This was an excellent movie that held my attention the entire 4 hours it was on TV. What makes it more interesting is to know that it's based on a true story. It all starts when 14 year old Cinnamon shoots and kills her stepmother and then tries to kill herself. The story unfolds from there into a web of lies, deception, and seduction. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say that if you're into the kind of movies shown on Lifetime TV, check your TV Guide or run to your video store - this is definitely one worth watching.
13 Reviews
Based on a True Story
wexler21 April 2006
If this movie were not based on a true story I wouldn't have believed the plot. However, knowing it is base on truth I definitely would recommend watching this for a lazy afternoon movie! This is one truly dysfunctional family, starting with the living arrangements David had with his second wife, her younger sister and Cinammon (the daughter from a previous marriage.)
The character of Cinammon did a great job and made her role very believable. From the start when she confessed to the murder of her step-mother, all the way to the ending.
This is my first review so I am afraid to write too much as I don't want to give away too much information, but I do recommend it, especially for people that love true crime drama's! I hope this review is somewhat helpful.
The character of Cinammon did a great job and made her role very believable. From the start when she confessed to the murder of her step-mother, all the way to the ending.
This is my first review so I am afraid to write too much as I don't want to give away too much information, but I do recommend it, especially for people that love true crime drama's! I hope this review is somewhat helpful.
Murder Most Foul
georgewilliamnoble24 February 2020
There seems to be several versions out there of this mini series out there between 2 hours 30 and 4 hours, the version i watched is i think the UK VHS version at 3 hours.
From the very start this is a story that grips you and it helped my enjoyment of the mini series that i knew nothing of the sensational real life crime the movie depicts.
Watched all in one go it does flag in places and does repeat and labour the story, however as it was intended to be seen in episodic format this most be forgiven.
With a quite superb central performance by Clancy Brown with Sheryl Lee and Moira Kelly not far behind.
It just drives home to me the depth of TV talent that never gets the recognition deserved or goes on to become major movie stars in the old sense.
This TV mini series is very much worth watching and it does make you think about the power of manipulation.
Very good true-crime drama
bux20 June 2002
Although you won't find a lot of big names in the cast (perhaps that enhances the production!) this is a first rate true-crime drama. As the story unfolds we find that Brown is, as the judge states, "More scary than Charles Manson." The only problem I had with the entire production, was the script seemed not fully developed, characters dropped in and out without much of an introduction or explanation. Having read the book I was more easily able to follow the story. All said and done, however, this is a good one.
My friend Cinnamon
fastr41310 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was very entertaining and well acted, but it didn't capture Cinnamons personality. When I first met Cinnamon, she was a very shy and sweet girl who A friend of mine had asked me to show around the school and introduce her to people. She was always very sweet and somewhat shy. I never saw her angry or "bitchy" EVER! She and I were friends from the time she enrolled in our high school until the day we were told that police were trying to find her.Patti Bailey was my girlfriends best friend, and Cinnamon had a big crush on my younger brother. A group of us used to hang out at the park before and after school and Patti was there almost everyday. Cinnamon would come out there sometimes, but most of the time She and I talked between classes and during lunch. I was around them enough to know the type of personalities they had, and I feel that the movie simple did not capture their true personalities.. None of us knew David or anything about his treachery, but I did meet him , and He did not seem very likable or charismatic to me. Anyway I remember all of them differently than they were portrayed in the movie, and on that level I was very disappointed.
Truth is stranger than fiction
lynlis16 January 2020
A well rehearsed story that David Brown forced his daughter and sister in-law to relate to the police. His intention was to get his daughter out of the house so he could manipulate and seduce his sister in-law. He was the true personification of evil. The judge summed him up perfectly. Clancy Brown gave a magnificent performance. Moira Kelly was believable in her role as the loving daughter.
Shocking true story of a hideous crime....
matt_tawesson-116 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Love, Lies and Murder, released for TV in 1991 is about the hideous case of a murder that happened in Garden Grove, California. On March 19, 1985, Linda Bailey Brown was murdered while she was asleep in her bedroom at home. David Brown, Linda's husband, is not at home at the time of the crime, but his daughter and sister-in-law are. David Brown is an evil person, as well as a master manipulator. He manipulated Cinnamon (his daughter from a previous marriage) by having her pull the trigger, and having Patti (his sister-in-law) be an accomplice to the crime. David is also the type of person who didn't care about anyone else but himself and showed no regard for his family. It was also so sick of him to get his sister-in-law pregnant shortly later on, then they get married and end up abusing the insurance money that they live on (by being extravagant). Horrible man!! I have seen this movie many times and every time I see it, I have a lot of anger towards David for plotting this crime. He thought (in his own mind, of course) that Linda wanted to have him killed so that she could take over his business and money. What a bunch of crap that is!! Linda would never have done such a thing. A person like David does not deserve to be out in society; the man will obviously stay in prison until his dying day. Poor Patti and Cinnamon; David just manipulated them. Clancy Brown, who played David, is a great actor and Moira Kelly, who played Cinnamon, was great in her role as well. Sheryl Lee (who played Patti) was great, too. Acting is superb. This movie needs to be out on DVD soon, instead of being confined to cable TV.
Interesting look at several actors in a film with suspense!
PWHood14 February 2004
Sheryl Lee (after Twin Peaks and other David Lynch films) is still beautiful, still a little crazy, and still worth watching. No one (other than maybe Michelle Pfeiffer and Michelle Phillips) have eyes that are as sexy and alluring as Sheryl's. Moira Kelly (long before she grew up and had a role on The West Wing) is believable and a little scary. Cynthia Nixon (long before Sex in the City) has not changed at all in the past 10 years. She has a presence about her that makes her, while not beautiful, very sexy and intriguing. Any performance by Tobin Bell (watch him in The Firm) is always scary, suspenseful, and very entertaining. He only has a small part in this film but you won't forget it. And Gerry Bamman also has a small, but effective, part. If you are a fan of Law & Order, you've seen Gerry many, many times. This film is not yet available on video or DVD but has aired several times on CourtTV. My rating is only a 6 overall but for suspense, it gets a 7 and for not being able to figure out the ending until late in the film, it gets a 9.
There's Always Evil That Hides in This World!
BreanneB28 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I liked this movie, which is based on a shocking and chilling true story. Knowing that this really happened sends chills up my spine. David Brown is a manipulative, evil, liar, and murderer who masterminded and had his daughter and sister-in-law carry out the murder of his wife Linda Brown.
It all started when they overheard Linda talking on the phone and saying that she wanted to kill David. That's when David plotted her murder. Even though Patty pulled the trigger Cinnamon took the fall for it because they knew she would do less time then Patty and David.
But later the truth eventually does come out and David and Patty are charged, convicted, and sentenced as well. Cinnamon and Patty are done serving their time but David will remain prison forever. He's at Folsom State Prison in California.
It all started when they overheard Linda talking on the phone and saying that she wanted to kill David. That's when David plotted her murder. Even though Patty pulled the trigger Cinnamon took the fall for it because they knew she would do less time then Patty and David.
But later the truth eventually does come out and David and Patty are charged, convicted, and sentenced as well. Cinnamon and Patty are done serving their time but David will remain prison forever. He's at Folsom State Prison in California.
Cinnamon Brown
thicknirish24 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I watched the movie and I am very disappointed in the way they portrayed Cinnamon and the others in the movie. My uncle is Richard and the way the showed him and David Brown in the movie is nothing to the truth about what happened. Cinnamon was a good kid that only did what her dad told her to do. David Brown was a very manipulative and cruel man. I cant believe they did such an awful job when making this movie. The book by Anne Rule "If You Really Love Me" was perfect to the whole story. If you want the truth detail by detail then read the book. I can only say the the movie tells a little bit about what happened but nothing about the movie is believable. I know Cinnamon wherever she is probably saw this movie and couldn't believe how they made the movie. If your gonna make a movie about a true incident then you should make it to where its believable
Good movie!
Movie Nuttball7 July 2005
Love, Lies and Murder is a very good film that has a good cast which includes Clancy Brown, Sheryl Lee, Moira Kelly, Tom Bower, Ramon Bieri, Cynthia Nixon, Nestor Serrano, John M. Jackson, John Ashton, Shelley Morrison, Cathryn de Prume, Gerry Bamman, Paul Perri, and Joe D'Angerio. The acting by all of these actors is very good. Brown is really excellent in this film. I thought that he performed good. So is Jackson! The thrills is really good and some of it is surprising. The movie is filmed very good. The music is good by Charles Bernstein. The film is quite interesting and the movie really keeps you going until the end. This is a very good and thrilling film. If you like Clancy Brown, Sheryl Lee, Moira Kelly, Tom Bower, Ramon Bieri, Cynthia Nixon, Nestor Serrano, John M. Jackson, John Ashton, Shelley Morrison, the rest of the cast in the film, Thrillers, Mystery, Dramas, and interesting True Stories then I strongly recommend you to see this film today!
Truth is always more entertaining than fiction
JANEICE30 December 2001
This movie holds your interest from start to finish. The whole time I am watching this movie I was just in utter disbelief that these events actually happened. Again, the truth is always much more entertaining than fiction. Worth a look see.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
