Menendez: Blood Brothers

Not the first TV-movie to cover the murders committed by Beverly Hills brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez in 1989--and likely not to be the last. Back from a break in his schedule at Princeton, older brother Lyle learns that Erik is still being sexually molested by their father, entertainment businessman Jose Menendez, after many years, as Lyle had been. With mom "Kitty" looking the other way, afraid of rocking the boat--and a discovery of rifles in Dad's study--Lyle is convinced that Jose is trying to kill his sons and that he and Erik need to act first. For a Lifetime movie, the frank, detailed trial dialogue of molestation is surprising, as is the slant writer Abdi Nazemian takes: he seems in favor of Lyle and Erik being exonerated (half the jury members presiding over their first trial, eventually a hung jury, are even shown to be a bunch of ill-educated homophobes). Nazemian even comes up with a fruity plot conceit: having the ghost of Kitty Menendez frequently visiting Erik in his jail cell--even forgiving him and encouraging his pen-pal romance with a female admirer! However much of this is fact or fiction doesn't really matter, as the movie is strictly a time-filler for the curious. That said, Benito Martinez and Courtney Love are excellent as Jose and Kitty (Love even makes her ghostly house calls work). Portraying Lyle and Erik, Nico Tortorella and Myko Olivier are good actors uneasily cast; of the two, Tortorella looks the least like his real-life counterpart--and, after the murders, his character (the more forceful brother) just dribbles away. Directed by both Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, "Blood Brothers" is well-made for TV and has some interesting asides, though it isn't a movie the participants would want to boast about. ** from ****

I too believe that these men need a mistrial. That some of the elements of the sexually abusing and general unethical behavior of the father and mother were inadmissible in court is so questionable at best. At some point, this twisted story that was created wholly by the parents should be seen by an impartial jury in its entirety. It seemed like these boys were guilty in the court of public opinion by a public trial (why?). The public didn't like these attractive rich kids. It shouldn't matter if people like them or not. Let the facts speak for themselves. Hopefully time has allowed public perception of abuse to be seen as it really is, deeply damaging and life altering. These two deserve a second chance at a life.

This is an excellent film w seamless writing, directing & acting work that allows for the viewer to become engrossed in the story and life of these boys in this situation. What is so compelling about this film is that it makes you question whether justice was served or denied. It introduces an element of doubt. If this trial were today, would the outcome have been different? This angle, perspective of the story, is original. Personally, I left feeling that these young men deserve another trial, which I know is not possible under our justice system. The film examines possible abuse that could have provoked such a situation, which, albeit, is horrific- but through the vision of writer Abdi Nazemian and Directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, we are offered the option of asking why. The acting, particularly Myko Olivier is very strong. He is the real deal and carries the film's heart. Nazemian pens nuanced, honest dialogue combined with heart, sincerity and emotion. Bailey and Barbato examine a case that we might have viewed one way and have now, successfully gotten us to consider another option. Not to mention the beautiful shots, symbolism and parallels BTW the brothers and their parents and the art of capturing LA so well. And then we are blessed with Courtney Love. You can feel her struggle and pain. Love is a great actress & we need to see more of her. Film is beyond entertaining!

Lifetime films can sometimes be good but this one was a real stinker. The entire film relied on the younger brothers' Eric Menendez dreams in the form of flashbacks to tell a one sided version of what may have caused Eric and his older brother Lyle Menendez to kill both of their parents with multiple rounds from two (2) shotguns.

In this TV version of the murders of Kitty and Jose Menendez, the younger son Eric continually dreams that he is speaking with his dead mother while trying to figure out why his mother allowed his father to continually sexually abuse him, and he is torn between his guilt for aiding his brother Lyle in murdering their parents in cold blood, and his undying love for his dead parents.

After watching this version of the film one can only come to the conclusion that Eric and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents to end years of sexual abuse by both of their parents. The court documents are factual and the brothers first trial ended in a mistrial. The second trial the judge restricted both the evidence and the witnesses that could be presented which was Eric's lawyers entire defense and as a result both brothers were sentenced to life sentences without a chance for parole.

This certainly was an abbreviated version of the two trials and one would also think that the brothers were railroaded and that no one believed in their sexual abuse defense. Nothing could be further from the truth. The prosecutors proved beyond a shadow of any doubt that Eric and Lyle planned the murders (purchasing their shotguns weeks in advance using a friends stolen ID card without his prior knowledge) and tried to hide their sloppy crime of pure greed for their parents wealth.

This version was far too much "dream sequence" and simply just ignored the magnitude of facts for fictional dream sequences that painted a distinct visual picture of sexual abuse which purportedly justified the murders. If you want to see a better version(s) of the film see either the 1994 version Menendez: A Killing In Beverly Hills, and/or the 2017 eight (8) part mini series titled: Law & Order True Crime.

Interesting case -- the two young Menendez brothers murder their mom and dad with shotguns, inherit dad's estate, quit college, and go on a spending spree with all the cash and none of the brains of successful murderers.

Yes, a spectacular case, rendered immediately forgettable by the usual Lifetime Movie elements -- low budget, poor acting, and melodrama resembling soap opera.

There's a far better made-for-television movie, "Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills." Watch that instead because this really sucks.