Kartenhaus der Liebe

Steven Schachter knows how to tell a story and keep up the appearances of a rich, good-looking man who surprisingly develops into a criminal. Step by step you discover the real Mitch Parker (Jeff Fahey) behind the curtain. Not only he deceives his second wife Liz Wells (Kim Cattrall) by being at the same time in the same town (!) with two women, but also his friends among whom there is a senator (Bob Belding played by John Sumner). The movie keeps up the realistic touch until the end and you feel that the script-writer (Martin Davidson and others based on a novel by Karen Kingsbury) and the director want to deliver us a message: never trust people who talk too well and too much.

I think every young woman looking for the "perfect man" should watch this movie and learn from it. I recorded it for my 2 daughters, both of whom have had their hearts brokens by a smooth-talking "Mitch." Jeff Fahey is the perfect antihero. He's got Mitch's charming, albeit narcissistic, personalty down so well that the viewer can easily get caught up in his lies. In a scene where he practices telling the truth, I found myself cheering him on, hoping he would ultimately fess up and redeem himself. The film is true to reality here... these types never do,even when confronted with the overwhelming evidence of their lies. Underscored by the use of a whimisal soundtrack throughout the first 3/4 of the film, men like Mitch are often perceived as harmless and entertaining. The startling end brings us to the reality that Liz (wonderfully played by Kim Cattrall)never quite gets until its too late, reminding us how dangerous these seductive types really are.

What a gem of a true crime story. A bigamist and con man. The first part has an exciting catch me if you can fraudster con man thing going on with a satirical tone. Then things get more serious and it's quite a gripping movie. Written clearly and with wit.

Jeff Fahey is in his element here and acts well slimy smooth and tortured. Kim Cattrall acts very well and is really beautiful here.

Worth watching.

This is a very good film, and one with which I can identify totally. The man I met, shortly after my 20 year unhappy marriage, was much like the man portrayed in this film, based upon true story. Mine ended with trying to extricate myself from him, calling police numerous times about stalking, ending in him breaking into my house trying to shoot me. The gun jammed, otherwise I'd be dead. After this episode, I educated myself about narcissistic personality disorder. The man I knew fit ALL the characteristics.

I enjoyed this drama. It was well written and acted and absolutely easy to follow. It was particularly well developed in terms of how women can be seduced into a web of deception without a clue. These were bright, successful, women who went down the rabbit hole. I'm not sure what the mystery was since, to me, it was apparent that Mitch was a smooth talking conman-perhaps because I have a long history with such people-who moved much too fast. I have one criticism: where exactly was the comedy? The story held together well, as a true drama, but there was literally no comedy whatsoever. Was that just put in there to attract more viewers? Is so, it wasn't necessary.