Reviews

I begin by saying I'm a huge admirer of Poppy Montgomery--not just because she's one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen but as Samantha Spade in "Without a Trace" she is a consummate ensemble actor.

Blonde plays off every negative stereotype ever conceived concerning Marilyn Monroe. I can only recommend the 4 part CNN Special (Reframed Marilyn Monroe) which gives some real insight into the depth, the battles won and the brilliance of the real Marilyn Almost no reference to some of Monroes most iconic performance including "Some Like it Hot" or "Bus Stop". Or the very unresolved issues surrounding her death.

I don't think there's a single reference anywhere--in User Reviews. External Reviews Synopsys or anywhere else that mentions that this movie is inspired by and roughly based on the real life John List who kills his mother, wife and 3 kids in Westfield NJ, and takes off out west where he remarries and escapes justice for 18 years!

Yup it's made for TV not a major Hollywood studio production supported by all it's "Star Making Machinery", (which was in place in Wood's early days). NONETHELESS There is much to be admired and appreciated in this tour de force perfornance. Made NO LESS Relevant with the passing years NOR with the passing of Ms Wood herself where Booze was by all believable accounts a huge factor. It was by all reputable accounts a night of drunken brawling. JR has some 'splaining to do' Still! Overall though the message here is "Don't hide behind the "disease model" of addiction. Take accountability.

Well it's called "Reality TV" for a reason--mostly because it scripted garbage. Disgusting that Dick Wolf has allowed this series to proceed on the false assumption that indicted = tried and found guilty. Even more disgusting that desperate family members are presented with indictments as if "case closed"--but those family members are likely actors in many cases so maybe not so serious after all.

This is legal fantasy but it doesn't rist to the top of the shoe soul of Law and Order

This is rave review, no two ways about it. In retrospect Lang had the meatier role, as they fleshed out Joan's character in more detail. Susan with Bette, had a more SANE and centered character to portray.

Both actresses turned in A-Mazing performances and I won't even attempt to compare them as in one was "better" than the other. With both I quickly lost the sense that I was watching an actress "impersonate" a famous person---they both just became the two women they were playing. Obviously it's easily to do a Broad Characterization of Davis. Drag Queens have been doing that FOR DECADES. Sarandon didn't resorts except once or twice, where it made sense, to that shtick. She nails the Character without it. And Lang is no less phenomenal in the way she inhabits Joan Crawford. These are two extraordinary Actresses at their Peek Powers and I won't compare or try to rate one above the other.

The entire cast, male and female and the entire production was simply the BEST that TV has ever Offered. I could write Chapters about every single participated in this series.

It was simply Extraordinary. I captured it on my Spectrum DVR and have watched it over and over again. I can't seem to let go of it. I'm NOT done yet.

Brava/bravo/brave/bravi to EVERYONE involved.

Surprising that I've never seen the connection drawn between this episode and a Twilight Zone episode called "the Monster are Due on Maple Street" That episode traces the growing paranoia of the residents of "postcard perfect" Maple street as they try to identify the alien among them.--one by one they turn on each other.

The alien here is a child molester his/her presence breeds the same sense of distrust among people who normally live side by side as neighbors, relatives, and friends. A

All the townspeople's dirty laundry begins to air but every person with a secret obviously is NOT responsible for abducting and murdering little girls.

In the end Maple Street isn't so perfect after all.

Was it even appropriate to make this movie before the case goes to trial!? It would appear that the American Judicial system continues to merge with the American Entertainment Industry such that there is very little to distinguish one from the other any more. So my short answer would be, "Yes it probably was appropriate".

As for the movie itself, I'm impressed with it's attention to detail and how well this made-for-TV movie stands up to multiple viewings. It's essentially just a chronology of highlights leading up to Scott Peterson's actual arrest. Portraying Scott as perhaps innocent would be a nearly impossible tasks just looking at those rather damning events. To get around that dilemma the producers use the purposely gullible character of Tommy Vignatti to convey the outside possibility of Scott's innocence right up until the final scene of the movie.

All the performances by all the leads in this movie are completely believable and they all do an excellent job of showing how those immediately involved went from initially supporting Scott Peterson to one by one viewing him with distrust and disbelief. I would give this movie very high marks for the type of expositive TV drama that it undeniably is.

Given the technician that Jansen was on the ice they could have at least gotten a real speedskater and done long shots. Other than that the acting was fair to middlin and the story sentimental to maudlin.

I happen to think there is a real and interesting story in the true life of Dan Jansen.