Did she know what was going on with Julia Robert's character keeping Marzin? When Ray shows back up in the beginning, she and Robert's character seemed to be exchanging a lot of tense glances, during the scene in the DA's office. Claire also seemed to lift herself out of the situation at the end as if she knew all along.
share I actually like the idea, but, as to why Claire and Jess may have seemed to be exchanging tense glances...I think it was all explicit or plot-implied reasons:
a. Claire is probably a little annoyed at Jess's presence/interruption. When Ray asked to close the door Claire had assumed it was because Ray wanted to say all those things he should have said 13 years ago and finally establish a relationship with her. You can see how surprised she is when Jess shows up just as the door was closing and Ray welcomes her into the office, stating the subject of the discussion mainly involves her. Claire further expresses that expectation/disappointment after she and Ray are alone again and she basically lays into him with, '...so you just waltz back in MY office because you have been thinking about Jess's problem for 13 years?'
b. Jess secretly (in her eyes) is looking to Claire...hoping/pleading that Claire will be the one to tell Ray something like, 'no, the case has to stay officially closed' and/or 'just forget about it for Jess's emotional sake'. Claire on the other hand is looking at Jess...gauging whether she can handle yet another "Marzin sighting" and whether or not she should break the rules (reopening a case on Ray's word alone) FOR Jess to get some closure.
On November 6, 2012 god blessed America...again.
Makes sense. Thank you for the clarification!
Great movie. I really wish it would have had more success.
Ya know, just for the record, I really do love your theory of Claire being in on it. It would have made for a very eye-opening 'alternate' ending...for Ray to get back to Claire's office (or home) and for her to be all like, "yeah...I knew all along."
I mean, you wanna talk about ANOTHER twist tagged onto a twist ending?! THAT would be a real killer to Ray. I mean having BOTH of them be essentially lying to him the WHOLE time. That WOULD be a bold and thrilling writing...even if a bit demanding on requiring suspension of belief.
And, the adding of that dimension to Claire's character would have been intriguing to watch. I wonder how they would have justified it?
a. Being pissed at how the previous DA ordered a murder case to be closed and important evidence destroyed?
b. True hatred of Marzin?
c. Sublimated frustration at her relationship with Ray being derailed by the government's need to send Ray back to New York to keep him off the case?
Might have made this movie just that little bit more unforgettable.
On November 6, 2012 god blessed America...again.