Too much of everything

A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

So I read the book by Bugliosi and loved it, so I had to get this movie. It's obviously made on a shoe-string of a budget but still enjoyable nonetheless. There were some inaccuracies that bothered me, i.e. Bugliosi did NOT have to ride herd on the detective like he did in the movie, Michael Brockington told what he knew to cops long before the trial, Alan did not meet Judy at the bar and nor did she work for it (He met her at a gym that she worked at)... and so on but that's probably just me nitpicking. Overall though, the acting in this movie is really good. Treat Williams does an awesome job as Allan Palliko (although he was far more handsome and charming than the real Alan aka Paul Perveler).. and Arliss Howard also does great as Bugliosi and was probably the best thing about the film. Rebecca Jenkins also does great and adds a sympathetic touch to the character of Sandra Stockton; to an extent I actually felt sorry for her as she seemed very manipulated by Alan Palliko. I don't know if the real Sandra is just as cold as Allan, but they didn't portray it that way in the movie. I always thought Sandra only serving seven years was ridiculous, but after watching this, I can't help but wonder if maybe she was just infatuated and went along with Allan the whole time out of love, as she obviously had low self esteem and never got much attention from men. And of course Alan gets the death penalty which he deserves. Overall enjoyable and recommended for anyone who read the book, if you don't mind a few inaccuracies and missing key points.

When he murders her ex-husband in order to release insurance money, Alan's girlfriend, Sandra, immediately becomes the main suspect in the ensuing murder investigation. Meanwhile Alan is also married to the abused Katherine, who he plans to also murder for the money. However an ambitious young DA smells a case and refuses to let it go.Based on a true story as told in the book by the DA involved in the case (Bugliosi) this TVM starts out looking like it may well be the usual sort of slush you get when you turn on the telly in the middle of the afternoon. The values are low: direction is obvious and direct, the sets look a bit basic and the music is the usual fare. However, after a while the story settles down and then starts going better. In the end the film is quite dramatic and involving and the case is enjoyable even if it lacks the sort of fireworks that we have been conditioned to expect from Hollywood movies.A massive part of the reason that this film works is the work of several key cast members. Williams gives a really great performance in the lead and plays Palliko large without making a spoof of him. Howard also is strong as Bugliosi. The rest of the main cast is pretty good but not as assured as these lead two; however it is in the smaller roles where there are a surprising amount of well known faces who were not so famous when this was made. Vince is always watchable, Ashley Judd makes a sudden appearance and West Wing's Schiff is there too; none of them have much screen time but it is funny to tune into a daytime movie and see so many famous faces!Overall this film is generally better than the daytime slot and production values would suggest. It isn't gripping but it is an enjoyable film and the fact that it is a true story helps. What makes it worth watching though is some great performances from Williams and Howard who both do different performances but are both the best things in the film.