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:

Detective | Death | Murder | Femme Fatale | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Travolta	...	Det. Elmer Robinson
James Gandolfini	...	Det. Charles Hilderbrandt
Jared Leto	...	Ray Fernandez
Salma Hayek	...	Martha Beck
Scott Caan	...	Det. Reilly
Laura Dern	...	Rene Fodie
Michael Gaston	...	D.A. Hunt
Bruce MacVittie	...	Det. Eastman
Dan Byrd	...	Eddie Robinson
Andrew Wheeler	...	Det. Tooley
Alice Krige	...	Janet Long
Dagmara Dominczyk	...	Delphine Downing
John Doman	...	Chief MacSwain
Bailee Madison	...	Rainelle Downing
Ellen Travolta	...	Ida

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:

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

Filming Locations:

Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

Millennium Films

Trivia:

The real Martha Beck was of a very different stature to that of actress Salma Hayek and at the time of her death weighed well over 200lbs. On her execution day it was discovered that she would not fit into the electric chair so was seated on the arm rests when the fatal shock was administered.

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: You know what they say about cops and donuts?
Charles Hilderbrandt: No, what?
Martha Beck: Neither one's any good without a hole in them.
Charles Hilderbrandt: They say that about women, too.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Gee

Lethal Jealousy

In the late 40's, the swindler Raymond Martinez Fernandez (Jared Leto) seduced lonely women to steal their possessions. When he meets the deranged Martha Beck (Salma Hayek), they fall in love for each other. With the jealous Martha posing as if she were his sister, the crook Ray seduces and kills other women. Two New York Detectives - Elmer C. Robinson (John Travolta) and Charles Hildebrandt (James Gandolfini) - chase the sociopaths, but without having the evidence of a body. In the end of 40's, the couple is arrested and sentenced to death, being electrocuted in March, 1951 in Sing Sing.

"Lonely Hearts" is a simple story based on a true event supported by a great cast and excellent cinematography and costumes. The story of the "Lonely Hearts Killers" is violent and a flag for those pro-death penalty sentence. Cold blood killers like Raymond and Martha do not deserve to have a second chance in a society of human beings. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Os Fugitivos" ("The Runaways")