Blackheart

The copy I am reviewing sported the title "Blackheart, quest of a serial killer". It becomes quite obvious early on that this film has nothing to do with a serial killer. Several people getting killed does not a serial killer make. Otherwise, what would all our gallant soldiers and armed policemen be??

So, more than a little upset about being duped into buying this by a false title, I am then more than a little more insulted by a very bad film. The storyline is really terrible. A whole series of ridiculous coincidences, and even more ridiculous forced coincidences are supposed to have us reeling at the ingenuity of this fearful money seeking killer. But not so, all we feel is, well, how ridiculous! The acting by all concerned, Grieco, Alonso, Plummer, was really quite good. But then, good acting doesn't make a good film. And how could PI Plummer ever carry off the role whilst having to wear a copy-cat Sherlock Holmes outfit, without becoming farcical? And farcical is what he becomes.

A so-so, throw away, comedy ending really tops off the insult which this film really is. And yet I might have been a little more generous if they hadn't lied to me with the marketing genius title of serial killer... black widow, hustler, grifter... anything but serial killer.

No respect from me here... but a vote of "3" for the acting... hell, they gotta pay the rent too!

The movie starts out as if it might be interesting, but then fizzles. I enjoyed Maria; she's always worth watching. She prances around in some pretty interesting outfits, and is, of course, a naughty girl. But don't expect much from the movie itself. My advice: Press the "mute" button and just absorb Maria.

So my flatmate and I decided to watch this movie one night. It wasn't until I came to IMDb that I even realised the movie was made in 1998 - it looked SO dated, I would've easily believed it was late '80s to early '90s! Anyway, there was some confusion from the start after the couple pull off one of their shams and she (Maria) pounces on Greico's character and starts gyrating and (what we think must have been) having an orgasm. How this was achieved with clothes on, I'm not sure. It was ridiculous to watch, that's for sure.

The plot was weak and predictable but probably suited the equally weak acting as well.

The PI is terrible. Like another user said, a silly stereotype who does wear the dorky tweed hat throughout the film and is even named Holmes. Totally unoriginal character.

The acting was pretty bad and didn't set to improve throughout the movie. Maria Alonso played a good crazy woman, but I found her to be somewhat irritating too. Fiona Loewi reminded me of some kind of Courtney Cox/Alicia Silverstone hybrid - not a good mix.

All in all, I've lost moments of my life I shall never get back.

Two thumbs DOWN!

Blackheart had its moments, but was mostly predictable. Maria Conchita Alonso did an excellent job. A much more interesting character than she has usually played. Richard Grieco also did well, but nothing spectacular. The other performances were adequate, but to be fair, the story didn't have enough going for it to allow the actors to do much but just go through the motions. Christopher Plummer's character added some levity that would have seemed awkward, but as the movie started to drag this performance became more appreciated. The movie grabbed me early with Maria's performance, but later the story became more routine and even Maria's character couldn't add enough interest to keep it exciting.

As this movie starts, you don't expect much, and it looks just like any other triller or such genre, but no! There's something that lies beneath all that. The things may be more or less predicable, but the casting blackouts that, so you don't have time to think up ahead of the plot. This movie has suspension, drama parts, a li'l bit of love updated, and an ending that suits well, though I expected some other ending, I've realizes it couldn't be possible to make it as we wish to. If you decide to see this movie, don't stop watching after 10 mins and just say, "hah, it's of no use", but be patient and wait for 20, just 'til the story gets its leap.