DeuceWild_77 The global success and Oscar nominations (and wins) for "L.A. Confidential" ('97) put the neo-noir / crime thriller genre back on the map in terms of Hollywood big productions, featuring major stars and established directors, and several films succeeded, such as "The Black Dahlia" and "Hollywoodland" (both from '06), based on real life cases of infamous murder, some unsolved to this days."Lonely Hearts" from the very same year, tells the real life story of Raymond Martinez Fernandez (played by Jared Leto) and Martha Beck (played by Salma Hayek), the notorious "Lonely Hearts Killers", a couple that during the 40's conned several wealthy widows, by placing ads in magazines, pretending to be brother and sister. As the delusional and sociopath Martha became more possessive towards Raymond, she starts killing his fiancees, afraid that he could fell in love with one of their unsuspecting victims. Det. Elmer Robinson (John Travolta), a newly widower and his partner, Det. Charles Hilderbrandt (James Gandolfini) with the help of Det. Reilly (Scott Caan), are tasked to investigate the case...Screenwriter & documentary director, Todd Robinson, the real life grandson of Det. Elmer Robinson, made here his screen debut directing a theatrical released motion picture, which also penned the screenplay due to his emotional connection to the real life case, via his own grandfather, who told him curiosities about it since his early age.Robinson made good use of his Art Department: all the props; the sets' decoration; the hairstyles and costumes; the cars and the planes, are very faithful invoking the 40's Era and the movie looks and feels it visually. For its medium budget it's a hit.The screenplay could have been better handled, way too much screentime was given to the pair of detectives and their own private lifes, instead of focusing it more on the killers, enhancing the couple's wicked behavior and their descent into doom. The added humor beetween Gandolfini and Scott Caan's characters always picking on each other, is somewhat funny at the beginning, but ultimately, repetitive and unnecessary.The cinematography is only appropriate as so is the direction, it have a certain TV feeling to it, maybe due to the budgetary reasons, it lacks wide shots and the violence is also toned down, with the noble exception of one well staged sordid scene involving the infamous couple and Alice Krige's character.The editing obviously suffered from scenes left out in the cutting room floor, maybe to shorten the movie to be more audience friendly, but that affects the storytelling with several breaks in the narrative and an anti-climatic (not so) grand finale.John Travolta is okay in the lead role of Elmer Robinson, with a good supporting turn from the late great James Gandolfini, even if his character was seriously underdeveloped, with both sharing good on-screen chemistry, proved earlier in "Get Shorty" ('95). Scott Caan is in training mode for his future role of Danny Williams in the hit TV show, "Hawaii Five-0" and Laura Dern did her best out of a pointless character, Travolta's colleague at the Force and, secretly, his mistress. Jared Leto as Ray Fernandez is over the top hammy, too cartoon-ish for a movie like this, almost shading his ridiculous performance in "Panic Room" ('02), but Salma Hayek saves the movie in the acting department, offering a commited performance as the wicked Martha Beck, had the movie being better she could have possibly been a contender for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.In short, "Lonely Hearts" deserves, at least, a watch for completists of neo-noir, "killers on the run" and period pieces, it's a kind of hybrid beetween "Badlands" & "The Black Dahlia" and even if it isn't as good as the previous adaptation of this story to the big screen, "The Honeymoon Killers" ('70), which was more faithful to the real life case and more focused on the couple, it have Salma in one of her best performances to date and some good cinematic moments...

Armand at first sigh, a real good film. cast, script, atmosphere - all is more than OK. only problem - the impression to walk in desert. the story is not new but the performance can transforms it in a nice show. or perfect occasion to remember scenes of same type. Jared Leto does a credible seducer and each level of action is correct. but something remains strange or far from expectations.this is the secret of all. and the fundamental sin. maybe, it is its originally mark. or way to remember only an old recipes of thriller. but is it enough ? not exactly. the search to preserve accuracy of real facts can be the source of ash taste. an interesting film. after its end, almost good.

hollywoodcritics My thoughts: From the moment i pressed play, i knew this movie was going to be stylistically directed, but as it was a remake and the director was an unknown, i remained quite reserved until half way through. Todd Robinson has done justice to what is a personal film to him, as Elmer C. Robinson was his grandfather. Although not as historically correct as could have been, the film manages to engage you to the end. The ending is somewhat Hollywood tinged, but this in no way detracts from the film's achievements...that is of cinematography and acting.Lately, it seems that John Travolta acts best in moody roles, such as the one he did in 'A Love Song For Bobby'. His character in 'Lonely Hearts' is always on show, and the death of his wife broods over him like a bad smell. His trademark glare is ever present, and as expected, gives a performance suited to the film's genre.In any film i see James Gandolfini in, i always see Tony Soprano, but maybe thats because he can't help but act the way he really is...which is a testament to him as a good actor. The only exception from this is in 'Romance & Cigarettes', in which you have the delight in hearing him sing! None the less, he adds some well deserved humour to the film, and towards the end, you see a more softer side of him.The first time i saw Jared Leto was in Fight Club as the ass licking blondie, and it was evident that this guy had talent. Although he still seems underrated and under used, his commitment as an actor is ever present. He recently gained 62 lbs for his new movie 'Chapter 27', and then was diagnosed with gout after dramatically losing it. Regarding his performance in 'Lonely Hearts', he was more than adequate and played his character with a somewhat over the top comedic twist.Salma Hayek also gives a good performance, but seems wrongly cast, as the real character she is playing was 'ugly' and it was this jealousy towards other beautiful girls that made her the way she was, especially when they would fall for her partner in crime, Beck. Other than the miscasting, she played it well and strong, so much so, people thought she deserved an Oscar...but not me.

elshikh4 A thriller, in older time, while having a meaning about the importance of not being lonely. I asked myself why it wasn't made by one of the major studios in Hollywood? At the end, I kind of figured it out. The script didn't get deep with the sex and violence of the story. That's it. But, while that being a good thing, it messed, else publicity, the more artistic side that could distinguish the mainstream production sometimes.While it is good and nicely done, this movie lacked more heat, thrill, and most of all style. It seems to be another movie of the week, yet with some gloss. I don't know why it didn't go through its catchy characters, especially the criminal dual. There is absolutely no satisfactory scene for any of them to talk elaborately about themselves, their history, or complications. With another, more sophisticated, director and writer it could have been more interesting and attractive.Whether (John Travolta) meant to handle his character so romantically, or he just was himself. Both ways he didn't affect much. Obviously he likes to flee from Hollywood to do more different, and no light, specter of humans, instead of the nutty evil men, or familiar good men, that Hollywood uses him for. But sorry dear John, you allowed your charisma and frozen quiet grin lead everything, and that was not enough for me. Why I longed for (Russell Crowe) during the whole time?! (James Gandolfini) was sure better. Look at the way he masters utilizing his big body's language. And he, unlike Travolta, wasn't acting at all, not even a bit. Despite the shortness of his role, this is one of the best performances I have ever seen for him to date. (Laura Dern) made fair efforts, according to fairly written material. On the contrary, (Salma Hayek) and (Jared Leto) had been highly wronged by such a careless script.It kept reminding me of (Hollywoodland), strangely produced in the same year. The resonance of true story, the 2 story lines, America of the 1950's. On the level of being even, (Lonely Hearts) wins. Not the same result on the rest levels though. One of my friends used to call the ordinary art works : plain bread. Well, this one is. Yet while having a potential story, stars, and fair atmosphere. Read my title again to have the whole picture !