Murder on the Yellow Brick Road (2005) User Reviews

Contemporary Noir?

[drehse · 7/10 · 28 December 2006]

MURDER ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is very interesting in that it attempts to present a "film noir" movie in the present. It works for the most part. Unfortunately, in the fast-cut TV/MTV world in which we live, we are not used to handling the (frequently) lingering camera looks and the generally slow unfolding of the story. It needs tighter editing. That said, the acting in most cases is very strong. One wishes that Ross Hagen's direction had matched the strength of his acting. His hard-bitten detective is the epitome of the stereotype, but with a depth of humanity that lifts the portrayal above the mundane. Ken Butler plays the tough-as-nails cop to very good effect. And it was a joy to see Nancy Kwan again! She's as beautiful as ever. The most exciting feature of the film is the cinematography. Gary Craver's photography, lighting and effects are superb, making it a beautiful experience. If you can adjust your viewing and mood to the slow pacing and tempo, this is a beautifully filmed and fun movie to see.

True Indie

[yardbird8080 · 7/10 · 28 July 2006]

There are many reasons to watch a movie, and whereas this is certainly not the high-gloss content that comes out of the major studios, it's special as an independent film, well-textured with interesting performances from strong character actors - especially Byrne Offut and Mark Bramhall - and full of unexpected turns by well-known performers. We all knew Nancy Kwan when she was a young, surprising starlet - but here she is again to surprise us as a vapid manipulator of young women. PJ Soles takes hold of a sleeper role, quiet and unimportant throughout most of the film, and then steals the show when she crescendos. Charlene Fernetz glistens. Ken Butler crackles. Ross Hagen burns slowly like a good cigar. It's definitely an indie - but an indie in which good actors get hold of some interesting content, do their thing, and do it well.

Unique Experience

[wonsaesang · 8/10 · 24 August 2006]

It was the poster that caught my attention to this film but after I watched it, it was totally different experience than I thought it would be. This film is unique in a sense. We see so many movies out there with guns and blood without good stories. This film is very calm and non-violent that it came to me as style which I love it. It flows so gently that you feel like you're floating on water while you're watching it. The score and music in this film is amazing. When the ending credit rolls up, the music keeps you in your seat. This movie is not for the audience who wants to experience hell of a ride. This film is for those who wants to see the characters and a story. It is beautifully lit and well acted. The film has a unique style. Highly recommended.

Murder On The Yellow Brick Road, for people who like to walk out smiling.

[kiknsng · 9/10 · 15 July 2006]

Murder On The Yellow Brick Road is an old fashioned murder mystery. With the fun narrative of.."It was a hot steamy night...", that I have always liked. It's a fairly simple story, that doesn't seem to need the violence, and foul language that has been the center of most films lately. The one scene that stays in my mind, is the one with the Detective, played by Ken Butler, discussing with the Private Eye the love that a person can feel for people they are close to, long after they're gone. And, that seems to be the feeling in the story...an older man feeling love for a much younger woman..but more the love of a Father caring, rather than romance. And, LOVED the song at the end of the movie, "Boulevard Of Dreams".

This is a film I would recommend to my friends without hesitation

[jovadin13 · 8 August 2006]

Murder on the Yellow Brick Road is a beautiful film. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. A film with a good plot, but without violence, blood, explicit sex scenes, and frightening special effects, cannot be seen very often these days. It is made as a film-noir, a suspenseful thrill ride that has so many twists and turns. The cast is great. Ross Hagen and Ken Butler give a great performance in the lead roles. Beautiful film from the story, to the acting, to directing, editing, and cinematography. The music is wonderful. I especially liked the song "Boulevard of Dreams". This is a film I would recommend to my friends without hesitation.

Why can't I ever find this movie

[jgkelley-48797 · 7/10 · 24 September 2020]

Like anywhere...please check it out. You will probably like it if you enjoy good mysteries in general with a twist and solid acting. If your oicky and hate mysteries Th en I'd stay away but man I wanna see this again

"Old Hollywood" Strikes Gold Again!

[everythingpink · 10/10 · 7 June 2006]

Murder on the Yellow Brick Road is a sharp, sexy, visually-stunning throw-back to "Old Hollywood." I was immediately seduced by this crime story of the heart. The acting truly makes the film. KEN BUTLER's intense portrayal of Joe Patterson definitely stood out. With eyes that stare right through you, this no-nonsense detective takes full command of the screen.

I was particularly impressed by the relationship between his character and Elwood Dick, played by the rugged & lovable ROSS HAGEN. This twosome embodies the ultimate in male camaraderie & tough love. It was a pleasure watching the talented actors play off one another so effortlessly and with such realism. HAGEN's gravelly narration takes us back to another time - a time worth revisiting. A final performance well worth highlighting is that of CHARLENE FERNETZ as Rachel Dowd. She brought a beauty and a charisma to the film not otherwise present. Clearly an talent trained in naturalism, she was a joy to watch.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road - you won't be sorry...

The best Yellow Brick Road to follow since Oz

[leftycspa · 10/10 · 8 June 2006]

MURDER ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is a fun to watch film that took me back to the back and white era of film-making. I was extremely impressed by both the story and character lines. It really tugged at my heart. The acting makes the film, led by Ken Butler's sensational portrayal of Detective Joe Patterson and Ross Hagen's superb portrayal of the P.I., Elwood Dick. Their friendship was so natural and down to earth, that it didn't seem like they were acting at all. The performance of Pilar Lastra as Gabrielle Mendez is also worth mentioning. She seems to be a relative newcomer, but her presence is undeniable. The same can be said for Charlene Fernetz as Rachel Dowd. She represents today's modern woman with dignity and style. I also loved the music, especially the theme song, Boulevard Of Dreams. Leslie Gillman's voice is haunting and soulful, fully realizing the music written by John Corlis and the lyrics written by Eric Belgau, who also wrote the screenplay. If you are a fan of murder mysteries, don't miss this one. It is definitely the best Yellow Brick Road to follow since the one to Oz.

I loved this film!

[Esbiz247 · 10/10 · 3 June 2006]

This film was both a treat and a surprise. It brought me back to those great "who done it's" based on real suspense, solid performances, artistic cinematography and a straightforward plot. The film was not filled with what we see every day - blood and violence, an overload of special effects, extreme sexual content and bad acting. The performances were strong; one that especially stood out for me was that of Joe Patterson, played by Ken Butler. He was terrific and really added to the film. After seeing this film, I would definitely make it a priority to see Ken Butler in his future efforts. Another aspect that really stood out for me was the score. The music was wonderful, never overpowering or distracting, but really complimenting the film. I would recommend this film to everyone of all ages. It's not very often that someone can take their kids along to see a smart, well-acted and beautifully filmed movie.

If you ask me – go for it!!!!!

[dinko70002 · 9/10 · 8 August 2006]

One of the great pleasures in life is to spend a lazy afternoon with a good mystery book in hands and a bowl of peanuts in front of you. Spending a couple of hours with "Murder on the yellow brick road" and a bowl of popcorn was in the same league. The movie is made in a best tradition of "Hollywood of my youth" and, importantly, not only for old-timers like me but also for anybody who loves good old fashioned murder mystery. The story is good, straightforward, and easy to follow. Ross Hagen and Ken Butler in leading roles, as well as supporting cast give great and memorable performances. The absence of violence, nudity, and foul language is certainly refreshing and makes the movie even more pleasurable. The music is great. If you ask me – go for it!!!!!

Great concept and story! Kept me glued to the screen

[bobhcspa · 10/10 · 8 June 2006]

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the film and the performances given by the actors. The story brought me back to the movies of yesteryear and I was held captive until the end, which took me by surprise.The roll of Joe Patterson, strongly portrayed by Ken Butler, was the ticket that kept the film rolling and me glued to the screen. The music was wonderful and really lent itself to the story. The film reminded me so much of the old black and white films that were so popular years back. The characters were right out of a Raymond Chandler novel and the actors were riveting in their performances. I would highly recommend this film to anyone and also tell them to not miss any movie that Ken Butler was in.

A Wonderfully Different Kind Of Film

[eva410 · 10/10 · 7 July 2006]

Murder On The Yellow Brick Road is a film that is unusual in today's movie offerings. Imagine a murder mystery without any blood, graphic violence or foul language. The clear, concise screenplay by Eric Belgau creates a world in which the viewer gets the chance to get involved with the vibrant characters he created, and those characters really came alive with some stylish acting (especially Ross Hagen and Ken Butler). The movie has a wonderful jazz soundtrack by Tim Davies, and a beautifully moody picture provided by Gary Graver. Grab a soft drink and some popcorn, settle in, and try to figure out "who did it". This film is a winner!

A film well worth visiting

[TrumpetGuy818 · 10/10 · 9 July 2006]

With the saturation of gratuitous violence, nudity, and obscenities so prevalent in today's film-making, the producers of Murder On The Yellow Brick Road offer to it's audience a murder mystery in the genre of film noir… a good, old fashioned Raymond Chandler styled "who-done-it"... without any of those elements. It appears that their vision was to buck the current trend and tell their story based on the strength of it's characters, plot, and exquisite cinematography, as well as offering a film to parents that they could enjoy as well as having the ability to bring their children to see without having to cover their eyes and ears. Interestingly, even though the film deals with a death and it's aftermath, Murder On The Yellow Brick Road is a kind and gentle film... concentrating on character relationships rather than mayhem, and is paced so the viewer can enjoy the cinematic elements that makes this film successful... an intelligent story, sturdy acting, pin-point direction by Ross Hagen, fine editing, exceptional music, and exquisite lighting. If you want to take a trip back in time to the shadowy days when there were hidden secrets around every dark corner... Murder On The Yellow Brick Road is a prime example of independent film making... a film well worth visiting.

A truly wonderful movie

[robertsack · 10/10 · 2 September 2006]

This was a wonderful who-done-it murder mystery that keeps you guessing throughout the film as to who the murderer actually is. The chemistry between actors Ken Butler, playing Detective Joe Patterson, and Ross Hagen, as Joe's former partner and now a P.I., was terrific. The scenery dovetails beautifully with the suspenseful story and helps to create a true sense of the darker side of Hollywood. The music score was also terrific, with its haunting melodies, sleek orchestrations, and a wonderful theme song. What was nice was watching a great murder mystery that didn't have and didn't need any gratuitous sex, violence, or mind numbing chase scenes. This movie was truly wonderful cinematic experience.