Even if it is a true story,this Martin Ritt work is a spate of clichés.
SPOILERS BS's rendering leaves no place for doubt;a subtle actress would have succeeded in making us believe her character might possibly be mad.But BS,who overplays as hell and who gets the lion share on the screen,leaving hardly 10% of the shots to the supporting cast including male lead Dreyfuss,is not capable of a deep and sensitive performance ;so she contents herself with grimaces,dirty words,and gesticulation.
From the start we know that she killed because she was mistreated by a vicious middle-aged man.And what can we say of Karl Malden's role?Mrs S is afraid of baths?Presto: a flashback shows her wicked stepfather Karl trying to force his way in.And what about the beloved mother?She says she loves her daughter dearly;presto:flashback!the mother was an alcoholic!
This is a very talky movie,inferior to a lot of made-for-TV movies (which often deal with true stories).Martin Ritt has done better works and will be remembered for such works as "Norma Rae" " the spy who came in from the cold" "Hombre" "Hud" or "edge of the city".This one,anyway,is BS's movie,by no mean his.
SPOILERS BS's rendering leaves no place for doubt;a subtle actress would have succeeded in making us believe her character might possibly be mad.But BS,who overplays as hell and who gets the lion share on the screen,leaving hardly 10% of the shots to the supporting cast including male lead Dreyfuss,is not capable of a deep and sensitive performance ;so she contents herself with grimaces,dirty words,and gesticulation.
From the start we know that she killed because she was mistreated by a vicious middle-aged man.And what can we say of Karl Malden's role?Mrs S is afraid of baths?Presto: a flashback shows her wicked stepfather Karl trying to force his way in.And what about the beloved mother?She says she loves her daughter dearly;presto:flashback!the mother was an alcoholic!
This is a very talky movie,inferior to a lot of made-for-TV movies (which often deal with true stories).Martin Ritt has done better works and will be remembered for such works as "Norma Rae" " the spy who came in from the cold" "Hombre" "Hud" or "edge of the city".This one,anyway,is BS's movie,by no mean his.