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Lonely Hearts (2006)
"Lonely Hearts" is a True Crime film that strangely had a very limited in the United States on about 24 screens. After watching the film I found the fact I just stated to be baffling. Hopefully with this review I alarm True Film fans that are in quest of a great True Crime film. I would say that this film is a close runner up to David Fincher's astonishing and incredibly informative "Zodiac" and beats the Lions Gate direct to video film "Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck".
The film is based on the swindling and murderer couple Ray Fernandez and Martha Beck. Director Todd Robinson had very close ties to the source material because his is the Grandson of Elmer C. Robinson a.k.a Buddy, the decorated cop who is played by the iconic John Travolta. The story is very personal being that Buddy's wife killed herself and that was displayed in the opening scene of this substance over style film. James Gandolfini (HBO's "The Soprano's", "8MM") plays Charles Hildebrant, Buddy's partner and I must say that Travolta and Gandolfini bounce off each other and both truly gave heart felt performances that were multi-layered. Gandolfini also lends his talents as the films narrator. Scott Caan show up as their weasel in house nemesis peer Detective Reilly. He did a great job at being a sarcastic asshole. The other cast members include Laura Dern ("Wild at Heart") as Renee, Buddy's new love interest, Alice Krige ("Barfly", "Silent Hill") as the most focused on victim in one chiller of a scene. She definitely does a terrific job as an older women falling for a charming con artist. Now this brings me to the two actors that landed the meatier roles. Jared Leto is a con man that sucks lonely women in through lonely heart adds with romantic letter bate. He starts off as a pen pal and then moves on to the first meeting. From there the women fall head over heals and the outcome is deadly. He gets joint bank account under his choice alias and once the checks our cleared he drains the bank account right before murdering his unsuspecting lover.
Who would think this is how he met his partner in crime Martha Beck. Raymond tried the same scam and once he seen that she wasn't worth a dime he tried to skate away to the next scheme. Too bad for him she followed him to his next fiddle to let him know she was up to his games and wanted to play along. From there she poses as his sister and has her eye one hundred percent focused on her flame. Selma Hayek gives a startling and compassionate performance as the dangerous killer in love. To be perfectly honest I would say that it is the best performance by an actress this year. She is sexy, twisted, perverse and loyal. Jared Leto (Requiem For a Dream) gives his most charismatic, intense and complicated role to date. I will have to wait and see if his performance wins me over more in Chapter 27 as the notorious John Lennon killer Mark David Chapman. His role is sleazy and required a lot of character transformation depending on what scene he was in. At times he was sweet (alright maybe a con), hysterically dangerous (when he shoots an old man that wouldn't sell his dog for a reasonable price), spiraling out of control and seriously scared of his jealous girlfriend. He had lots to work with and also turned one of his best performances.
For a True Crime film that isn't trying to be a horror film I was pleasantly surprised with the morbidity of the crime scenes, the prolonged death of Janet, bloody bath tubs, hammers to the head, a suicide opener and much more gruesome delight. Another thing I loved was the costume design by Jacqueline West (She has worked on "Quills", "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" and the upcoming film "Invasion"). She nailed the 40's time period with the wardrobe provided to the actors. James Gandolfini's narration and the dialog gave the time a noir feel and much needed authenticity rather than being over stylized like Brian De Palma's "Black Dahlia".
Besides the violence and excellent replication of the time period there is a funny road head scene involving Ray and Martha. When pulled over by a cop Martha figures out a way to get her and Ray off the hook. Lets just say the cop filled up Martha's throat tank with splat sauce. The scene also establishes Martha's importance and dedication to Ray. Selma Hayek once again delivered a cold performance in this scene. He ability to be playful and then psychotic in a split second was undeniably brilliant.
I also feel that Travolta gave a magnetic performance as the once decorated cop Buddy who gets on track after an alleged suicide call. He believed it to be a murder and he was dead on. From the very first scene Buddy and Charles got closer and closer. Director Todd Robinson did one hell of a job keeping my attention as a viewer with his ability to carefully craft the back and forth scenes between the detectives and the swindling killers.
This story is relevant to history as well as a personal story that the director bravely put on screen. It should be noted that this story has been tackled before with the 1970 film "The Honeymooners". Doing my research I hear there are some accuracy problems with both films. It seems Martha's character has had a family of her own in the past. Maybe the films just ignored that fact. No big deal in my eyes.
I have nothing but good things to say about this film. It was as engaging as "Catch Me If You Can" and as entertaining as the Patrick Dempsey comedy "In the Mood". It had it's moments of stark cruelty and showed the dangers of love. The film also dealt with issues such as losing a loved one and the toll police work can take on a detective. The ending is poetic and gives the viewer closure. I would say that this is the True Crime film to watch if you think "Zodiac" is too long at 158 minutes. In closing the film is near perfect and I sincerely hope it finds an audience. I never did what I am about to do…"Badlands" meets "Bonnie and Clyde" in this engrossing gem of a thriller! Seriously though just go buy this entertaining film starring an all star cast. It would have been a great theatrical experience. Since it's an impossibility to go back in time and change the limited run, do yourself a favor and buy this and watch it with your girlfriend or wife, boyfriend or husband. Just don't get any ideas like going on a killing spree or cheating war widows.
Rating - ***
-Russ Rutter
