An Officer and a Murderer

The title says it all. There's no mystery here in who's doing it, breaking into houses stealing underwear and dildos, at the same time as he is living a perfect life and is just appointed the main boss at an important military establishment.

The mystery is how a well respected man can be such an offender. Well, he's not the first, and will not be the last, seemingly living a perfect life, but not able to control his sick sexual urges.

This Canadian movie, directed by Norma Bailey has Gary Cole in the main role, and he is doing a great job as always. As is the rest of the cast, though that's not a shock, as Canadians are very good at making films with true and realistic acting.

Well worth a watch!

This is a the story of the Canadian Base Commander, Colonel Russel William in Southern Ontario, who first started collecting panties and bras in home break-ins, then advancing to holding woman hostage for his amusement, and then graduating to rape and finally murder. And yes, Lifetime presents us with yet another white male gone bad movie of the week.

The main point of the story is that Commander Williams, is beyond reproach or even consideration as an unsub. He is even enlisted to help in the search and of course blames the crimes on some wood chucker (tree trimmer) who is a blue collar guy and the cops love him as a suspect because he looks like a suspect. They do not even consider the ramrod "correct" military commander as he is beyond suspicion. Ah, but those blue collar guys...they must have done it.

Frankly, the movie showed how cops usually pick the wrong suspect but in this case luck out by finding tire tracks. One of the lady cops,from Toronto, checks on a possible victim, Jessica, only to miss the SUV parked nearby and is remorse she didn't get the plate number. Why should she? The tree trimmer is safely locked up. Lucky tho the Commander screws up and leaves some tire tracks, which almost did not get reported because he is the Canadian Base "commander". Respect his au THOR EH Tee.

The base commander, played by Gary Cole and the cop played by Rossif Sutherland really have great nuanced performances. And the interrogation is more realistic than the "badgering cop" style so often depicted on TV.

Where is the psychologist talking about fetish clothing and personification of the victim through clothing while acting out erotic fantasies? Guess he/she was on vacation.

The pacing was good and the story told in a straight forward manner, and hard to believe it is an American film as it has "Made in Canada" stamped all over it as there is little action. Where are the police waving guns around, guns pointed at people, guns being fired, CSI special effects, more gun totting, cops yelling "get down on the ground" at the top of their lungs after they have consumed a dozen cans of Red Bull. Where is David Caruso pointing a gun at the suspect? Not here.

This movie does take an analytic how-it-happened approach which simply tells the story. It reminds me more of Columbo or Monk episodes than police "action" dramas.

Lifetime follows the movie up with a documentary, which is pretty much the movie without actors. An easy 3 hrs for Lifetime programming, but worth a view. When the ads say 'based on a true story' there will be little action, but a re-telling of events, hopefully as interesting as this movie. Thumbs up. It kept me home on a Saturdy night.

To John_Merritt2011

Just the fact that your very first statement tells us you did not even see this film, your critique of this video is nonsensical, uneducated, and flat out stupid! Your assertion that it should not have been made due to the brutality of it and insulting to the victims families, is ridiculous! By your way of thinking movies like: Full Metal Jacket (RIP Gunny), JFK, Goodfellas, Glory, and every other movie based on Actual Events. Gimme a break!

This very unusual true story has been filmed without any suspense build up towards an anticlimactic finale. Nobody acting in this movie except for the male detective shows any emotion whatsoever. The entire film screams for a tense, insightful build towards any of the players acting anything at all, even Gary Cole, who gets far less work than he should, especially after his superb performance as Geoffrey Macdonald, who was convicted of murdering his wife and daughters and remains in jail after his crime was committed in 1971, where Garys portrayal was breathtaking, he plays in this movie as ifthe director has told him to show no emotion. Its a shame as a bit more enthusiasm by all would have really lifted this movie.

The lead actors carry this movie well, all avoiding over-acting. Cole and Sutherland deliver excellent performances with Laura not too far behind. Harris is handicapped by her stunning scandi looks. She needs to allow a persona which overcomes her looks.

Good script which allows the story to evolve simply. No gun battles, no unneeded nudity and ne explosions. Just a story based on truth, told well.

We are not told if Harria has a love interest, a n d frankly don't care. The bit where one of the earlier cases involved a dildo is handled in a straightforward, non purient manNER.