Murder Most Likely

Murder Most Likely was riveting. I think it's groundbreaking in its quality. Superb performances from Paul Gross and Janine Theriault whose acting style is a breath of fresh air from what you normally get from big name actors.

Thumbs up.

This neato Canadian thriller's Columbo-esque conceit is that the audience knows whodunit all along, and the fun is in watching the jig unravel for the bad guy.

And it really is quite fun, even though there's no Columbo-type detective in the show. Instead, at the center is dirty cop Patrick Kelly, who uses acting skills honed as an undercover operative to hide his true self from just about everybody who knows him. His true self being, of course, a murderer.

The story is told in a series of flashbacks and flash-forwards that may be a bit confusing for the inattentive, but the style works. Watching Kelly screw with people in the past, then hearing those same people testify about having been screwed with, is entertaining in a reality show sort of way.

As Patrick Kelly, Paul Gross manages to convey an unsettling creepiness that's an about-face from his more comedic role in the mid-'90s series "Due South." His performance is captivating, and that's important, because he's in practically every scene. He's taking us for a ride in much the same way his character does everyone else in the movie.

A few petty things detract a little bit from the fun. Occasionally, the Canadian TV origin of the picture is obvious in its framing and contrast. And the director has apparently never met a Mexican person, because Kelly's blue-eyed Mexican wife and redhead mother-in-law seem to have stepped right out of Toronto Central Casting and been told to speak like Penelope Cruz.

Overall, it's a worthy addition to your Netflix cue, and a value when purchased as part of that nifty "Murder at Midnight" eight-movie set for five bucks.

I didn't find Murder Most Likely deathly scary. But the scene with Kelly's wife (Marie-Josee Croze, wonderful actress I've never seen before) falling from the balcony did scare me and are all memorable. The bad Mountie played by Paul Gross is also memorable. The ways in which Marie-Jose Croze eyes change when she first met Kelly is incredible.

Chapple claimed "Murder most likely" is a chilling drama. He was exaggerating, but some of it is--the first half is suspenseful and mysterious, especially the relation between Kelly and his first wife.

The last part explain Patrick Kelly to us, but to bring us into scepticism.

Finally the cast in this TV movie is very good. I know zero about film criticism, but I can see the beauty and symmetry of every camera shot. The sets are clean and free of distractions. This TV movie is two thumbs up. Hope we can enjoy the Croze-Gross duo very soon.

I first came across this movie because I was looking up Paul Gross' work. I saw my TV listings and noticed it was on CTV (today)! I didn't quite know what to expect. The beginning blurb of the movie explained that it took the facts of the case, but also added bits of fiction. What I liked was how a number of different circumstances brought the whole story together, and showed many sides of the characters and case, for it made it all the more interesting. It moves in chronological order, but does have a bit of straying (with good reason). Obviously, with this type of movie, it had to explain why and how things were occurring with the corresponding scene of a past moment. The ending made me feel like the whole case is still a mystery, and maybe it is. On another note, the casting was flawless, everyone played their part very well, for it was quite believable and realistic.

Patrick Kelley is a fascinating character - this film portrays his complexities and ambiguities with superb insight. Unlike many made-for-TV movies, there are no easy answers given and certainly no happy ending. The tension is well-drawn and the acting throughout excellent - especially Paul Gross, who manages to convey an array of emotions in a few seconds. Masterful.