Lonely Hearts (2006)

Director:

Todd Robinson

Writer (WGA):

Todd Robinson (written by)

Release Date:

21 October 2006 (Taiwan)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Love can be murder.

Plot:

Based on the true story, two homicide detectives track Martha Beck and Raymond Martinez Fernandez, a murderous pair known as the "Lonely Hearts Killers" who lured their victims through the personals.

Plot Keywords:

Blood | Male Female Relationship | Cut Into Pieces | Female Nudity | Police Officer

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Travolta	...	Elmer Robinson
James Gandolfini	...	Charles Hilderbrandt
Jared Leto	...	Ray Fernandez
Salma Hayek	...	Martha Beck
Scott Caan	...	Reilly
Laura Dern	...	Rene Fodie
Michael Gaston	...	D.A. Hunt
Bruce MacVittie	...	Eastman
Dan Byrd	...	Eddie Robinson
Andrew Wheeler	...	Detective Tooley
Alice Krige	...	Janet Long
Dagmara Dominczyk	...	Delphine Downing
John Doman	...	Chief MacSwain
Bailee Madison	...	Rainelle Downing
Ellen Travolta	...	Ida
Jason Gray-Stanford	...	Officer Chetnick
Sam Travolta	...	Foreman
James Martin Roberts	...	Young Black Man
Kristian Truelsen	...	Bank Manager
Christa Campbell	...	Sara Long
Marc Macaulay	...	Warden Broady (as Marc MacAulay)
Todd Terry	...	Thief
Steve Maye	...	Michigan Cop
Shannon Murphy	...	Patty Forsythe
Michael Rispoli	...	Coroner
Nick Loren	...	Detective January
Jonathan Rau	...	Uniformed Cop
Karl Anthony	...	Hotel Clerk
Valerie Grant	...	Mrs. Clayman
Matt Huffman	...	Mrs. Clayman's Son
Arian Waring Ash	...	Marian Duff (as Arian Ash)
Gerald Owens	...	Postmaster
Petrus Antonius	...	Landlord
Jeff Farley	...	Minister
Lauren Leech	...	Teenage Girl
Allison McKay	...	Mrs. Paterson
Jack Swanson	...	Fruit Stand Attendant
Bill Kelley	...	Rene's Father
Heather Dawn	...	MacSwain's Secretary
Margaret Travolta	...	Mineola Female Dispatcher
Rachel Reynolds	...	Female Airplane Passenger
Rachel Specter	...	Janice
Jimmy Leeward	...	Pilot
Caroline Ross	...	Prison Matron
Traci Robinson	...	Prison Matron
Tom Chapman	...	Framer
Allen Walls	...	Featured Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles M. Creel	...	Kent County Detective (uncredited)

Directed by
Todd Robinson

Writing credits (WGA)
Todd Robinson		(written by)

Produced by
Boaz Davidson	....	producer
Danny Dimbort	....	executive producer
Anson Downes	....	associate producer
Randall Emmett	....	executive producer
Linda Favila	....	associate producer
George Furla	....	executive producer
Manfred D. Heid	....	executive producer (as Manfred Heid)
Kathryn Himoff	....	co-producer
Gerd Koechlin	....	executive producer
Jon Kuyper	....	line producer
Josef Lautenschlager	....	executive producer
Avi Lerner	....	executive producer
Juan A. Mas	....	line producer: second unit, Spokane (as Juan Mas)
Traci Robinson	....	producer: second unit, Sag Harbor/Westhampton (as Traci D. Robinson)
Edward Rosenstein	....	producer: second unit, Ossining/Manhattan
Sidney Sherman	....	co-producer
Trevor Short	....	executive producer
Laura D. Smith	....	associate producer
Andreas Thiesmeyer	....	executive producer
John Thompson	....	executive producer
Holly Wiersma	....	producer

Original Music by
Mychael Danna

Cinematography by
Peter Levy

Film Editing by
Kathryn Himoff

Casting by
Phyllis Huffman

Production Design by
Jon Gary Steele

Art Direction by
David Eckert

Set Decoration by
Traci Kirshbaum

Costume Design by
Jacqueline West

Makeup Department
Sonna Brado	....	hair stylist: Spokane
Michelle Bühler	....	key makeup artist: Ocala (as Michelle Buhler)
Michelle Bühler	....	makeup artist: Mr. Travolta (as Michelle Buhler)
Diane Calfee	....	assistant makeup artist
Beatrice De Alba	....	hair stylist: Ms. Hayek
Donelle	....	hair assistant: Spokane
Lee Grimes	....	assistant makeup artist (as Lee A. Grimes)
Trista Jordan	....	key hair stylist: Spokane
Trista Jordan	....	key makeup artist: Spokane
Renate Leuschner	....	key hair stylist: Ocala
Diane Maurno	....	makeup department head
Mike Meyers	....	hair stylist: Spokane
Tanya Nguyen	....	makeup artist: Spokane
Stephanie Plaut	....	makeup assistant: Spokane
Scott H. Reeder	....	assistant hair stylist
Ronnie Specter	....	makeup artist: Ms. Hayek
Randa Squillacote	....	hair department head
Sheri Staudinger	....	makeup and hair assistant: Spokane
Yolanda Toussieng	....	hair stylist: Mr. Travolta
Taci Van Leuven	....	makeup assistant: Spokane (as Taci Vanleuven)

Production Management
Frankie Errico	....	unit production manager
Susannah Lowber	....	unit production manager
Bob Misiorowski	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff Austin	....	first assistant director
Rachel Cates	....	second second assistant director: additional photography
Jill Hoppy	....	second second assistant director
Wayne Scott Miller	....	assistant director: additional photography
Wayne Miller	....	assistant director: New York
Gretchen Oyster	....	second assistant director
Idahella Therp	....	assistant director: New York
Idahella Therp	....	second unit director
Aaron Walters	....	second assistant director

Art Department
John Balling	....	scenic foreman
Dwight Benjamin-Creel	....	property master
Craig Binkley	....	visual consultant: Spokane
Bruce Bisbey	....	graphic designer: reshoots
James Brothers	....	property assistant
Rex Christensen	....	on-set dresser
Daniel Dietrich	....	construction foreman
César Díez Álava	....	assistant property master
Kristen Donaldson	....	art department coordinator
Batia Grafka	....	property master
Steven Kerlagon	....	scenic charge
Ellen Lampl	....	graphic designer
Thomas A. Morris Jr.	....	construction coordinator
Jack Reeves	....	stand-by painter
Nicholas Scott	....	set designer

Sound Department
Randy Babajtis	....	sound designer
Jeremy Balko	....	adr mixer
Spencer Blair	....	post-sound assistant
Scott Cannizzaro	....	narration recordist
Juan Dieguez	....	assistant adr recordist
Brent Findley	....	assistant sound editor
Jerry Gilbert	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott G.G. Haller	....	adr supervisor
Rob Hill	....	adr artist
Scott Hinkley	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Jacob Kemp	....	sound utility
Cody King	....	assistant dialogue editor
Ken King	....	production sound mixer
Richard Kitting	....	foley editor
Jonathan Miller	....	supervising sound designer
Andrew Morgado	....	adr mixer
Andrew Morgado	....	foley mixer
Mark O'Russa	....	boom operator
Lenny Rabinowitz	....	adr recordist
Alex Raspa	....	adr mixer
Shelley Roden	....	foley artist
Tom Taylor	....	sound mixer
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Ken Gorrell	....	special effects technician
James L. Roberts	....	special effects technician
Patrick Tantalo	....	special effects foreman
Kathleen Tonkin	....	special effects technician
Barbara Vazquez	....	special effects assistant
Robert Vazquez	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Javor Asenov	....	digital compositor
Scott Coulter	....	visual effects producer
Dobromir Hristov	....	digital compositor
Velichko Ivanov	....	lead artist
Peter Keranov	....	digital compositor
Delyan Ketipov	....	digital effects artist
Dimitar Kovachev	....	technical support staff
Danail Lazarov	....	visual effects editor
Jordan Markov	....	visual effects supervisor: Worldwide FX
Maria Mavrova	....	lead artist
Krasimir Paskalev	....	visual effects coordinator
Shero Rauf	....	digital effects artist
Stefan Tchakarov	....	visual effects production supervisor
Peter Tomov	....	digital artist
Adriana Valcheva	....	digital effects artist
Vladimir Zdravkov	....	visual effects technical support staff
Antonio Torres	....	digital artist: Digital Intermediate, Pacific Title (uncredited)

Stunts
Jay Amor	....	utility stunts
Kiana Politis	....	stunt double
Steve Ritzi	....	stunt coordinator
Todd Rogers Terry	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Barden	....	electrician
Ben Bardin	....	key grip
Kurt Beckler	....	rigging grip
Dan Beyer	....	electrician
Frank Boone	....	grip
Stephen Campbell	....	camera operator
Tim Eberly	....	still photographer
Richard Falk Jr.	....	electrician
Chris Fisher	....	assistant camera
Christopher Fyan	....	camera operator: additional photography
Larry Gianneschi	....	second assistant camera
Peter N. Green	....	additional photographer
Peter N. Green	....	first assistant camera
Nicholas Hahn	....	assistant camera: New York (as Nick Hahn)
Marvin Haven	....	grip
James Hawkinson	....	director of photography: additional photography
Nate Heyer	....	grip
Tom Hunt	....	grip
Kevin Jackson	....	best boy grip
Christopher D. Jones	....	rigging electrician
Ben Kanegson	....	dolly grip
Mark Kohl	....	director of photography: additional photography
Giovani Lampassi	....	chief lighting technician
Thomas Lowry	....	key rigging grip
Pat Metzler	....	grip
Dan Misner	....	best boy grip
John Muliler	....	electrician
Jack Nealy	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Justin O'Shaughnessy	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Gene Page	....	still photographer
Ken Palladino	....	electrician
Krishna Rao	....	camera operator
Jorge Sánchez	....	key first assistant camera
Louis Smith	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Pete Stroud	....	electrician
Robert Veliky	....	camera loader
Mike Vukas	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Adam Arnali	....	extras casting
Jennifer Conrader	....	extras casting
Geoffrey Miclat	....	casting assistant
Kimberly Mullen	....	casting: Florida
Mark Mullen	....	casting: Florida
Gretchen Oyster	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lisa Caryl	....	costumer
Claudia Combee	....	set costumer
Stella Corrales	....	costumer: Salma Hayek
James P. Cullen	....	costumer: Mr. Travolta (as Jim Cullen)
Ciara Duncan	....	costumer
Nubia	....	key costumer
Jude Christian Orlando	....	costume illustrator
Kate Sawyer	....	set costumer/seamstress
Julie S. Siegmund	....	set costumer
Gilda Texter	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Corinne Bogdanowicz	....	assistant colorist
Paul Bronkar	....	supervising digital intermediate colorist
Kacie Haggerty	....	digital intermediate producer
Candice Levy	....	post-production assistant
Sarah Parker	....	post-production coordinator
Jeffrey C. Price	....	assistant editor
Amy Tompkins	....	digital intermediate editor

Music Department
Selena Arizanovic	....	music coordinator
Brad Haehnel	....	scoring mixer
Ashley Miller	....	music supervisor
Jen Monnar	....	music editor
Rob Simonsen	....	composer: additional music

Transportation Department
Don Baer	....	transportation co-captain
Jon Bergholz	....	transportation coordinator
Steve Evans	....	driver: second unit
Lance Hruza	....	transportation coordinator: second unit
John H. Stephens	....	transportation co-captain
John Stephens	....	additional transportation co-captain
Timothy Stephens	....	transportation captain
Tim Whisenant	....	transportation: John Travolta

Other crew
Rachel Abarbanell	....	assistant: Mr. Thompson
Jamie Armstrong	....	production assistant
Ellie Barrett	....	choreographer
Karen Bosma	....	assistant production coordinator
Erik Bright	....	publicist
Donald Bruce	....	production controller
Ariel Bruns	....	production assistant
Hilary Carver	....	unit publicist
Rosie Charbonneau	....	assistant: Mr Emmett
Thomas Cobb	....	title designer
Scott Colgan	....	location assistant
Taryn Cox	....	assistant: Mr. Leto
Mike De La Vina	....	office production assistant
Carla DiBello	....	assistant to producer
Thomas Dineen	....	key production assistant: reshoots
Jessica Dolan	....	script supervisor: second unit
Kira Dominguez	....	assistant: Ms. Hayek
Ann Dunsford	....	production coordinator
Peter Evangelatos	....	craft service: Mr. Travolta
Kelly Farrell	....	location medic
Nikki Folsom	....	stand-in: Laura Dern
Ira Friedlander	....	production accountant
Kim Garman	....	first assistant accountant
Steve Gehrke	....	script supervisor
Dan Gloeckner	....	set production assistant
Amber Grunte	....	location manager: second unit
Mitch Harbeson	....	location manager
James Hayward	....	assistant location manager
Karla Ingebretsen	....	aerial coordinator
Karla Ingebretsen	....	aircraft coordinator
Milly Itzhak	....	technical consultant: New York
JoAnn Fregalette Jansen	....	choreographer
Jeffrey F. January	....	production associate
SueEllen Jones	....	production assistant
Connie Kunz	....	co-first assistant accountant
Kristina Lankford	....	dialect coach: Ms. Hayek
Stephen Leonard	....	production assistant
Meaghan Librizzi	....	set production assistant
Denise Loren	....	production assistant
Steve Maye	....	trainer: Mr. Travolta
Sally B. Merlin	....	technical consultant
Christopher Mollere	....	second assistant: Mr. Emmett (as Chris Mollere)
Ilene Morgan	....	post-production accountant
Ben Nedivi	....	assistant: Mr. Davidson
Andrew Nowak	....	production assistant
Chris Ranung	....	key craft service
Mary C. Rolfes	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Joe Rowley	....	assistant: Mr. Gandolfini
Brent Seaman	....	stand-in
Marianna Seney	....	ballroom dancer
Steven Shea	....	background coordinator
Bob 'Smitty' Smith	....	key craft service
Meredith Stead	....	assistant: Todd Robinson (as Meredith C. Stead)
Holli Strickland	....	key set production assistant
Kelly Sullivan	....	set production assistant
Christopher Touchton	....	assistant: Ms. Wiersma
Corin Warinner	....	office production assistant
Krista Weller	....	assistant location manager
Tim Whisenant	....	assistant: John Travolta

Thanks
Jeb Bush	....	special thanks (as Governor Jeb Bush)
Brian Fischer	....	very special thanks
John Peyton	....	special thanks (as Mayor John Peyton)

Production Companies

• Millennium Films
• Emmett/Furla Films
• Equity Pictures Medienfonds GmbH & Co. KG III
• Holly Wiersma Productions
• Lonely Hearts Productions
• Nu Image Entertainment GmbH

Distributors

• 3L Filmverleih (2007) (Austria) (theatrical)
• 3L Filmverleih (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2008) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Clickstar (2007) (USA) (DVD) (broadband rights)
• Distribution Company (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• E Stars Films (2006) (China) (all media)
• Magna Pacific (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Millennium Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical) (limited)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (all media)
• RCV Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Roadside Attractions (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2006) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Worldwide FX (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Atmosphere Film and Televison Extras  extras casting
• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes, dollies and remote camera systems
• Elizabeth Bardsley & Associates  script annotation
• Manhattan Transfer  adr facility
• Orbit Digital  Avids
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production
• Thomas Cobb Design  titles
• William Morris Agency (WMA)  worldwide sales

Also Known As:

Lonely Hearts Killers (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and sexual content, nudity and language.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Singapore:M18 | Italy:VM14 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/16 | Japan:R-15 | Argentina:16 | France:-12 | USA:R | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

Millennium Films

Trivia:

The director's grandfather was Elmer C. Robinson, the cop who investigated the Lonely Hearts murders.

Goofs:

Factual errors: After the police find the blood under the floor boards in Fernandez's house, we hear Hildebrandt's voice-over that the cops just missed the couple as they were 5 miles away in Seaford, NY buying a flop top car. Fernandez's home was in Valley Stream which is close to 20 miles away from Seaford, not 5 miles.

Quotes:

Martha Beck: Has anybody ever loved you that much, detective? To kill or die... for you?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of 'Lonely Hearts' (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Benny for Your Thoughts

Dramatized True Crime at it finest!

This is an excellent film. Filmed in a classic "Film Noir" style, it is both dark and engaging. The script is well written and expertly crafted. The pace is fluid and the characters are well developed.

The score is appropriate and effective. It helps create tension and mood without becoming oppressive as many scores do.

The cinematography is absolutely terrific and creates a dark and intimate view.

All these elements combine to create an excellent environment for what is a truly inspiring cast. It would be difficult to overstate the quality performances of the entire cast. John Travolta was completely convincing as he always is but I think he may have surprised even his most supportive fans. He nailed the part hands down. In one scene he suspects a dead body is possibly hidden in a box and the mood he creates as he approaches and investigates the box is riveting.

But the true star of this movie was without doubt Salma Hayek. She was mesmerizing as Martha Beck, a true masterpiece. She played evil so well it was spooky. Most people who watch this movie are going to really enjoy how carefully she seduces the viewer into her despotic plans. This is certainly one of her finest portrayals and shows she has considerable acting depth. A nasty "femme fatale" may not be a huge stretch for her but she really did a terrific job.

"Lonely Hearts" is not a family movie. There is plenty of blood, boobs and bad language. The movie deals with very heavy themes like suicide and child murder. And to make matters worse for young ones the story is true. Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez were real monsters and the movie shows more than enough to make that clear to anyone including kids.

I am a big fan of true crime and this film is really great. For me at least, it was one of the best I've seen in a long time. If you are an adult I recommend this film. Dramatized True Crime at it finest!