Plot
Based on the true story, two homicide detectives track Martha Beck and Raymond Martinez Fernandez, a murderous pair known as the "Lonely Hearts Killers" who lured their victims through the personals.
Release Year: 2006
Rating: 6.4/10 (11,206 voted)
Critic's Score: 60/100
Director:
Todd Robinson
Stars: John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Jared Leto
Storyline In the late 1940's, Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez were America's notorious "Lonely Hearts Killers". Their lethal scam was simple; they would swindle and then viciously murder lovelorn war widows who would answer their personal ads in which Ray would describe himself as a sexy Latin Lover. Ironically, Ray's initial introduction to Martha was as a prospective mark. But when they met, it was love at first sight, perhaps as a result of their penchant for kinky sex and their mutual love for duplicity and easy money. With Martha posing as Ray's sister, they bilked elderly spinsters and widows of their savings and then viciously murdered them in a bloodbath of sexual frenzy. When they were arrested, Martha and Ray confessed to 12 killings, although it is believed the actual number is closer to 20. At their sensational trial, Martha and Ray cooed, held hands and seemed as though they could not get enough of each other...
Cast: John Travolta
-
Det. Elmer Robinson
James Gandolfini
-
Det. Charles Hilderbrandt
Jared Leto
-
Ray Fernandez
Salma Hayek
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Martha Beck
Scott Caan
-
Det. Reilly
Laura Dern
-
Rene Fodie
Michael Gaston
-
D.A. Hunt
Bruce MacVittie
-
Det. Eastman
Dan Byrd
-
Eddie Robinson
Andrew Wheeler
-
Det. Tooley
Alice Krige
-
Janet Long
Dagmara Dominczyk
-
Delphine Downing
John Doman
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Chief MacSwain
Bailee Madison
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Rainelle Downing
Ellen Travolta
-
Ida
Opening Weekend: TWD 50,470
(Taiwan)
(22 October 2006)
(1 Screen)
Gross: $2,517,423
(Worldwide)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The real Martha Beck was of a very different stature to that of actress Salma Hayek and at the time of her death weighed well over 200lbs. On her execution day it was discovered that she would not fit into the electric chair so was seated on the arm rests when the fatal shock was administered.
Goofs:
Factual errors:
After the police find the blood under the floor boards in Fernandez's house, we hear Hildebrandt's voice-over that the cops just missed the couple as they were 5 miles away in Seaford, NY buying a flop top car. Fernandez's home was in Valley Stream which is close to 20 miles away from Seaford, not 5 miles.
Quotes: Martha Beck:
Has anybody ever loved you that much, detective? To kill or die... for you?
User Review
Decide for yourself but I thought it was excellent.
Rating: 9/10
I'm losing faith in this forum and some of the people that vote here...
How can you possibly rate this film as a 1 or 2 or 3? Each to their own
I suppose and for whatever reasoning or motives... For myself, I found
this movie to be excellent. It held my interest from start to finish -
and the finish was satisfying. Gandolfini and Travolta were excellent
as you would and should expect. Salma Hayek gave what I think should be
an award winning performance. Jared Leto was also superb... I can't say
I've noticed him in anything of note before this. It was also nice to
see Laura Dern again - I've been hot for her since watching Rambling
Rose : ) All I can say is watch this movie and decide for yourself. I
definitely recommend it.
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