Victim of Love

(1991) Victim of Love PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA/ THRILLER

Made- for-TV drama film about older single psychiatrist, Tess Palmer (JoBeth Williams) falling for a suave, Paul Tomlinson (Pierce Bronsnon) who may or may not be who he portray himself to be! Also stars is Virginia Madson as she plays Carla Simmons one of JoBeth Williams patients. Watching this film is like watching a very poor Danielle Steele novel or another poor variation of the television series "Dynasty" or "Dallas". Really boring stuff and very tame compared to what's been offered to us now. Released for the purpose of capitalizing on the success of Pierce Bronsnon.

A few years after his success as Remington Steele, Pierce Brosnan made this film with Jobeth Williams and Virginia Madsen. Though highly derivative, it makes for very intriguing viewing.

Williams is a psychiatrist with a few personal problems of her own. She meets Brosnan and, like any red-blooded, healthy woman, falls for him. He's a professor and author, and how every female student he has isn't running after him is unclear. Madsen plays a patient of Williams', and she has even more issues than Williams has. One of them concerns this man she's involved with...whom Williams finally realizes is Brosnan. The question is, is this young woman delusional? Is she fabricating a relationship as Brosnan claims, or is Brosnan the liar? Williams approaches the dilemma as a woman in love and not a psychiatrist, making her your pretty typical desperate female. One would hope a professional person would behave a bit differently, but life experience shows us this isn't necessarily the case.

I found this film very entertaining with some hot, sexy love scenes, and it keeps you guessing. After you think you've figured it out, it'll have a surprise for you.

This wanna-be Hitchcockian thriller shamelessly takes scenes from Vertigo, Psycho, and North by Northwest, with the music of Richard Stone imitation Bernard Herrmann via Pino Donaggio. Psychologist Jobeth Williams is dating Pierce Brosnan, the same man who it turns out is also dating her patient, Virginia Madsen. Or is he? The time it takes Jobeth to realise such a faux pas makes her seem rather dim, though she appears to be preoccupied in showing how she thinks she can do sexy. It is unfortunate that her (many!) love scenes with Pierce play so awkwardly, though having Pierce recite Edgar Allan Poe badly doesn't help. Madsen probably comes off best. She manages to invest emotion and truth in what is a cliche role of the woman scorned. Jobeth has some tiny moments, particularly with her friend played by the baritone-voiced Georgia Brown. Director Jerry London gives us a juggling clown to represent Jobeth's confusion, and rain to accompany Billie Holiday singing Stormy Weather.

I was kept entertained, wanting to know how the story played out. There's nothing wrong with being derivative so long as the end result is solid. The sex scenes are more "steamy" than "erotic" (not a huge amount of flesh is shown). They complement the movie well, adding to the atmosphere. So what if they're accompanied with sax music?? That was in vogue at the time. It was 1991. That's like criticizing the film for a character having a particular hairstyle - entirely dumb. Fashions change - what does that have to do with anything?

This wasn't a theatrical film, remember, and it had only the scope of a TV movie. However the main cast trio are excellent, they really elevate the script ot of mediocrity with their beauty, naturalness and talent. JoBeth Williams as protagonist I would single out: There's a real sense of audience compassion as she's hesitantly being romanced at her stage in life, then falling for her lover, then struggling to square this with things she's been hearing about him (from her patient). She's also quite sexy.

It's not a film that has much longevity once the mystery has been solved for you, but it's good for a once-through if you're into the genre.

I LOVE this movie!--enough to purchase the video. I've seen Vertigo, Psycho & North By Northwest many times, & I fail to see any stealing of scenes or plagiarism. I do agree with the Hitchcockian nature of it, as there are many suspenseful plot twists & turns, & the end is definitely like some of Hitchcock's endings -- you're not quite sure what to think or who to believe. JoBeth Williams & Virginia Madsen are terrific [as they both usually are]--convincing & believable. If you like modern- day film noir, as I do, this movie is for you.