An Ordinary Killer

Saw the movie yesterday at the premier in Owosso, Michigan. Not a bad movie - kind of long. Beautiful photography and music. The actors were professional and polished. Story topic is very sad but true. Was a great experience to attend the premier.

I recently watched this and to be honest I wasn't expecting much after reading a few reviews from another site. I have to admit though that although not a Hollywood caliber movie it was not bad. The acting was decent and the story was interesting, although I had never heard of this crime before. Also, my hat is off to Mr. Perry. I have read some of the comments on this site about him and really don't understand the viciousness of some of them. I don't know Mr. Perry, never met him or anyone associated with his company. But I can tell you that it appears he is doing what he loves to do, and that in itself is a win for him. Mr. Perry, misery loves company and from what I've read there are a lot of miserable people posting here that maybe are jealous that they don't have a career they love as you do. Keep on keeping on Mr. Perry and don't mind the "haters".

I can see what this film was intending to do. Unfortunately it just never quite completes the deal. The "reality crime" aspect works fine and the shots are all first rate. In fact quite a few of the scenes are incredibly evocative in a moody sort of way. Notably the silhouette of the detective talking to the beat up woman, the scene of the detectives going through the garbage, and the father tying flies. On occasion s few scenes bog down in too much dialog. Instead of showing the viewer the writer treats it too much like a book. But the real problem lies in the editing. The story does not flow. It fails to make a whole out of the sum of the parts. In the end you are confused as to what is actually happening. Those who like this sort of detective movie like to follow along, piecing together the puzzle at the same time the lead characters do. With such poor editing it is difficult if not nearly impossible to do this.

I thought that the movie was an excellent experience. It reached me on many levels, as both a parent and a local from Lansing. It was very well done and had touches that made it seem more professional than most box office hits I've seen. "An Ordinary Killer" was also presented in an extremely compassionate manner. You felt the pain of the town and of her parents. Hooray for Anthony Hornus for highlighting such an extraodinary event as a murder being solved 28 years after the fact. I will also give the cast and crew an old fashioned Army "Hooah" for a job well done.

This is a plot driven tale of midwestern values applied to a horrible set of real crimes. I for one tire of not only the same bare Los Angeles topography in most films but of the big city f*** you attitudes that are increasingly taken as a societal norm. Well thank god most of the world isn't as messed up (yet) and communities of people often work together for a better good than getting the next Benz or getting into some dope club.

Ordinary Killer is like the good part of a funeral; acknowledging the tragic, but recognizing the love and caring that can arise from that same tragedy.