El misterio de Natalie Wood

Yes, it is a biography and it is also extremely lengthy, a good combination for disaster movie, but not this movie. It is so good and more educational than I ever thought.

Tell the truth I don't know who she was before watching this movie. I watch it because I have nothing to do. And it really hooked me from the start. It is far more interesting than I could imagine.

I think, a bit this and that that actually make this movie so enjoyable to watch and very insightful about the rising of this Hollywood legend. The casting is without doubt really good especially Waddell which look really a-like to Natalie.

The real footage adds a little life to the story and makes it more convincing. And the story tells me what I need to know about Natalie's life. Though in the end the story about her and her family was a bit too brief.

Recommendation: Anyway, I really enjoy watching this movie and so I highly recommend everyone especially the one who doesn't her to watch this movie. This movie makes you want to watch her works.

Rating: 7.5/10 (Grade: B+)

As far as I am concerned, Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood were the perfect Hollywood couple, who had their ups and downs like any other marriage. Michael Weatherly (Robert Wagner),"Trigger Happy",'01, did a fantastic job of acting like Bob Wagner and was able to show great emotions when Natalie had her first child and it was not his child, which he wanted it to be. Later on in their second marriage they were able to have a child from their "Second Time Around Marriage". Matthew Settle( Warren Beatty),"The In Crowd",'2000, portrayed a great role when he was asking Natalie to appear in his film "Bonnie & Clyde", in which she declined. Justine Waddell(Natalie Wood),"Anna Karenina",'97 was outstanding in her performance and was radiant in every scene. I never realized what a horrible effect Natalie's mother had in her life and the evil control she had over everything she did. In this TV film, you really have to draw your own conclusions as to what really happened to Natalie Wood and READ BETWEEN THE LINES! in order to come to an honest Ending to this story!

I've always been interested in Natalie Wood, but didn't know much about her except that she was a very glamorous Hollywood star and that she died tragically. This great film showcases Natalie's life, which came across just as tragic as her saddening death.

"The Mystery of Natalie Wood" is a long film and it is at times very hard to watch. As the film is set across her entire life, there is lots of time changes, which are established with a little caption, or a voice over from Lana Wood or someone else who are giving some insight into certain events in the film.

The cast are terrific. Justine Waddell seems like she was born to play the part of Natalie Wood. She does it with so much grace. Michael Weatherly and Matthew Settle are both a pleasure to watch in their respective roles as Robert Wagner and Warren Beatty, each helping to carry the film alongside Justine Waddell. Colin Friels is good as Natalie Wood's long suffering father, while Nathalie Roy didn't get enough screen playing Lana Wood, but when she was on screen, she was fabulous. It is Alice Krige, as Maria Gurdin, Natalie's dominant and overbearing mother, who portrays so well why Natalie's life was so tragic. Alice Krige is in top form here. Grace Fulton is of particular note as the young Natalie Wood also, and watch out for Australian celebrities Sophie Monk and Natalie Bassingwaighte as Marilyn Munroe and Marion Murchall.

This is really one of those films that you have to be in the mood to watch, have the time to watch, and be prepared to learn a lot about one of Hollywood's most iconic women. You may like to bring some tissues also - it's tremendously sad, and not only for Natalie Wood, but for those also who were part of her life.

The story of Natalie Wood takes the audience from before she was born (when her mother was told by a gypsy that her second daughter would be famous and beautiful, but that she should be weary of water) to the last days of her life (until her mysterious drowning death off of Catalina Island).

Justine Waddell does a wonderful job bringing the adult Natalie back to life. She looks like her and attempts to talk like her. Her role in the movie is more important and brings so much more life to the performance than any of the other characters combined. Her twice husband, Robert Wagner, was portrayed by Michael Weatherly, whose performance was just okay.

The big question of the movie is just how authentic it is. It was produced by Natalie's sister, Lana Wood, but after watching it one wonders just how true it all is, specifically the relationship between Natalie and her mother, Maria.

Many people have complained about the length of the movie (3 hours) but I don't find anything wrong with it. The time is well spent telling in detail all of the events of Natalie's dramatic life. Overall 9/10 for the story and the performance of Justine Waddell.

...then I'll have to take this movie's word for it. "The Mystery of Natalie Wood" did actually do a pretty good job showing her life and death. Justine Waddell, as Natalie Wood, does look almost exactly like her. As for some aspects, I never knew that her mother Maria (Alice Krige) pushed her so hard to be famous (or pushed her at all), or that Ms. Wood got raped when she was young. As for the death scene...well, I guess that Natalie Wood's death will remain a mystery, and they had to choose something to portray. Probably taking a cue from "Reds", director Peter Bogdanovich interviews some people who knew her (most notably "West Side Story" co-star George Chakiris). A well-done biography, if nothing else.