Blackheart had its moments, but was mostly predictable. Maria Conchita Alonso did an excellent job. A much more interesting character than she has usually played. Richard Grieco also did well, but nothing spectacular. The other performances were adequate, but to be fair, the story didn't have enough going for it to allow the actors to do much but just go through the motions. Christopher Plummer's character added some levity that would have seemed awkward, but as the movie started to drag this performance became more appreciated. The movie grabbed me early with Maria's performance, but later the story became more routine and even Maria's character couldn't add enough interest to keep it exciting.
10 Reviews
One of the best performances for Maria Conchita Alonso
gabo70023 December 2002
I saw the movie and it is really not a masterpiece, but it is entertaining and so far one of the best films for the lead actress (Maria Conchita Alonso). Christopher Plummer is equally interesting, although Richard Grieco should go back to whatever he was doing before he started to "act". So if you want to see a really evil character develop see this film, she will not let you down!.
Watch it on "mute"
BlackMonk13 April 2001
The movie starts out as if it might be interesting, but then fizzles. I enjoyed Maria; she's always worth watching. She prances around in some pretty interesting outfits, and is, of course, a naughty girl. But don't expect much from the movie itself. My advice: Press the "mute" button and just absorb Maria.
childlike writing, lacks direction, no plot and generally poor acting
Nolies14 March 2005
When I first saw this movie I was tempted to switch channels right away but decided that maybe I should give it a chance and not go with first impression judgment. Guess I was wrong again. I did stick it out and here is my critique.
Writing - Brad and Brock Simpson - I hope you both have day jobs as writing is obviously not going to get you there.. The writing was child like to the point that I think Bart could have articulated the dialog better. Sorry guys.
Direction - Dominic Shiach - was he even present during the production and filming of this movie - the plot was disjointed to total distraction and the actors were completely overacting in some situations and then completely missing the point in others. I almost felt the whole movie must have been directed by the camera men and they were fighting between themselves as to who should be doing what!
Acting - Richard Greico - not your best performance - I know that you know this as well and I'll leave it at that.
Writing - Brad and Brock Simpson - I hope you both have day jobs as writing is obviously not going to get you there.. The writing was child like to the point that I think Bart could have articulated the dialog better. Sorry guys.
Direction - Dominic Shiach - was he even present during the production and filming of this movie - the plot was disjointed to total distraction and the actors were completely overacting in some situations and then completely missing the point in others. I almost felt the whole movie must have been directed by the camera men and they were fighting between themselves as to who should be doing what!
Acting - Richard Greico - not your best performance - I know that you know this as well and I'll leave it at that.
- Christopher Plummer - I could see the smirk overprint on his face throughout. His acting was typically superb but no feeling, almost as if he was laughing at the whole situation.
- Fiona Loewi - capable but should be a little more into the role. I would have hoped that she could have made a little more aware that some of the things that were written for her and she was directed to do ethereal and could never have happened in real life. She should have brought this to the attention of the writers and director.
- Maria Conchita Alonso - definitely in need of a few acting classes. If it was her intention to prove that she couldn't act then maybe she is not such a bad actor after all. Maybe it was the writing, or maybe it was the lack of direction but she did absolutely nothing to compensate.
Implausible situations, unsexy characters and a pathetically silly movie!
chauncey-27 April 2000
"Blackheart" is a very predictable psychological yawner that left me wondering why I bothered watching it, not to mention reviewing it.
The marks are so shallow and stupid that the audience probably identifies most closely with the grifters. The PI, played by Christopher Plummer, is so stereotypical that he even wears a Sherlock Holmes hat throughout the movie.
After the rich heiress escapes with her life and money intact, I have to believe she gives it all away the next day to the magic bean salesman.
This movie insults it's audience and is a monumental waste of celluloid.
The marks are so shallow and stupid that the audience probably identifies most closely with the grifters. The PI, played by Christopher Plummer, is so stereotypical that he even wears a Sherlock Holmes hat throughout the movie.
After the rich heiress escapes with her life and money intact, I have to believe she gives it all away the next day to the magic bean salesman.
This movie insults it's audience and is a monumental waste of celluloid.
Dull, cheesy and lifeless
catalystnz17 February 2005
So my flatmate and I decided to watch this movie one night. It wasn't until I came to IMDb that I even realised the movie was made in 1998 - it looked SO dated, I would've easily believed it was late '80s to early '90s! Anyway, there was some confusion from the start after the couple pull off one of their shams and she (Maria) pounces on Greico's character and starts gyrating and (what we think must have been) having an orgasm. How this was achieved with clothes on, I'm not sure. It was ridiculous to watch, that's for sure.
The plot was weak and predictable but probably suited the equally weak acting as well.
The PI is terrible. Like another user said, a silly stereotype who does wear the dorky tweed hat throughout the film and is even named Holmes. Totally unoriginal character.
The acting was pretty bad and didn't set to improve throughout the movie. Maria Alonso played a good crazy woman, but I found her to be somewhat irritating too. Fiona Loewi reminded me of some kind of Courtney Cox/Alicia Silverstone hybrid - not a good mix.
All in all, I've lost moments of my life I shall never get back.
Two thumbs DOWN!
The plot was weak and predictable but probably suited the equally weak acting as well.
The PI is terrible. Like another user said, a silly stereotype who does wear the dorky tweed hat throughout the film and is even named Holmes. Totally unoriginal character.
The acting was pretty bad and didn't set to improve throughout the movie. Maria Alonso played a good crazy woman, but I found her to be somewhat irritating too. Fiona Loewi reminded me of some kind of Courtney Cox/Alicia Silverstone hybrid - not a good mix.
All in all, I've lost moments of my life I shall never get back.
Two thumbs DOWN!
terrible film with predictable plot.......
DDPP11 October 1999
This is a terrible film with bad acting, bad writing, bad directing. Richard Grieco and Maria Alonzo play couples who try to pull off a scam by getting Grecio to seduce Fiona Loewi and to take her 10 million dollar inheritance. Problem is Greico falls in love with her after one night of passion. Nudity (from Alonzo and Loewi) will wake anyone up, but the film is just dull. Skip it.
Another candidate for the trade descriptions act...
devinecomic14 August 2005
The copy I am reviewing sported the title "Blackheart, quest of a serial killer". It becomes quite obvious early on that this film has nothing to do with a serial killer. Several people getting killed does not a serial killer make. Otherwise, what would all our gallant soldiers and armed policemen be??
So, more than a little upset about being duped into buying this by a false title, I am then more than a little more insulted by a very bad film. The storyline is really terrible. A whole series of ridiculous coincidences, and even more ridiculous forced coincidences are supposed to have us reeling at the ingenuity of this fearful money seeking killer. But not so, all we feel is, well, how ridiculous! The acting by all concerned, Grieco, Alonso, Plummer, was really quite good. But then, good acting doesn't make a good film. And how could PI Plummer ever carry off the role whilst having to wear a copy-cat Sherlock Holmes outfit, without becoming farcical? And farcical is what he becomes.
A so-so, throw away, comedy ending really tops off the insult which this film really is. And yet I might have been a little more generous if they hadn't lied to me with the marketing genius title of serial killer... black widow, hustler, grifter... anything but serial killer.
No respect from me here... but a vote of "3" for the acting... hell, they gotta pay the rent too!
So, more than a little upset about being duped into buying this by a false title, I am then more than a little more insulted by a very bad film. The storyline is really terrible. A whole series of ridiculous coincidences, and even more ridiculous forced coincidences are supposed to have us reeling at the ingenuity of this fearful money seeking killer. But not so, all we feel is, well, how ridiculous! The acting by all concerned, Grieco, Alonso, Plummer, was really quite good. But then, good acting doesn't make a good film. And how could PI Plummer ever carry off the role whilst having to wear a copy-cat Sherlock Holmes outfit, without becoming farcical? And farcical is what he becomes.
A so-so, throw away, comedy ending really tops off the insult which this film really is. And yet I might have been a little more generous if they hadn't lied to me with the marketing genius title of serial killer... black widow, hustler, grifter... anything but serial killer.
No respect from me here... but a vote of "3" for the acting... hell, they gotta pay the rent too!
Worth the price of admition...
matnt30 January 2000
As this movie starts, you don't expect much, and it looks just like any other triller or such genre, but no! There's something that lies beneath all that. The things may be more or less predicable, but the casting blackouts that, so you don't have time to think up ahead of the plot. This movie has suspension, drama parts, a li'l bit of love updated, and an ending that suits well, though I expected some other ending, I've realizes it couldn't be possible to make it as we wish to. If you decide to see this movie, don't stop watching after 10 mins and just say, "hah, it's of no use", but be patient and wait for 20, just 'til the story gets its leap.
Maria Conchita Alonso
B_P2917 September 2002
Undoubtedly this was a complete and utter waste of everyones time.
The one thing that was great was Maria Conchita Alonso. She is so sexy and seductive that her performance alone was worth sitting through the garbage that it is.
The one thing that was great was Maria Conchita Alonso. She is so sexy and seductive that her performance alone was worth sitting through the garbage that it is.
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