Lizzie

I have probably seen just about every movie, TV movie, etc., about Lizzie Borden, over the years. I've also read about her and the case and watched documentaries. She's a cousin -- on both her parents' lines. (Who knew?) So while bored one day I saw this in the Amazon queue and decided to give it a try. I purchased the film. To be frank, I thought it would be some type of overly indulgent hand wringing psycho-drama due to its description.It was not, at all. In fact the writing and acting were very subtle. The father is undoubtedly made out to be the villain of the piece, but not in a melodramatic mustache-twirling way. There is a recent theory that a history of sexual abuse was part of Lizzie's inner turmoil. In this film however the alleged victim is the family's live-in maid. I am not sure what the sexual abuse scenes are based upon, if anything; however it was not uncommon at all, in that era and earlier, for the head of household to 'take advantage' of the live-in help who had nowhere to run. The film presents it as a possible part of the pressure cooker situation inside the Borden family and household.The "stepmother," Mrs. (Abby) Borden's life doesn't exactly look like a walk in the garden either; the film presents her, although a background character, with quiet sympathy. As Mr. Borden returns to the marital bed for sleep, it's clear in the closeup of Mrs. Borden's face that she knows exactly where he has been and what he has done. It's also clear in her horrified expression that she realizes how powerless she is to stop him. She is financially dependent in an era in which most women cannot work. She's a lady of a certain age and she's married to a man the community looks up to. There is a well acted moment in which the camera shows all of these realizations playing across Mrs. Borden's face. During the day, Mrs. Abby Borden tries to remain inconspicuous and obedient, much like Emma her step-daughter.Mr. Borden, in addition to the abuse subplot, is portrayed as a strict authoritarian type, as well as a miser. Those are qualities usually assigned him in examinations of the family and case (fairly or not. Well, there is ample evidence of his 'frugality.') The film presents a gradual supposition that all of the women in that household were financially dependent upon, and somehow oppressed by, Mr. Borden. This is almost presented matter of fact, in the reactions of various minor characters, to things which would be objected to today. In that day, the women didn't really signify and the male opinion was absolute.It's also the assertion of that film that Lizzie relied upon that chauvinism to get away with murder. (The jury simply could not believe a woman capable of two brutal homicides.)The film alludes to some of Lizzie's 'difficulties' but really more focuses on her father's alleged unsympathetic nature. Things are left out such as the fact he had planned to gift his wife's sister a house, that had been promised to Lizzie and her sister, Emma. Other indignities are depicted as adding pressure instead. Details aside, it was plain as an old maid's face (in the minds of people of that era) that Lizzie and Emma would never be independent or 'free' as long as their father lived.The film does not excuse Lizzie either: Her ruthless self preserving side is definitely shown as well. For instance, it seems planned that Mrs. Borden was killed first. In that way nothing could be inherited by Mrs. (Abby) Borden's heirs. It all fell to Mr. Borden and then to his heirs, Lizzie and Emma, as he was killed second.Many viewers will not appreciate the lesbian affair between Lizzie and the family maid "Bridget" whether out of a conservative viewpoint or because there is no evidence of anything like it anywhere. However in my opinion a psychological basis was placed which would explain why the two women found "solace" in one another. Both were victimized by Mr. Borden, according to this film's script. Neither had anywhere else to go. Emma Borden, Lizzie's older sister, is portrayed as being the 'good sister' who does as told and accepts her lot and keeps out of all the drama.Another scene many may not appreciate is the scene in which Mr. Borden kills all of Lizzie's pigeons, even though presumably it was all faked for the camera. It's meant to be brutal and was one of the things that allegedly pushed Lizzie over the edge. Her pigeons were her pets and the coop was her hobby and her solace.The acting is subtle and well done. Nothing seems too anachronistic. Lizzie is not portrayed as a heroine of any type. The film attempts to show how a woman still dependent upon her father, an 'old maid' in the parlance of the era, with nowhere to turn and no one who will sympathize with her, was slowly driven mad.

Yes, nudity. Otherwise, the stress of bad parenting continues to be an issue today, not just based on gun killers, but the many other ways someone can be pushed into questionable sanity. Parenting is tough enough on good days. I helped train horses for several years, and raised kids. Mental health remains a critical field even after millenia. And this was well-acted within its milieu.

The verdict were idiots. Let’s start there. “Someone of such social standing” BOY. Do you think murderers just come as people who aren’t in the same “caliber” as yourself? Get off the high horse with your closet sins. For example : Ted Bundy. Highly intelligent. A scholar. Cleaned up nicely. Handsome looking fellow (is what they said.) they thought because he looked a certain way and had a certain education, he couldn’t possibly be capable. Now look, he’s one of the most notorious killers in the world. People are so stupid. It’s always the person you think it couldn’t be. However, I must say, I enjoyed the series & movie on Netflix with the actress Christina Ricci better than this but it was entertaining. A different chain of events. Must be new information. I’ve watched not only the series & movie on Netflix a while ago, but I watched the documentary/interviews, etc. & it was a few theories that came to mind. This movie actually displayed deeper than what the series didn’t - some sort of connection / & “affair” with the maid & Lizzie = which was a theory that they were lovers at that time in the documentary. (Which who cares, it’s love. Only evil souls find hate in love.) although Lizzie is clearly a manipulator, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree/ In the Lizzie Borden series her dad didn’t seem as bad, if anything it seemed as if Lizzie (in the series) tried to seduce him to keep her in her power but in this scenario, he definitely had it coming. Perverted people who actually act on their perversion are a disease to the world so no sympathy for him from me. Him & his wife in this movie were both nuts. Karma is something. Not saying they deserved to die the way they did but when you live a life making certain decisions, they shall always backfire. If he really did that to the maid, he had it coming the moment he acted on that decision.Now personally the woman who played Lizzie in this movie was ok but the one from the series (Christina Ricci) did a MUCH better job playing Lizzie. When I first watched the Lizzie Borden Series, Christina had me feeling as if I was truly watching Lizzie telling her story. I felt no connection with this actress but we all start somewhere.

The Lizzie Borden case is one which has intrigued real crime enthusiasts for over a century. A well to do family in Falls River, respected businessman Andrew Borden and his second wife, Lizzie’s stepmother, were brutally slain with an axe, within their own home. The murders were committed within an hour and a half of each other and the only people in the home were Lizzie and the maid. But why were they so brutally slaughtered and who had the opportunity to carry out the attack.Various scenarios have been put forward; most improbable or implausible. Lizzie was charged with the murders but declined to give evidence at the trial and was found not guilty by reason that the jury didn’t believe a decent young woman capable of such a violent act. There was little evidence to convict. This film explores a possible explanation with conviction. There was clearly more going on beneath the cloak of genteel respectability within the Borden household. Other sources have alluded to relationships and sibling rivalry also greed. The likelihood is well never know the truth, but this film is as good as many at offering a solution. I thought it captured the undercurrent of sexual and financial tensions and jealousies very well. It’s realistic enough without glorification. I enjoyed it and I’m surprised it hasn’t been more favourably received. No extras on the dvd, which is disappointing.

I thought that “Lizzie” was an incredible film, absolutely brilliant. Whilst the film must make an assumption about events as nobody actually knows what happened, the film does present what happened in a very plausible, believable and honest way. If one reads about the real case, then it can be seen for example that the manner in which the crime took place, who was there and what they were wearing, makes sense in the film.I think that director Craig William Macneill has made an amazing film (it is only his second feature as director) and the cast are incredible. Chloë Sevigny as Lizzie Borden and Jamey Sheridan as Lizzie's father do a brilliant job or portraying a very uneasy Father Daughter relationship, the rest of the household family – Lizzie's sister Emma played by Kim Dickens and Lizzie's Step-mother Abby Borden played by Fiona Shaw, the actresses give fantastic supporting roles. The real star of the film though for me is Kristen Stewart as housemaid Bridget Sullivan.It just so happened that a couple of days before watching “Lizzie”, I'd seen Kristen Stewart in Kelly Reichardt's “Certain Women” which I was watching for the second time. Stewart is clearly (for me) a great actress, and that the two characters (Elizabeth Travis in “Certain Women” and Bridget Sullivan in “Lizzie”) were given by the same actress shows just how good an actress she is.The narrative gives the majority of the story in “Lizzie” in flashback, and it works very well in helping to explain the events that take place. The pace of the film is necessarily slow and works well in maintaing tension. The film is dark and in more ways than one – the household is illuminated mostly by candlelight and oil lamp, and again this seems to help with the atmosphere of the film, something that, from the opening scene – the music also does.Although there is no “based-on-real-events” kind of statement given at the beginning of the film but there is some factual information given at the end.On the DVD (ASIN: B07M5HGBKB) you get:“Lizzie” (1 hour 41 minutes)Scene SelectionSet Up: 2.0 Stereo, 5.1 Surround SoundI found some of the dialogue rather quiet at times, which is the only negative thing I can find to say about “Lizzie”. I think that subtitles might have helped me in that respect, so it is perhaps worth mentioning that although it states on the Amazon Product Description that there are English Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired, that I could find no Subtitles of any sort on the DVD.

Chloe Sevigny and Kirsten Stewart are well cast as Lizzie Borden and maid Bridget Sullivan. However, this movie could have been so much better.There is clearly a tension shown in the Borden household as we see the events leading up to the 4th of August 1892 in Fall River, the day of the double murder.Lizzie and Bridget are drawn closer by events happening in the house until they kiss and have a passionate encounter in a barn, witnessed by Andrew Borden. Aside from this, there is little actual passion between the women, which I believe should have been explored in a better way.The actual killing is the best part of the film. Few words are said, but is instead a very visual scene. If the other parts of the movie had been as good, it would be highly rated.The film is very talkative, with quiet sentences spoken. Despite this, there are no subtitles, which made it very difficult to hear. I missed several sentences as a result.I dropped a star in my rating for this reason.

I loved this film. Now, I'll point out, it's only rated 15. Lord knows how, because it seems to me that it falls into the space between 15 and 18. However, if you don't mind a smidge of lesbianism, and some lengthy, naked axe-murdering, this may be the film for you. Plus, Fiona Shaw is amazing in everything she does. Long may she reign.

I liked the ambiguity of the situation. The acting was great. The film took in lots of the angles I already knew about. It did make Lizzie seem a whole lot more calculating just like the newspapers of the day implied. I might watch it again but it’s not in my repeat as often as possible list.