Many TV Movies use titillation and tabloid pablum as a hook / come on. This one starts with a slow and obvious setup, but just as it appears headed toward MOW cliché-ville at several key points, the train switches tracks and takes you somewhere still familiar but decidedly unexpected. The result, while hardly groundbreaking, is eminently superior to most made-for-TV fare.
Mamet graduate Macy obviously recognizes the lack of heart in even his mentor's best and most intricately-produced cons from The Spanish Prisoner to The Heist to House of Games and gives an extra helping of humanity in this film. Macy's body of work shows grifts clearly interest him, but surprisingly, most of the scams in this movie are not very clever or original. Still, the care with which DeMornay's and Macy's characters are laid out is the real con of the movie. The realistic way DeMornay insinuates herself into Macy's character's life and the special attention given to their bizarre courtship rings surprisingly true, an important foundation for what follows.
Playing fair with credibility is a strong point to the story. In a nice move, Macy's character initially appears to be an all too easy and dull-witted mark but we soon learn Macy actually harbors well-founded suspicions about DeMornay. Demornay gently overcomes these but Macy remains realistically worried about "why a woman like you would want with a guy like me." Later, when DeMornay's bad news crony/boyfriend catches up with her in Mayberry, we are given a logical explanation on how he tracked her down (thru the shady player DeMornay enlists to impersonate her sister), something most con movies trying to ratchet up conflict never bother to explain. This one does.
The movie also has a sweet and unexpected interlude wherein DeMornay finds herself forced to teach elementary school, resulting in her helping a troubled kid in spite of herself. This is a moment where we expect the con to unravel but events conspire to allow DeMornay get away with things a little while longer. It is a pleasant surprise and the kid's character is utilized later with a decent payoff, as well.
Plot points are organized such that we are privy to Macy's early knowledge of his inheritance and we question why he doesn't confront DeMornay immediately, but the explanation comes later in dialogue with his momma (nicely played by Frances Sternhagen, Cliff Clavin's crotchety mom from CHEERS.) Macy reveals that he knew what DeMornay was doing but didn't care because he was bored with his life and she made his life interesting and him happy. He was willing to ride it out and see where it went, with no illusions or expectations. Nicely handled.
There are some flaws. DeMornay's faked death at the climax fools no one. Honestly, none of the cons could be called original. Beyond the leads, there are a few too many good ole boy southern caricatures. Still, giving the mark unexpected dignity and common sense helps to lift and challenge DeMornay to good effect.
DeMornay's moral transformation at the end is a little pat but somehow Macy has earned it by understanding what she is and choosing not to judge. One doubts whether they will stay together long term, but the conceit of the movie suggests that DeMornay has been slightly redeemed by Macy and hopefully won't do him dirt. By the same token, this movie won't seduce you with its beauty or change your life with dizzyingly witty repartee, but it still has its charms and cleans up nice.
Mamet graduate Macy obviously recognizes the lack of heart in even his mentor's best and most intricately-produced cons from The Spanish Prisoner to The Heist to House of Games and gives an extra helping of humanity in this film. Macy's body of work shows grifts clearly interest him, but surprisingly, most of the scams in this movie are not very clever or original. Still, the care with which DeMornay's and Macy's characters are laid out is the real con of the movie. The realistic way DeMornay insinuates herself into Macy's character's life and the special attention given to their bizarre courtship rings surprisingly true, an important foundation for what follows.
Playing fair with credibility is a strong point to the story. In a nice move, Macy's character initially appears to be an all too easy and dull-witted mark but we soon learn Macy actually harbors well-founded suspicions about DeMornay. Demornay gently overcomes these but Macy remains realistically worried about "why a woman like you would want with a guy like me." Later, when DeMornay's bad news crony/boyfriend catches up with her in Mayberry, we are given a logical explanation on how he tracked her down (thru the shady player DeMornay enlists to impersonate her sister), something most con movies trying to ratchet up conflict never bother to explain. This one does.
The movie also has a sweet and unexpected interlude wherein DeMornay finds herself forced to teach elementary school, resulting in her helping a troubled kid in spite of herself. This is a moment where we expect the con to unravel but events conspire to allow DeMornay get away with things a little while longer. It is a pleasant surprise and the kid's character is utilized later with a decent payoff, as well.
Plot points are organized such that we are privy to Macy's early knowledge of his inheritance and we question why he doesn't confront DeMornay immediately, but the explanation comes later in dialogue with his momma (nicely played by Frances Sternhagen, Cliff Clavin's crotchety mom from CHEERS.) Macy reveals that he knew what DeMornay was doing but didn't care because he was bored with his life and she made his life interesting and him happy. He was willing to ride it out and see where it went, with no illusions or expectations. Nicely handled.
There are some flaws. DeMornay's faked death at the climax fools no one. Honestly, none of the cons could be called original. Beyond the leads, there are a few too many good ole boy southern caricatures. Still, giving the mark unexpected dignity and common sense helps to lift and challenge DeMornay to good effect.
DeMornay's moral transformation at the end is a little pat but somehow Macy has earned it by understanding what she is and choosing not to judge. One doubts whether they will stay together long term, but the conceit of the movie suggests that DeMornay has been slightly redeemed by Macy and hopefully won't do him dirt. By the same token, this movie won't seduce you with its beauty or change your life with dizzyingly witty repartee, but it still has its charms and cleans up nice.
