The Deadly Look of Love (TV 2000)

Janet Flanders is swept off her feet when dashing businessman Brett Becker's sports-car nearly runs her over. In no time the dream prince becomes her adored lover, without promising her ... See full summary »

Director:

Sollace Mitchell

Writers:

Mark Frost (story), Sollace Mitchell (teleplay),

Stars:

Jordan Ladd, Vincent Spano, Mimi Kuzyk

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jordan Ladd	...	Janet Flanders
Vincent Spano	...	Brett Becker
Mimi Kuzyk	...	Mrs. Murdock
Jayne Heitmeyer	...	Kathleen Murdock
John Ralston	...	District Attorney Barry Fenley
Roman Podhora	...	Jerry Singleton
Louis Di Bianco	...	Detective Marcus
Holland Taylor	...	Evelyn McGinnis
Cheryl MacInnis	...	Mrs. Flanders (as Cheryl Macinnis)
Richard Blackburn	...	Mr. Flanders
Megan Fahlenbock	...	Veronica Flanders
Meg Hogarth	...	Judge Potter
Hrant Alianak	...	Dr. Dunning
Craig Gardner	...	Coroner
Phillip Jarrett	...	Lawyer Fraker

Storyline

Janet Flanders is swept off her feet when dashing businessman Brett Becker's sports-car nearly runs her over. In no time the dream prince becomes her adored lover, without promising her anything. After Janet's adulterous former lover, Jerry Singleton, discloses that he only asked Brett to get her off his back, Jerry perishes in a fire. Janet follows Brett to Chicago. Shortly after Brett ends their affair announcing his impending wedding to heiress Kathleen Murdock, the newly-wed is viciously slashed in their new home.

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Plot Keywords:

hair pulling | men in underwear | bed | adultery | jealousy | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 July 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

True Romance

Company Credits

Production Co:

C.M. Two Production, Hearst Entertainment Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Comments rival the story

I happened upon this flick on a rainy Sunday, intending to tune-in to something else. Out of curiosity, I accessed the comments here, and found myself watching it to the end. I really didn't do so with intent -- this was one of those movies where you're "fascinated," and watch it for "another couple of minutes," until you finally just watch to the end. And the indictment of it in most of these comments made it more fascinating to view. The one comment where the person really liked it seems to be solely as a result of liking Ladd and Spano, and their earlier roles. But great isn't anywhere to be found anywhere here - story, performances, and particularly the absurd courtroom hi-jinks. We all know that Perry Mason (before Raymond Burr passed the 300-lb. mark), and Ben Matlock, are granted some leeway in cavorting around the courtroom, instead of being boringly confined to a lectern. And Matlock is especially granted the privilege of entering exhibits often by simply going to the jury and showing them, before the judge and prosecutor have even been informed of, or shown, them. No real-life judge or prosecutor would stand for this.

Both Perry and Ben almost always ended the proceedings by wringing a confession of the real killer. Actually Perry nearly always did this, but often Matlock would simply present overwhelming evidence of the true culprit, pronounce it "reasonable doubt," and then leave it to the cops and prosecutors to proceed against the guilty party - sometimes on-camera, sometimes presumed at the end of the show.

But that said, Holland Taylor's histrionics and the amount of leeway afforded her, in the courtroom portion of this story, made the actions of Matlock/Mason more-closely resemble the slow, often boring detail such as seen on Court TV and in real-life courtrooms.

Every character in this presentation was either insipid, unsympathetic, obnoxious, boring, improbable - or some combination of two or more of these.

The ending was the most banal, absurd, even silly conclusion possible - but again, fascinating because of this. Ladd and Spano are attractive individuals, and t.v. movies would appear their best forte - probably best in 2nd-lead (probably better if "3rd-") roles, even in this venue. Taylor could be cast as the aunt or mother of one of them. Give this one 1 star for the story/performances, and 3 additional for the fascination factor.