he can tie up in courts until she is out of money. She believes her prayers have been answered when a lawyer, Arthur Bannister, who was referred by the expensive lawyer she tried to hire, Ira Grossman, offers to take her case pro bono. After Arthur gets her out of a bind, Phyl learns that his law firm would like information on a police case for one of their other lucrative clients, that information which she does divulge. She later learns that the information was tied back to Billy Sullivan, who now has her between a rock and a hard place, as if she doesn't continue to provide inside information on his case, he will report her activities, which would not only mean her job but losing custody of Sean. Phyl has to figure out how to get herself out of this mess, while dealing with the divorce and the custody issue. Her professional problems are compounded by her partner of four years, Jeffrey Wong, who knows Phyl is a good cop that is caught up in something bad, that something which he is determined to find out.
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In League With the Devil
Decent movie but a little predictable at times.
This movie has a good line up of characters. It has a decent plot about a policewoman going through a divorce. She needs an attorney. She has no money to find a good one and finds herself being represented by a smug attorney who claims to be doing it because he feels bad for a mother in her situation. Unfortunately he turns out to be a mob attorney who starts to extort her for information.
The ending was almost expected but not fully the way I thought it would go. Decent movie but a little predictable at times.
I recommend it as a good flick to watch on a lazy Saturday afternoon. One of those movies to pop up some popcorn and snuggle up to your spouse or loved one.
Divorced cop needs attorney
This is a pretty dull movie up until the last 30 min. The majority of the movie you think she is a dirty cop trying to trade info. in return for a custody battle lawyer. Which during that time you are thinking this is stupid and ridiculous. The worst part is that the cast is really unlikable (up until the last 30 min.) You just think everyone is a scum bag and those that aren't scum bags are really indifferent. It's like no one really cares about anyone. You just don't make any attachment to the characters. Bottom line it's a dull movie and could have been possibly cast better but if you are bored like I was then you'll watch it anyways. If you can sit through 3/4 of it then you will find the last 1/4 at least somewhat entertaining.