Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story

Saw this movie on cable, and was surprised at how entertaining it was for a made-for-tv flick. The story was interesting - as far as these true crime stories go - and the performances were actually quite good. Which brings me to my real point: after watching Kathleen Robertson's performance, I wonder why she isn't in more high-profile films. This woman is quite a talent and a very unique beauty to boot. You mean to tell me she wouldn't have been better than the boring Elizabeth Banks was in Seabiscuit? Or Liv Tyler in most anything? Or couldn't have handled Carla Gugino's Spy Kids' Mom? This woman deserves to be a star.

Anyway, the movie is a nice little diversion.

Very good movie. Starts out a little iffy because I think the director goes too much for the old 40's feel, but it picks up quickly and is quite well acted (especially Robertson and Callum Keith Rennie). The ending is very well paced and the revelations about Dick's life are done just right in order to make it believable instead of cheesy. Rennie is gorgeous and stellar as the only man unmoved by Dick's feminine wiles and the supporting cast, most notably the actress who plays Evelyn's mother, are great. I was very pleasantly surprised by the direction and production value, seeing as this was a made-for-TV movie, but it is nearly cinema movie quality. This is well worth the 10 bucks I paid to own it.

This is a riveting tale of a beautiful young woman emotionally crippled by her abusive, controlling parents. The plot has many unexpected twists and as more is revealed about Evelyn Dick's life the story is increasingly compelling. She leaves the film almost as much an enigma as when she enters it. Good performances -- Kathleen Robertson is stunning in the lead role, and Brenda Fricker turns in a wicked performance reminiscent of some of Kathy Bates' characters. I enjoyed the use of high and straight-overhead camera angles and the use of stark lighting in many of the scenes. The costuming was terrific and the director made good use of the details in the closeup work. Visually a feast, all-around very good!

You would be hard pressed to identify this as a made-for-television movie. The cinematography and production design are superior to most theatrical features (angular and overhead camera shots, tight shots on Kathleen Robertson, period costuming and good sets). It really transports the viewer back to 1940's Ontario. They paid attention to the details and put serious money into creating a stylish stage on which Robertson turns in a truly fine performance.

She plays a young woman from a horribly abusive family; and what with the flashbacks she convincingly plays herself from about age 13 to age 26 (in fact the flashback to her at age 13 is the most convincing scene in the film). Under a cynical veneer is someone so scarred that she cannot really defend herself against two murder charges, but with their elliptical storytelling technique it is some time before the viewer understands the whole dynamic. The film is really about peeling back her protective layers. Instead of a traditional narrative about a character undergoing changes, what changes here is not the character but the viewer's perception of the character.

Robertson was born for this role. I have generally liked her in other stuff but have felt a bit uneasy-when she smiles it seems like she is conning me. This works against her in "good girl" roles ("Maniac Mansion" and "Splendor") but could actually work for her in "bad girl" roles. And it certainly really works for her here where her character is as ambiguous as any you are likely to find.

I saw the last part of this film last year on cable and fell in love with Kathleen Robertson, so I had to see the complete film and loved it! She is so beautiful and does a wonderful job portraying Evelyn Dick. Ms. Robertson is obviously as talented as she is easy to look at, and she makes the film! Her acting is flawless, and I will look for her in other films! The film also turned me on to 40's Jazz when I heard the song "Melacholy Lullaby" over the closing credits, and I just found the CD by Alex Pangman that the track is on and can't wait to hear more of her. The film is great, though, and I may just get the tape, unless the DVD is out.