A Mother's Testimony

This film was on mid-day TV in Australia two weeks ago. It is the type of film that only North Americans can do so well-a psychological drama involving the family and the conflicts that arise.

We are introduced to Kenny as the young adult returning from two years imprisonment as he was in the 'wrong place at the wrong time'. His Mum has a new boyfriend with a farm, and gets Kenny a job as a general mechanic servicing boats on the waterfront.

Kenny's younger brother & sister are initially a bit wary of him and have to come to terms that his presence upsets the balance that Mum the boyfriend and the kids have created in Kenny's absence.

Warren an ex-con with Kenny pays a visit and things go downhill from there as Kenny feels some sort of commitment to look after Warren. Whilst Kenny is the clean looking young man Warren is a scruffy mid-30's scratching seemingly unstable person.

A murder is committed and Mum has to decide who she believes.

Kate Jackson is brilliant as are all the main characters, and especially the teen-aged daughter in a minor role.

There are many roles for 40-50 yo's actors in these sorts of films, realistic roles with family drama and they produce good films albeit not necessarily the films that are big release world wide movie features.

These films with twists & turns plot & character development are so much better than the NCIS , CSI franchise series that dominate evening TV. In this film it is shot outdoors with great locations and lighting. So many TV cop & medical shows shot in dark studios it creates such an artificial atmosphere.

Last editorial it is not reality TV programme. Having said that I loved the Biggest Loser and many of The Bachelor series with such cute girls.

America (including Canada) must be the most fascinating place on earth-except the really big cities all the heat and concrete. Maybe small & medium town America and Canada the best places to live.

If USA/Canadian perhaps tell what you think-city v medium town v small town USA. All the great talents ie Britney Spears Jessica Simpson seem to come from small town USA especially the south. Are the cutest girls from the south especially Texas? Give

I AM the niece of the murder victim, Rex Hayden Miller. This movie was NOT the true story. She wasn't seeking any "truth," as she was present and did NOTHING when her son announced to her, "I'm going to waste this a$$hole." He was referring to my Uncle, who had stopped to offer them help with their broke down vehicle on a remote mountain road. Likewise, she did NOTHING while my Uncle was being bludgeoned to death and shot by her son and his accomplice. She then willingly got in the backseat of my Uncle's car, stolen and driven off by her precious son. The ONLY thing she actually did was turn him in to police a week later when she feared for her OWN life due to his drug-fueled behavior. She LIED, Lied, Lied, and lied some more, striking a Hollywood deal. May she rot in hell.

This is a story of a mother's willing blindness to her son's sins. Unfortunately, this story is played out daily in real life all over the country by parents who always excuse their children's behavior no matter what. The school officials are out to get their children or the cops are out to get their children or whatever.

It was impossible to develop any empathy for Kate Jackson's character as she excused her son from the beginning right up until she finally broke down on the witness stand and admitted that he was guilty. It was particularly sick that while she proclaimed her son's innocence of the murder throughout the movie both he and she freely admitted that he stole the victim's car, treating this with the same level of seriousness as maybe jaywalking.

The movie starts out very sweet, with Kate Jackson's character happy that her son returned home from jail where he's been for 2 years. Her son gets a job, and works very hard. The first half of the movie shows the loving side of the family. `Kenny' the son seems very loving toward his mother, and shows a very tender side. Chad Allen does a very good job portraying Kenny. The character evolves during the second half of the movie, and `Kenny,' shows a darker side that he's hidden from his family. At that point it gets a little creepy. Kate's character tries to protect her son, and herself from who Kenny really is. The movie does a good job of showing a mother trying the best she can with what she has, but still falling short of the perfection she can never reach, and that no matter how hard you try, there are some things that you just can't control.

A Mother's Testimony is a bellow average TV movie. Not only is the quality of the story and script poor, but the visuals and production values are also lacking any kind of finesse. Kate Jackson (who's voice has become so croaky and shaky, she resembles Katherine Hepburn), portrays the mother of son who has just been released from jail. The young man Kenny, played by Dr Quinn Medicine Woman's Chad Allen, is welcomed back into the family with open arms and given every opportunity for a second chance. Needless to say, he blows it. Right from the opening title, you know what is about to happen. There is not one single surprise in the whole, rather dull, piece. As it draws to it's painfully obvious and lumbering conclusion, you realise you could not give a toss about a single thing that has happened in the last 93 minutes. The director Julian Chojnacki (who's first full length feature this is), lingers long on shots of hands wringing, as if to generate some kind of emotion or tension. Unfortunately for us, this technique fails miserably. Unless you are a particular fan of Ms Jackson's, who is not at her best here, I would avoid this bland installment into the TV movie catalogue, at all costs. It is simply just not worth your time.