Une femme de cran

Based on a true story of a widowed woman who tries to take advantage of "the perks" in organized crime in order to raise her sons, Milano does her best to stay out of the spotlight with the FBI while "dancing on the fence" with the new man in her life.

This TV movie would probably rate higher with me, if it weren't so cliché. I'm a fan of Milano, but I found it predictable, not to mention boring, since 25% of the time devoted to the time slot was filled with commercials. I realize commercials pay for the film, but am I not paying for my cable TV? At one point, there was a 4 minute station break, 8 more minutes of film, followed by 5 more minutes of commercials. I guess it shows how promising this film is when I find more time to concentrate on how long this movie is, instead of its plot line.

'Made for TV' is not something that raises the expectations of the viewer. I did not recall seeing Alyssa Milano in anything other than 'Charmed' and frankly I wasn't that impressed with her. Which makes it all the more surprising how much I liked this film. The plot may not be that original: Girl from disadvantaged background makes good, suffers setback, pulls herself up through hard work, intelligence and (in this case) a mobster who fancies her. Alyssas' character isn't portrayed as the totally innocent victim of circumstance (so annoyingly common in these scenarios) but gives her a little more realism. The rest of the cast did well with less screen time: James Caan bought a little weight to the cast and the children played their roles convincingly, but the character I would have liked to see more of was the mother played by Janet Wright.

What sets this film apart is the higher than average standard of acting, the non-cheesy script and the three dimensional characters.

Based on a true story, thought it was a 90s film by the look of it, picked it up off ebay, didn't know it was a made for tv but Alyssa isn't known for top shelf studio ware. Just finished Poison Ivy 2 and Embrace the Vampire with A. M so didn't much from this one other than she looks good and does the job. This wasn't too bad for a made for tv flick, most of it was shot in Toronto and made to look like Flatbush, ie: College St and West end locations used for the bike ride to school, her apt, obviously the harbour and skyline and ship casino scene. It was worth a watch, former Special Agent Joe Pistone of Donnie Brasco fame produced it. Extra features show scenes shot in Toronto like the bike scene at Dovercourt.

Being a guy that grew up with an enormous crush on Alyssa Milano, i assume this was going to be yet nothing crap-tastic C movie from the television Diva. Yet, i was surprisely taken back by the dialogue and heart that was delivered.

Great job to Alyssa, in the role that I think was written specifically for her brooklyn style. I say make a sequel...where does she go? does she quit the criminal life "cold turkey?" hopefully not.

James Caan is in this too, which i think made it a little more believable. by the way how old am I to believe Alyssa is in this movie at the end? The makeup tried to make her look older I think, but she is still way to gorgeous for that.

Run of the mill parade of Italian American stereotypes.

Why is it that the only portrayal of Italian Americans is as mobbed up ignoramuses?

Italian women portrayed as cheap putanas or drug addicts.

And extra credit for a low class outer borough accent.

As if you have to speak like a moron to be Italian. Fuggedaboudid? You wouldn't be idiotic enough to ask a black person to say "yowsuh massa", so why the double standard?

The most infuriating part, is that if you complain about this injustice, you're characterized as being a front for the mob. Nice.

If I'm wrong (I'm not), please let me know of a positive portrayal.