The film “Just Play Dead,” starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Green, centers on a wealthy criminal who attempts to fake his death with his wife’s help. The movie, set in the Canary Islands, involves a complex scheme to avoid legal repercussions and collect an insurance payout.
Samuel L. Jackson plays Jack Wolfe, a criminal hiding in the Canary Islands after an associate is caught with evidence of his illegally obtained wealth. Jack’s wife, Nora (Eva Green), a former sex worker, initially welcomes the prospect of his imprisonment. However, Jack has structured their marriage so that Nora owns 51% of his estate, ensuring she cannot testify against him and will share culpability if he is indicted.
To avoid this fate, Jack proposes that Nora help him stage his murder, pin the blame on someone else, and collect a $30 million insurance payout. Nora has already begun recruiting potential fall guys: Dani (Eoin Macken), a local police officer who is in love with her, and Chad (Jason Fernández), a surfer easily swayed by her. Dani refuses to participate in the murder, while Chad also expresses reluctance, leading Nora to blackmail him.
Jack also contacts Chad, proposing a similar plan with a different outcome: they split the insurance money while Nora takes the fall. The film evokes the style of post-“Pulp Fiction” crime comedies, but the reviewer notes that few writers can match the wit of Tarantino or Elmore Leonard. Despite the presence of Jackson and director Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale,” “GoldenEye”), the film feels like a tax shelter due to its Canary Islands setting.
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