Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (Review)

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax
2014
Written by Stephen Kay
Directed by Nick Gomez

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax
Lifetime has been breaking out the event movies more and more, which has been leading to some ratings wins. So time to check out Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, the new take on America’s first legendary criminal starring Christina Ricci as the infamous Lizzie Borden. Lizzie Borden Took an Ax certainly shows its chops as a higher caliber Lifetime television movie, but it’s still a television movie and suffers from the limitations thereof. That being said, the majority of the film is well paced and gives us a good look at both Borden’s home life before the killings, and the drama surrounding the trial and aftermath. And some of it is pretty fun, too!

Christina Ricci’s attitude and attire as Lizzie Borden and the more historical setting just can’t keep one from thinking this could be a story of Wednesday Addams all grown up and killing on her own. Lizzie Borden Took an Ax does a bit to capitalize on this, with Ricci wandering around being creepy from time to time.
Lizzie Borden Took an Ax
Where Lizzie Borden Took an Ax gets weakest is that it’s not really a murder mystery, it’s a psychological look at Lizzie Borden. Except it isn’t, really, and might be a murder mystery after all. Or is it? The film’s lack of pure focus is annoying, and despite the script being more tooled for the drama of the trial and the “did she do it?” aspect, the editing has already made up its mind, and doesn’t hesitate to show you via insert after bloody insert. These rapid cuts (ha-ha!) are cool and all, I just wish they were more impactful (ha-ha!) with regard to Borden’s grip on reality. As the weight of the trial bears upon her, Borden becomes medicated and thus less lucid during testimonies. There should be some cool drama here contrasted to her upbringing, but it’s all disregardful for a more straight narrative.

Lack of focus aside, the parts of Lizzie Borden Took an Ax that are fun are very fun, and Borden is a bad girl having fun. Stephen Kay did some research on Lizzie Borden, and theories and conjecture are presented as facts, but also innuendo that might only be picked up if you are familiar with the case. Other parts are not so subtle, and things are fudged a bit for dramatic effect. Things are kept mostly contemporary, except occasional modern rock/rockabilly used for scene transitions setting up the next act.
Lizzie Borden Took an Ax

Lizzie Borden (Christina Ricci) – A willful daughter sick of her controlling father and controlling 1890s lifestyle, so she goes out and parties, even if it means stealing and walking alone at night. Is a Sunday School teacher but “only on Sundays”. The film takes great joy in having Lizzie Borden act creepy, often popping into the scene to be disturbing and even creeping out her sister. I half expected her to be floating above the ground as a creepy ghost or something.
Andrew Borden (Stephen McHattie) – The Borden patriarch, a domineering man who never found a penny he couldn’t pinch. Is shown ripping off his workers and making enemies all over town. Has a rough relationship with his youngest daughter as she rebels against his controlling ways. But she also uses their connection to her advantage, trying to turn him against his new wife. He gets whacked.
Emma Borden (Clea DuVall) – Lizzie’s sister, she’s far more reserved that Lizzie. Away from town at the time of the murders, she returns to find her world in disarray, but stands by her sister through all the tragedy and trials. At least until a party happens.

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax
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Lifetime Channel owns January – Flowers in the Attic, Lizzie Borden, and Tiger Eyes!

[adrotate banner=”1″]Lifetime is on a spree of interesting new made for tv movies, including two high profile January events, and one that’s not as high profile just because the other two are so much bigger.

January 11th will give us Tiger Eyes – yes, based on the book by Judy Blume! Don’t tell me you didn’t read it as a kid. Tiger Eyes stars Willa Holland, Amy Jo Johnson, and Cynthia Stevenson .

17-year-old Davey’s life has been ripped apart by the sudden loss of her father. Uprooted by her mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, she meets the mysterious Wolf and sets out on a journey from heartbreak and confusion to life and love after tragedy. Based on the classic novel, “Tiger Eyes” by Judy Blume.

In addition to some live-action Judy Blume, don’t forget January 18th brings us Flowers in the Attic! We posted a trailer in our last Lifetime update.

Based on V.C. Andrews’ controversial book that quickly became a cult classic, the Lifetime Original Movie “Flowers in the Attic” weaves the twisted story of the Dollanganger kids who, after the unexpected death of their father, are convinced by their mother Corrine (Heather Graham) to stay hidden in the attic of their wealthy grandparents’ mansion so she can reclaim the family fortune. But as her visits begin to wane after she becomes involved with a new husband (Dylan Bruce), the children endure unimaginable treatment at the hands of their ruthless grandmother Olivia Foxworth (Ellen Burstyn). As years go by and the eldest children Cathy (Kiernan Shipka) and Christopher (Mason Dye) come of age, both emotionally and physically, their family’s sordid past entraps them further as they look to each other for comfort.

Then break out your grinding stones, because January 25th is the premiere of Lizzie Borden Took an Axe! Christina Ricci plays the titular character.

The nursery rhyme “Lizzie Borden took an ax…and gave her mother forty whacks…when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one” has been folklore for generations. But, in fact, it was Lizzie Borden — one of the most legendary figures in American history — who first whetted the public’s voracious interest in scandalous crimes in the 1800s with her own gruesome story involving the brutal murder of her parents. Starring Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award nominee Christina Ricci (Monster), Golden Globe® Nominee Billy Campbell (The Killing) and Screen Actors Guild Award® winner Clea DuVall (Argo), the Lifetime Original Movie Lizzie Borden Took An Ax premieres January 25, 2014, at 8pm ET/PT.

January is the Month of Lifetime, and since SyFy can’t get their act together to premiere more cool creature features, Lifetime is now the biggest network in original movies.

via Lifetime

Tiger Eyes

Hey, there are no tigers here!

Lizzie Borden Took An Ax to trailer town!


We are getting ever closer to seeing Christina Ricci go all lumberjack on her parents with Lizzie Borden Took An Ax on Lifetime! It’s choppin’ time!

The nursery rhyme “Lizzie Borden took an ax…and gave her mother forty whacks…when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one” has been folklore for generations. But, in fact, it was Lizzie Borden — one of the most legendary figures in American history — who first whetted the public’s voracious interest in scandalous crimes in the 1800s with her own gruesome story involving the brutal murder of her parents. Starring Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award nominee Christina Ricci (Monster), Golden Globe® Nominee Billy Campbell (The Killing) and Screen Actors Guild Award® winner Clea DuVall (Argo), the Lifetime Original Movie Lizzie Borden Took An Ax premieres January 25, 2014, at 8pm ET/PT.

Lizzie borden took an ax lifetime

Lifetime takes a swing with Christina Ricci in Lizzie Borden Took an Ax!

[adrotate banner=”1″]It’s the part Christina Ricci was born to play ever since she was Wednesday Addams – an ax murderer! Lifetime brings us yet another amazing film as the channel becomes a big player with ridiculously awesome entertainment. Lizzie Borden Took an Ax will be a true crime take on the infamous murders, which became a media sensation in 1892 and eventually morphed into the nursery rhyme we’ve all vaguely heard of but never really chanted on the playground. Besides Ricci as Lizzie Borden, Clea DuVall will play her sister Emma Borden, and Billy Campbell will play Borden’s lawyer. As the case has never been officially solved, it will be interesting to see which direction Lifetime goes with this. I guess we’ll all find out January 25th, when the film premieres!

Poster via EW

Lizzie Bordon Took An Ax Lifetime

Smurfs 2 Hits Trailer!


[adrotate banner=”1″]Smurfs 2 has hit trailer! Yes, Smurfs are back and running around New York again due to things not explained in the trailer. Gargamel makes evil grey Smurfs called The Naughtes played by Christina Ricci and JB Smoove to do his evil bidding. The plan is to convert Smurfette back to the dark side by making her naughty again. (If you remember from Smurf lore, Smurfette was originally created by Gargamel to cause trouble and then became a Smurf later thanks to Papa Smurf) It looks like the producers are banking on the popularity of Katy Perry to give them the big bucks. As I mentioned for the last film, the scenes in the Smurf village were awesome, so hopefully there is more Smurf village time. Neil Patrick Harris and Sofia Vergara also return.

Smurfs 2 Evil Smurfette

Kiss me, ki-ki-kiss me
Infect me with your love and
Fill me with your poison!

And if you are wondering if Azrael is in the film, yes he is, therefore Smurfs 2 will be not terrible!

Smurfs 2 Azrael

Make no LOLcats jokes here!

Grey Evil Smurfs!

Evil Smurfs Naughties
[adrotate banner=”1″]These evil Smurfs called the Naughties are your villains for Smurfs 2: Smurf Smurfer. They are totally grey and not white like everyone ever thought when they first saw them. So don’t think that. Just know that the stranded Gargamel made them out of clay to help get revenge on the Smurfs, and thus they are evil because he made them that way (this is also the real origin of Smurfette!) The female is Vexy (Christina Ricci) and the male is Hackus (JB Smoove)

“Vexy is smart, and mischievous and has lots of attitude. Attitude to spare,” Gosnell says. “And she really does want to please her father.” That would be Gargamel, who would surely cringe at the title.

“Hackus, he’s just very funny and very physical,” Gosnell adds. “He’s the Tasmanian Devil meets a lovable puppy dog.”

The original Smurfs was shockingly not terrible when they weren’t singing, but just like the first one, the film will largely take place in our universe instead of the land of the Smurfs, which was where the first film was the strongest (and Hank Azaria and the cat Azrael stole the show!) Will Smurfs 2 surprise like the original? Can they build on the mythology? If this one is successful, can we finally have an all Smurfland Smurfs movie? The answers to all those questions are mysteries that won’t be solved for a while, so don’t hold your breath until you turn blue. Unless you are one of the Naughties!
via EW