I downloaded it on a whim and watched it with an admittedly low set of expectations. I found it to be well acted and well made. The subject matter (a real life murder/suicide of a promising young starlet by her pimp daddy man/child husband) cannot help but be tragic and sad. But the script was well paced and outlined the backstories of all the characters vividly. But the acting is what steals the show this time.
For me, the biggest question I ask myself when evaluating a theatrical performance is "did that actor make me hate/love him/her?" In this movie, both Roberts and Hemingway by far exceeded that goal. He was disgusting and vile in almost every way imaginable. A completely loathsome character in light of knowing how the stary was going to eventually play out.
Hemingway made the screen ooze with sensuality and tension while at the same time glowing with sweetness and heartwarming passion for living. Of course, the fact that Dorothy's centerfold picture was scotch taped to the inside door panel of my wall locker when I was in the Army especially made me appreciate the remarkable resemblance Mariel had for the real Stratten after her breast enhancement implants. You guys know what I mean.
Robertson did a fine job playing Hefner. He was just sleazy enough to make me want to retch when he was describing his (what we now know to have been) intelligence gathering honeypot operation called Playboy as a "family-like" operation. I felt like I needed a moist towelette after watching that scene. Ick.
But thos are 3 fine actors doing their craft well to elicit those kinds of feelings. Because of them, I think this film deserves 7/10.
Well worth the time taken to watch.
For me, the biggest question I ask myself when evaluating a theatrical performance is "did that actor make me hate/love him/her?" In this movie, both Roberts and Hemingway by far exceeded that goal. He was disgusting and vile in almost every way imaginable. A completely loathsome character in light of knowing how the stary was going to eventually play out.
Hemingway made the screen ooze with sensuality and tension while at the same time glowing with sweetness and heartwarming passion for living. Of course, the fact that Dorothy's centerfold picture was scotch taped to the inside door panel of my wall locker when I was in the Army especially made me appreciate the remarkable resemblance Mariel had for the real Stratten after her breast enhancement implants. You guys know what I mean.
Robertson did a fine job playing Hefner. He was just sleazy enough to make me want to retch when he was describing his (what we now know to have been) intelligence gathering honeypot operation called Playboy as a "family-like" operation. I felt like I needed a moist towelette after watching that scene. Ick.
But thos are 3 fine actors doing their craft well to elicit those kinds of feelings. Because of them, I think this film deserves 7/10.
Well worth the time taken to watch.
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