deadbull-95171 Review of Killer: A Journal of Murder

Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)

Good Character study, Maybe James Woods best with Onion Field, depiction of a fascinating monster, true story, timeless themes.

[10/10 · 11 September 2020]

I think my title is about the same as the review. James Woods does another memorable dramatic turn. Probably his best bad-guy role since Onion Field, but of a more complex man then Gregory Powell. For a "true Crime" genre fan this will do the job. It's well made, no frills, hard core, old school, an odd unintentional prototype of Capote. It is based on the Killers actually autobiography, which is dealt with in the movie, and with the humane guard that encouraged its writing and got it published 40 years after the author's execution. i read it. It's a very frank account, some considered apocryphal in places, as many of the described murders were never tied to Panzram, but enough were certainly true, and easily brutal enough to make the manuscript notorious enough to take 40 years to find a human era inured enough to violence so that a publisher, instead of fearing censorship and litigation, could expect profits from a public enthused to slurp it up and drool for more. I definitely like movies like this. Woods, whose brother does a kind of cameo in this film, is in top form and that's no minor thing with that caliber of actor. Robert Leonard as Henry Lessor is perfect, and their relationship carries the movie. The violent brilliant criminal becomes a mentor and Lessor becomes a strange candle of kindness in his world of endless torment. Still, it resolves into a beautiful story, something I don't recall the book achieving, unless it contained a forward by Mr. Lessor which it must have, though I can't recall it from almost 50 years ago when i read it. Anyway...it is an amazing story of an amazing friendship, and Woods has the talent to be motionless and make himself an action figure with an expression on his face, especially when he wants to menace. Everyone concerned took the project seriously and it shows and I obviously liked it very much and recommend it. i can say that it's a movie that makes indifference unlikely. You either won't like it, but if you do, you'll really get into it and will like it exceptionally well Check it out...timeless themes..