Vice (2005)

Unfolding within the austere walls of a courtroom in a small Texas town, Vice (2005) paints a provocative portrait of Savannah Logan (Maxine Bahns), an alluring "erotic dancer" ensnared in the judicious claws of morality. Following a vice squad raid on the clandestine gentleman's club where she works, Savannah finds herself on trial for lascivious behavior and indecent exposure, her freedom hanging in the balance. The relentless prosecutor, Hilary Homes (Bellary Darden-Davis), is hell-bent on seeing Savannah behind bars, hoping to use her as a stark example of moral decay in their conservative town. On the other side of the courtroom, Savannah's legal duo, Jamie Barnett (Bo Hopkins) and Taylor Williams (Jeff Meek), muster every ounce of their legal acumen to inject reasonable doubt into the minds of the jury. Their defense hinges on their ability to expose the equally corrupt practices of the vice squad, a unit notorious for squandering their drug bust earnings in the very strip clubs they are supposed to police. As the trial proceeds, the jury is drawn into the world of Savannah's lap dance routine, depicted in graphic detail by the vice squad detectives. With the same intensity, they are introduced to the questionable priorities of the town's law enforcement, which seems more obsessed with investigating sex workers than potential terrorists. As this compelling narrative unravels, the audience is left to ponder: who poses the greater threat to society - a "dirty dancer" or a "dirty bomber"? Underpinning the courtroom drama is an undercurrent of what could have been. The revelation that terrorists openly bragged about their plans in the same topless bar serves as a chilling reminder of the missed opportunity to prevent the tragedy that even the CIA failed to stop. Vice (2005) is an incisive exploration of the blurred lines between vice and virtue, the moral paradoxes of law enforcement, and the profound implications of our societal priorities. As the trial reaches its climax, the audience is left on the edge of their seats, wondering: will Savannah walk free, or will she be swallowed by the unforgiving maw of the penal system?

Vice is a comedy movie featuring Tammy Stones and directed by John Woodward.

Vice is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV.