Murder on the Yellow Brick Road

There are many reasons to watch a movie, and whereas this is certainly not the high-gloss content that comes out of the major studios, it's special as an independent film, well-textured with interesting performances from strong character actors - especially Byrne Offut and Mark Bramhall - and full of unexpected turns by well-known performers. We all knew Nancy Kwan when she was a young, surprising starlet - but here she is again to surprise us as a vapid manipulator of young women. PJ Soles takes hold of a sleeper role, quiet and unimportant throughout most of the film, and then steals the show when she crescendos. Charlene Fernetz glistens. Ken Butler crackles. Ross Hagen burns slowly like a good cigar. It's definitely an indie - but an indie in which good actors get hold of some interesting content, do their thing, and do it well.

This film was both a treat and a surprise. It brought me back to those great "who done it's" based on real suspense, solid performances, artistic cinematography and a straightforward plot. The film was not filled with what we see every day - blood and violence, an overload of special effects, extreme sexual content and bad acting. The performances were strong; one that especially stood out for me was that of Joe Patterson, played by Ken Butler. He was terrific and really added to the film. After seeing this film, I would definitely make it a priority to see Ken Butler in his future efforts. Another aspect that really stood out for me was the score. The music was wonderful, never overpowering or distracting, but really complimenting the film. I would recommend this film to everyone of all ages. It's not very often that someone can take their kids along to see a smart, well-acted and beautifully filmed movie.

MURDER ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is a fun to watch film that took me back to the back and white era of film-making. I was extremely impressed by both the story and character lines. It really tugged at my heart. The acting makes the film, led by Ken Butler's sensational portrayal of Detective Joe Patterson and Ross Hagen's superb portrayal of the P.I., Elwood Dick. Their friendship was so natural and down to earth, that it didn't seem like they were acting at all. The performance of Pilar Lastra as Gabrielle Mendez is also worth mentioning. She seems to be a relative newcomer, but her presence is undeniable. The same can be said for Charlene Fernetz as Rachel Dowd. She represents today's modern woman with dignity and style. I also loved the music, especially the theme song, Boulevard Of Dreams. Leslie Gillman's voice is haunting and soulful, fully realizing the music written by John Corlis and the lyrics written by Eric Belgau, who also wrote the screenplay. If you are a fan of murder mysteries, don't miss this one. It is definitely the best Yellow Brick Road to follow since the one to Oz.

MURDER ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is very interesting in that it attempts to present a "film noir" movie in the present. It works for the most part. Unfortunately, in the fast-cut TV/MTV world in which we live, we are not used to handling the (frequently) lingering camera looks and the generally slow unfolding of the story. It needs tighter editing. That said, the acting in most cases is very strong. One wishes that Ross Hagen's direction had matched the strength of his acting. His hard-bitten detective is the epitome of the stereotype, but with a depth of humanity that lifts the portrayal above the mundane. Ken Butler plays the tough-as-nails cop to very good effect. And it was a joy to see Nancy Kwan again! She's as beautiful as ever. The most exciting feature of the film is the cinematography. Gary Craver's photography, lighting and effects are superb, making it a beautiful experience. If you can adjust your viewing and mood to the slow pacing and tempo, this is a beautifully filmed and fun movie to see.

It was the poster that caught my attention to this film but after I watched it, it was totally different experience than I thought it would be. This film is unique in a sense. We see so many movies out there with guns and blood without good stories. This film is very calm and non-violent that it came to me as style which I love it. It flows so gently that you feel like you're floating on water while you're watching it. The score and music in this film is amazing. When the ending credit rolls up, the music keeps you in your seat. This movie is not for the audience who wants to experience hell of a ride. This film is for those who wants to see the characters and a story. It is beautifully lit and well acted. The film has a unique style. Highly recommended.