Who said Jason Donovan’s career was dead? (Actually I think it was me).

However, here he shows that he’s still got the right stuff when it comes to acting and while it’s not a role that’s gonna win Logies (whatever they are), it is a role that he plays well and believably.

He plays Jon Peregrine, a forensic accountant who has set up his own business after leaving GV White, a bigger and more ruthless finance business. When his brother-in-law suicides after losing $105,000 behind his wife’s back, Peregrine investigates off his own back.

What he finds leads him into all manner of trouble as he teams up with his soon-to-be ex-wife, who still works with GV White. She throws him a connection (behind her superior’s backs) and soon he is following the trail of money that leads him to corruption at the highest levels of business.

It’s a fascinating science and one that would appear to be relatively new – the pursuit of the electronic pathways of transactions. Using the latest in high-tech computer gadgetry this is a more cerebral action thriller though and doesn’t often branch into car chases and so forth. This works both for and against the film – particularly as this bears all the hallmarks of being the pilot episode of a prospective series. As an intelligent financial mystery it works well, though the lack of anything truly action-packed may find the less enthused viewer wishing for a little more Jerry Bruckheimer in the film.

However, it is an intelligent and well-scripted piece, although some performances border on entirely wooden. Thankfully this occurs mostly in the bit players or two-line extras and not in the able main cast of Donovan and Anita Heigh (Stingers). The ABC has a history of intelligent and well-made films and this film can easily sit alongside other notable films from the ABC stable.

Delivered in the futuristic widescreen ratio of 1.78:1 with anamorphic finances, Loot looks brilliant with nothing to complain about in the visual presentation. Made this year and recently playing on the ABC, the picture quality is sharp and crisp, colours are even and flesh tones are true. Shadow detail, while limited to a few night shots, is average and blacks are realistic. A deserving transfer for a ten-minute old film.

As noted the dialogue is a little clunky at times, finding some inexperienced extras delivering lines woodenly, however the majority is all easily understood and clear. Sound effects are fine while the musical score from Greg White is a heady and intoxicating modern hypno-trance-techno-crammed affair. Electronica dominates with drumbeats and hyper-modern speeds and while it does suit the piece, it occasionally overpowers the viewer, which sadly detracts from the appreciation of the film. Still, it is delivered cleanly for a Dolby Digital stereo setup.

Like the majority of ABC releases, this one come complete with no extras bar the small promo pieces that open the disc. A peek behind the scenes would have been nice here, or at least some more information regarding the world of forensic accountancy.

In a world that seems more impressed by big explosions than by intellectual entertainment, this is a welcome relief. Performances are solid from the major cast and the storyline is, while being thoroughly modern, easily followed by even those with a poor knowledge of finance (like me). A very interesting and unique idea has been expanded upon well and the only downside is in the occasional lacking extras and overblown score.

Well worth checking out from your video store with a view to purchase should the mood take you.