★ 7 / 10
LONGFORD (2007) While forgiving is most beneficial to
R T
LONGFORD (2007) While forgiving is most beneficial to the one doing so, certain despicable 'sins' committed should neither be forgotten or dismissed, even when…
LONGFORD (2007)
While forgiving is most beneficial to the one doing so, certain despicable 'sins' committed should neither be forgotten or dismissed, even when poorly adjudicated with slap-on-the-wrist incarcerations. As with this REAL-LIFE STORY, the children's surviving families still suffer the undeniable ripples that such heinous, unspeakable crimes trigger. For years, surviving siblings were nervously over-protected, marriages dissolved under strain, depression consumed parents, further answers were sought, tragedy relived thru legal proceedings, numerous books and movies produced. Perhaps over time, but nonetheless all-consuming. And for what...a dark desire for a supposed spiritual experience?
IN THE FILM, Myra Hindley opined that the evil she and Ian Brady committed was akin to being spiritual, for her at least, based upon her understanding of her religious campaigner, Lord Longford, who had offered quick forgiveness and benefit of the doubt. He had trouble believing that a seemingly pleasant, attractive woman could be an actual serial killer; it was less disturbing and convenient to view her as a man's victim, rather than a cold instigator and contributor. However, Myra's admission to additional murders and her dark spiritual experience further revealed her nature - like an unsinkable ship loaded with the goods that a covert, malignant sociopath could use to be successful in getting what they want, when they want it. Unfortunately, this included Longford's pity and assistance. For Myra and Ian, children were made to suffer the couple's sadistic existentialism, and it could have continued unabated. This revelation was something that Longford was forced to mitigate; his faith assuaged any regret he carried.
While it was a good film, it has similar LIMITATIONS that true-story 'Lifetime' (television) movies face. It would translate better into a series, in order to better convey the critical details and relationships, while better portraying the characters' motivations and advancing story arcs.
-January 2019
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★ 9 / 10
A dive into the difficult matters of repentance
Per S
A dive into the difficult matters of repentance and forgiveness, illustrated with politician, social reformer and humanist Frank Pakenham and his relation to…
A dive into the difficult matters of repentance and forgiveness, illustrated with politician, social reformer and humanist Frank Pakenham and his relation to life time prisoner and child murderer Myra Hindley. Though the dive could have been deeper, the film manages to create a good basic illustration of the main issues, and the acting performances are credible and moving, with a brilliant Samantha Morton as Myra Hindley, and an outstanding Jim Broadbent as the eccentric and sophisticated Earl of Longford.
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★ 8 / 10
Wonderfully done TV movie re an evil murderer
Georgan G
Wonderfully done TV movie re an evil murderer and a naive social reformer.
Wonderfully done TV movie re an evil murderer and a naive social reformer.
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