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thewlisian_aferYeah, I know. But sometimes I'm my mother's child. I'm a sucker for stuff that's "based on true events." Shut up! At least I usually read up about the event(s) to find out exactly how much was created by writers!
The Alphabet Killer (2008)
Inspired by true events, this psychological thriller stars Eliza Dushku ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") as Megan Paige, a dogged police investigator obsessed with capturing a demented serial killer targeting young girls in Rochester, N.Y. Haunted by the grisly rape and murder of a 10-year-old victim, Megan begins to suffer hallucinations. This suspense-filled tale from director Rob Schmidt also stars Cary Elwes and Timothy Hutton.
"The writer noted that he saw the film as a cross between A Beautiful Mind and Zodiac." I share this quote with you because I wish I had read it before watching the movie. It would've lowered my expectations to an appropriate level, since it's a really accurate description and I didn't care for either of those movies. Heh. There was some good acting -- Eliza Dushku in particular -- and it was, in general, a fun fictional take on what could have really happened. But, in my personal opinion, Tom Malloy should stick to acting and give up on writing scripts. I had a lot of issues with how stuff was presented and explained or not explained, and listening to the commentary that he recorded made me hate a lot of stuff even more because I thought it was corny/stupid and he was all proud of it, calling it clever or saying how happy he was with it. Bleh. [Rating: 2.5 stars]
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
In 1963, civil-rights activist Medgar Evers was shot to death by white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods). He was captured, but after two trials ended in hung juries, De La Beckwith went free. Thirty years later, Assistant District Attorney Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin) reopened the case. Ghosts of Mississippi tells the true story of his struggle to bring De La Beckwith to justice.
Oh, James Woods. ♥ Hearing him speak with a Mississippi accent is just plain bizarre. And Byron De La Beckwith... AAAGH, what an absolute fucking waste of air that disgusting man was. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this movie overall, though. Whoopi Goldberg does drama really well, and I found the whole thing really well-paced. I didn't check even once to see how much time was left! I'd watch it again. [Rating: 3.5 stars]
The Gray Man (2007)
When 10-year-old Grace Budd (Lexi Ainsworth) disappears with grandfatherly Albert Fish (Patrick Bauchau) in 1928, the police launch a years-long search that culminates in a horrific discovery: Fish is serial murderer who rapes, kills and even cannibalizes children. Based on a true story, this chilling crime drama co-stars Jack Conley as the detective who's hell-bent on bringing "the Gray Man" to justice.
I didn't think it was possible to make the story of Albert Fish boring, but this movie somehow managed it. [Rating: 1 star]
An American Crime (2007)
Based on a story that's too shocking to be true -- but is -- director Tommy O'Haver's grisly drama centers on Indiana housewife and mother Gertrude Baniszewski (Catherine Keener), who imprisons and tortures a 16-year-old girl in the basement. When Gertrude takes in boarder Sylvia Likens (Ellen Page), she has no idea that her life will become a horrific nightmare of her own creation. Bradley Whitford co-stars as a prosecutor in the ensuing trial.
I liked this. Well, I mean... The subject matter is horrendous. But instead of using gore and graphic violence to shock and disgust, this movie relies more heavily on its audience's humanity and imagination. And I like movies that don't underestimate their viewers. Not to mention, Catherine Keener and Ellen Page were very good in their roles. Bradley Whitford was sadly underused -- that character could've been played by absolutely anybody and it would've worked just as well. [Rating: 3 stars]
Longford (2006)
In Tom Hooper's film based on true events, Jim Broadbent stars as Lord Longford, a devout Catholic whose controversial pursuit to rehabilitate convicted murderer Myra Hindley (Samantha Morton) drew outrage from the British public. While Hindley served a life sentence for murdering children, Longford spent decades championing for her second chance. The made-for-TV movie garnered four Emmy nods, including ones for Broadbent and Morton.
For some reason, despite the mentioned Emmy nods, I wasn't really expecting a whole lot of this movie. I wound up with a pleasant surprise. Jim Broadbent was (not shockingly) fantastic. He made Lord Longford's insistance on seeing only the best in people into something endearing instead of annoying, and my heart broke a little bit every time he was let down. Andy Serkis is a creepy motherfucker and plays more subtle insanity just as well as he plays Smeagol-esque schizophrenic-style insanity. And Samantha Morton managed to bring a little humanity to Myra Hindley. How is that even possible? Wow. [Rating: 4 stars]
The Alphabet Killer (2008)
Inspired by true events, this psychological thriller stars Eliza Dushku ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") as Megan Paige, a dogged police investigator obsessed with capturing a demented serial killer targeting young girls in Rochester, N.Y. Haunted by the grisly rape and murder of a 10-year-old victim, Megan begins to suffer hallucinations. This suspense-filled tale from director Rob Schmidt also stars Cary Elwes and Timothy Hutton.
"The writer noted that he saw the film as a cross between A Beautiful Mind and Zodiac." I share this quote with you because I wish I had read it before watching the movie. It would've lowered my expectations to an appropriate level, since it's a really accurate description and I didn't care for either of those movies. Heh. There was some good acting -- Eliza Dushku in particular -- and it was, in general, a fun fictional take on what could have really happened. But, in my personal opinion, Tom Malloy should stick to acting and give up on writing scripts. I had a lot of issues with how stuff was presented and explained or not explained, and listening to the commentary that he recorded made me hate a lot of stuff even more because I thought it was corny/stupid and he was all proud of it, calling it clever or saying how happy he was with it. Bleh. [Rating: 2.5 stars]
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
In 1963, civil-rights activist Medgar Evers was shot to death by white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods). He was captured, but after two trials ended in hung juries, De La Beckwith went free. Thirty years later, Assistant District Attorney Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin) reopened the case. Ghosts of Mississippi tells the true story of his struggle to bring De La Beckwith to justice.
Oh, James Woods. ♥ Hearing him speak with a Mississippi accent is just plain bizarre. And Byron De La Beckwith... AAAGH, what an absolute fucking waste of air that disgusting man was. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this movie overall, though. Whoopi Goldberg does drama really well, and I found the whole thing really well-paced. I didn't check even once to see how much time was left! I'd watch it again. [Rating: 3.5 stars]
The Gray Man (2007)
When 10-year-old Grace Budd (Lexi Ainsworth) disappears with grandfatherly Albert Fish (Patrick Bauchau) in 1928, the police launch a years-long search that culminates in a horrific discovery: Fish is serial murderer who rapes, kills and even cannibalizes children. Based on a true story, this chilling crime drama co-stars Jack Conley as the detective who's hell-bent on bringing "the Gray Man" to justice.
I didn't think it was possible to make the story of Albert Fish boring, but this movie somehow managed it. [Rating: 1 star]
An American Crime (2007)
Based on a story that's too shocking to be true -- but is -- director Tommy O'Haver's grisly drama centers on Indiana housewife and mother Gertrude Baniszewski (Catherine Keener), who imprisons and tortures a 16-year-old girl in the basement. When Gertrude takes in boarder Sylvia Likens (Ellen Page), she has no idea that her life will become a horrific nightmare of her own creation. Bradley Whitford co-stars as a prosecutor in the ensuing trial.
I liked this. Well, I mean... The subject matter is horrendous. But instead of using gore and graphic violence to shock and disgust, this movie relies more heavily on its audience's humanity and imagination. And I like movies that don't underestimate their viewers. Not to mention, Catherine Keener and Ellen Page were very good in their roles. Bradley Whitford was sadly underused -- that character could've been played by absolutely anybody and it would've worked just as well. [Rating: 3 stars]
Longford (2006)
In Tom Hooper's film based on true events, Jim Broadbent stars as Lord Longford, a devout Catholic whose controversial pursuit to rehabilitate convicted murderer Myra Hindley (Samantha Morton) drew outrage from the British public. While Hindley served a life sentence for murdering children, Longford spent decades championing for her second chance. The made-for-TV movie garnered four Emmy nods, including ones for Broadbent and Morton.
For some reason, despite the mentioned Emmy nods, I wasn't really expecting a whole lot of this movie. I wound up with a pleasant surprise. Jim Broadbent was (not shockingly) fantastic. He made Lord Longford's insistance on seeing only the best in people into something endearing instead of annoying, and my heart broke a little bit every time he was let down. Andy Serkis is a creepy motherfucker and plays more subtle insanity just as well as he plays Smeagol-esque schizophrenic-style insanity. And Samantha Morton managed to bring a little humanity to Myra Hindley. How is that even possible? Wow. [Rating: 4 stars]
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Date: 2010-06-04 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 01:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 01:45 am (UTC)Exactly why I don't watch movies based on true stories! LOL!
Give me my campy Bruce Campbell flicks any day. <3