Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder (2000) (TV)

Director:

Lawrence Schiller

Writers (WGA):

Lawrence Schiller (book)
Tom Topor (teleplay)

Release Date:

27 February 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Colorado | Child Murder | Adaptation Directed By Original Author | Based On True Story | Based On Book

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kris Kristofferson	...	Lou Smit
Marg Helgenberger	...	Patsy Ramsey
Ronny Cox	...	John Ramsey
Ken Howard	...	Alex Hunter
John Heard	...	Larry Mason
Peter Friedman	...	Peter Hofstrom
Scott Cohen	...	Steve Thomas
Deirdre Lovejoy	...	Detective Linda Arndt
Sean Whalen	...	Jeff Shapiro
John Rubinstein	...	Rev. Hoverstock
Jane Powell	...	Dance Instructor
Dennis Boutsikaris	...	Chief Koby
J.C. MacKenzie
Murphy Guyer	...	John Eller
Margo Martindale

Runtime:

178 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Boulder, Colorado, USA

Company:

Fox Television Studios

TERRIBLE!

I have read the book, "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town" which is excellent; the movie, however, is terrible. The movie begins with the morning of the kidnapping, which is the first mistake. The audience is never given a chance to know JonBenet thus, when she is found murdered, we feel nothing for it. We don't know the victim, not to mention the body in the film is beyond fake. Look closely and you will see it rocking back and forth briefly after it has been touched by a mourner.

Secondly, all the pivital information is thrown in the viewer's face all at once. People who have not read the book or followed the case will be confused. Within 3 minutes, 7 characters are introduced, either in person or by mention of their name.

Thirdly, like the lack of characterization of JonBenet, we know nothing of the family. All that we know is what we are told which is the number one mistake of story-telling...telling and not showing.

What makes the movie so bad is the fact that it could have been so good. What is so odd, is that 7 years ago, when I was a freshman in high school, I wrote a script based on the crime (I am a film major) and oddly enough, i truly believe that my version was MUCH more emotionally charged, as it should be, after all, a 6 year old girl was murdered. And ironically enough, many of the scenes that are in this film , were actually in my script. My point: this movie seems like a 14 year old wrote it.

Read the book, don't watch the movie.