Lonely Hearts (DVD, 2007)

Lonely Hearts is lifted above the average crime thriller through the excellent performances by the cast. The movie alternates between the detectives who are on the trail of the Lonely Hearts killers, played credibly by John Travolta & James Gandolfini, and the bloody spree of the killers' Martha Beck [Salma Hayek], and Fernandez [Jared Leto].

The detectives are well-played with a sub-plot involving John Travolta's character grappling with the case as well as his own personal problems [having to do with his strained relationship with his son, as well as his affair with a colleague played by Laura Dern]. However, the real action and drama comes from the performances by Salma Hayek, and Jared Leto as the cold-blooded killers. Hayek's performance is especially riveting, and her Martha Beck comes across as unflinchingly evil whilst besotted with her lover.The portrayal of the killers in this movie though well-acted, is not an altogether accurate portrayal of the real-life criminals [the real Beck was obese, not a sultry temptress as embodied by Hayek].

On the whole however, this is an eminently watchable crime thriller with credible performances all-around. A worthwhile addition to the genre.

This film disappeared from the theatres so quickly most people never heard of it. It deserves your attention. If only to watch Selma give you a glimpse of madness. Kinky done well.

LONELY HEARTS tries very hard to evoke the feeling of the 1940s and the troubled police officer whose wife's suicide haunts him until he finds revenge in the investigation of a pair of lonely hearts scam artists. But what happens for the most part is a story that looks, sounds and fells like a 1940s crime movie - 3 parts celluloid transfer, 1 part story.

John Travolta and James Gandolfini play buddy homicide detectives who overcome the ennui of their job when they begin to investigate the multiple murders of 'lonely women' who fall prey to snappy con artist men.
The pair they are chasing are Ray Fernandez (Jared Leto) and his partner in crime Martha Beck (Salma Hayek), a diabolical couple who find their victims through the personal ads and then fleece then murder them victims in heinous ways. Todd Robinson wrote and directed the film based on his grandfather's experience - Elmer C. Robinson (Travolta) - and it is this bit of personal touch that makes the sluggish story work. The capable supporting cast includes such solid actors as Laura Dern and Scott Cain with fine cameos by Alice Krige and Dagmara Dominczyk, playing victims.

Hayek and Leto muster a chemistry on the screen that, while strange in type, allows the viewer to understand the motivation of the crimes. It is a solid cast and a good story: it just seems more derivative of old movies than a film with original thought. Grady Harp, August 07