Tragique obsession

Someone looking like our blonde star is in a mental facility for adult women, young boys and a few staffers. Clearly disturbed, she decides to commit suicide. Because we leave it for so long, this opening gets "Obituary" off to a confusing start. Eventually, it is explained. After the credits, attractive Josie Bissett (as Denise Wilcox) introduces herself through narration. She's stuck in a dead end job as an obituary writer. What's weird is that people die after she gets pop-ups on her computer alerting her about their deaths. Most people would assume someone was messing with them, but Bissett considers the messages omens. Some kind of voodoo doll is also involved. Bissett investigates. Male companionship is available with attractive co-workers Craig Olejnik (as Luke) and Grant Nickalls (as Simon). Their roles are obvious and the story winds up following an all too familiar path, with too much of the "shaky camera" look leading the way.

**** Obituary (7/23/06) John Bradshaw ~ Josie Bissett, Craig Olejnik, Grant Nickalls, Joe Pingue

Josie Bissett is gorgeous and is a very good actress!! I would have expected her to be in some 'bigger' movies. I think it is one of the better movies made in Canada. The cast performed well in their acting, the story line was interesting. I especially liked Josie's portrayal of the character in the movie but the rest of the cast portrayed their characters very well. I wish the credits at the end would have shown all the songs and performers of the music. One song was performed at least three times in the movie and it would be interesting to know what song it is. I missed seeing where it was filmed also. When you search for the movie on www.movies.com this movie does not show up. When you search for Josie you find the other movies she has been in. The cast in each of those movies are not very well known though. I never did do a search for any of the other members of the cast of Obituary, but I assume it would be the same result - no big name actors or actresses. It would be interesting to see Josie alongside some of the better known, more experiences actors and actresses.

This is mainly due to such a stupid script idea and bad acting from the leading lady, played by Josie Bisset. Even her hair annoyed me. What is it with these hunks of hair over one eye these days? Is this considered sexy? Please. It looks like the actress is unkempt and sloppy. Doesn't comb her hair. Bisset's form of acting consists of constantly brushing her hair out of her face. Ever hear of hairpins or hair spray? So, watching her was quite painful for this viewer. I finally gave up on this movie after watching an hour of it. I did like Craig Olejnik as an actor. Also Grant Nickalls was worth watching as well.

It seems that most of these made for TV movies consist of women who manage to have hair dos that cover their one eye or their face. When you want to watch a film, you don't want to look at women who lack the taste of looking well groomed. I keep remembering the classics where the face was the thing when it comes to glamor. Not hair. With the exception of Veronica Lake and the peek-a-boo bang. But that was the 40s. This is the new century. Get with it.

What looked promising turned out to be a by the number mystery thriller. Josie Bessit plays Denise Wilcox an obituary writer who starts seeing obituaries of people before they die. Thinking her troubled past is coming back to haunt her she turns to Luke (Craig Olejnik of "13 Ghost) for support. After a few more people turn up murdered she starts to suspect star writer Simon Castillo (Grant Nichalls of "Glitter"). The viewer can easily pick the killer for obvious reasons (poor writing).

The actors weren't bad and were actually quite good with what they had to work with. There was nothing new to add and the suspense along with the decent acting actually saves the movie from being just another TV movie. The plot holes are pretty big and the chemistry between the actors is low. I for one knew who the killer was about ten minutes into the movie, I just wasn't sure about the motive. To be safe I was on the right path.

It's not a hidden gem but will do on a boring night when nothing else good is on TV.

The premise of this film is excellent, an obituary columnist for a local newspaper reading obituaries on her PC before the deaths occur, then ultimately reading her own. Reminds one of Mark Twain's comment after reading his own obituary in a newspaper, "The report of my death has been highly exaggerated." Unfortunately this made-for-TV flick does not develop the idea creatively and the viewer ends up with a routine murder mystery full of plot holes and psycho-babble. And it's not even a good whodunit. The killer can be identified early on as a result of quite obvious clues; plus the red herrings are just as easy to pick out. The viewer should be aware, however, that the opening sequence inside a mental institution is crucial for the story; so don't miss it.

The story concerns an obituary reporter for the Tribune, Denise Wilcox (Josie Bissett), with a very unsettling childhood. She is highly ambitious but her steps for advancement are blocked when the old editor expires and the new boss places Denise's ex-lover, Simon Castillo (Grant Nickalls), in the key staff position she was seeking. Her life becomes more complicated when she stumbles upon a dead body while jogging through the woods. The name of the murdered woman had appeared to her in a newspaper earlier but she is unable to verify this.

As the late Red Buttons used to say, "Strange things are happening." Other victims' names begin showing up on Denise's computer screen before they are killed. She begins to think that her old mental illness is returning. Her fears are assuaged by a young assistant, Luke (Craig Olejnik), who obviously has a crush on her. She begins to consult with a Gothic person who runs a Gothic revival shop about a strange sign that appeared as graffiti on a wall near where the first body was found, a sign that has of late been part of a recurring nightmare. It is a symbol of a Hindu goddess for both creation and destruction; this only complicates the situation. There are a few thrills toward the end when Denise's own name pops up on her computer and she is marked for death.

Besides the weak script (written by whom?), the acting leaves much to be desired. The cast is composed mainly of TV performers and it shows. Josie Bissett is a beautiful woman but only a passable actress. Of the three leads, Craig Olejnik does the best job. His final scene is chilling.

This muddled drama is worth watching only if there is nothing else of interest on the TV schedule. You may even want to opt for the shopping channel.