THE FIFTH ANGEL

Here is an instance in which the performance outstrips the material. Tate Donovan's delivery of this gory tale of revenge and vigilantism breathes life into a cliché-ridden novel. The production features artfully placed sound effects that almost disguise plot holes as numerous as the bullet holes in the hero's victims. This cookie-cutter story of an outraged parent hunting down sex offenders and the colorful and bathetic agents who pursue him is tailor-made for Hollywood. An interview with the author, a lawyer and former football pro, rounds out the set. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 03]