A Little Thing Called Murder (2006)

Strong and Moving!

Powerful

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Based on a true story, director Richard Benjamin and star Judy Davis (as Sante) nevertheless give this "Lifetime" TV movie a comedy treatment. It's even possible to view "A Little Thing Called Murder" it as a satire of psycho sexy criminal mother movies. Chewing the scenery like it's made of ham, Ms Davis devours her role. Angel-faced (the grown-up) son Jonathan Jackson (as Kenneth "Kenny" Kimes) is her main accomplice. He and the supporting cast stay out of the way and allow Davis and Mr. Benjamin to do their thing. We get why Mr. Jackson went south, but wonder about Davis' character. The subject isn't all that funny, but Davis certainly seems to be having fun. If you relish Davis, chances are you will too.****** A Little Thing Called Murder (1/23/06) Richard Benjamin ~ Judy Davis, Jonathan Jackson, Chelcie Ross, Cynthia Stevenson

This mother-and-son couple (sometimes a triple, if they pick up another nasty type along their merry way) travel around the country insinuating their way into people's lives, bilking and killing them. It's based on a true story and it's done in a documentary style, with "witnesses" being "interviewed" on camera and so forth.I don't really know how accurate it is historically, not having followed the actual case -- two tawdry pinheads who see others as nothing more than targets. In real life, Mrs. Kimes, like some other people who are into manipulation and power, was probably stomach-churning. There's a pun lurking in there somewhere. "Kimes" = "chyme." "Stomach-churning." (An awful pun, come to think of it. Can I take it back?)The movie is played for laughs. Murders take place off screen. Everyone overacts as if projecting to the farther rows of the Colosseum. Especially Judy Davis. She wears this TERRIFIC black wig that comes across like a Bishop's miter. The gyri of her overly made-up face constantly rearrange themselves like a holographic relief map of various rugged areas -- Bashkortistan, Nepal, The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes -- morphed from one to another by computer graphics. My God, I never knew there were so many expressions available to the human puss. Her gestures are equally broad and her voice changes from wheedling to shrieking in a picosecond as circumstances demand.Her proper-looking son on the other hand, though obedient, is reserved and efficient in a more ruthless, less theatrical way.They must have had a lot of fun making this movie about two serial killers. All the stops are pulled out. If you liked "Mommie Dearest" you ought to love this one. They could use the same tag line -- "The Biggest Mother of Them All."

Judy Davis is mesmerizing as the pitiful, warped Sante Kimes. Her sons (the actors) are both wonderful in their roles as well as her husband. Its a nonstop ride of dark comedy and over the top performances that are actually taken from real life scenarios. I think its an Emmy nod for Davis. It still should be made into a feature considering the wealth of real life situations that were never realized because of time, and the fact that this mother/son duo is so rare and full of intrigue as to what took so long as to where they finally ended up in jail for life after several decades of murders, cons, and dysfunction. This movie just touches the surface of the horrors they inflicted as part of their entertainment of life. I loved the movie and the direction is what moves it along so well. Altogether a great TV movie and entertainment.

If you had a mother like the one in this picture, I would begin to wonder how you ever deserved such a horrible position in Life. It sure is a great comedy and at the same time a drama that keeps you wondering just how things will eventually turn out in the very end. If you go out to dinner, you had better worry about the salt and pepper shakers and all morale codes of conduct are completely disregarded. The picture is a bit drawn out and you begin to wonder just when justice will prevail. This is a true story and you really feel sorry for the poor people involved in this family, but you just have to remember it is only a film, so sit back and enjoy the Comedy in this film.