In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness

One of the best casts ever on a little network, this director obviously comes from New York and knows all the great unsung actors living there.

Marian Seldes, Anne Pitoniak, Tom Aldredge are all great to see on screen, and do a great job, but the film belongs to Carradine and Willis. She gives a terrific performance, and he's right up there with her. It's a little long, yes, but if you can get into the story it's well worth it.

As many tv movies go, this two-part mini-series could sometimes be weak in the writing and acting departments, but still held a fascination because a) the events are true, and b) the climax took place just a few miles from my parents' house. In fact, I was acquainted with a relative of one of the families involved.

Some have commented on the lack of plausibility of the story, but the movie stayed true to the actual events for the most part. In fact, it even left out some factual details that did not seem implausible, but real life is often stranger than fiction. (I recommend reading Jerry Bledsoe's book "Bitter Blood," where the entire story will blow you away. The movie is based on this book.)

Regardless of the weak nature of a tv movie-of-the-week, including the disruptions for commercials when I first saw it broadcast over two nights, the series of tragedies that unfolded were still heart-wrenching and made my pulse race. If you can get past those usual weaknesses, you will find an amazing true story of a strange couple who, when put together, seemed to lose all perspective on reality and unleashed a diabolical plot to retain full custody of the woman's two little boys from a previous marriage. If the movie is available for rental, it's probably worth checking out, but not as light-hearted viewing.

"Bitter Blood" is a really interesting movie. You watch Kelly McGillis' character change completely as she becomes more and more under the thumb of her completely insane cousin. Interesting performances all around, but somewhat disturbing. On a side note, it is really long. I did not want to stop watching, but you do feel that it's long, and wish it was a little shorter.

Sadly the critic above knows nothing of the history of the movie. The movie is based on the TRUE crime book Bitter Blood and is extremely accurate. Maybe he found it disappointing or unrealistic but sadly the story is true and well documented. I enjoyed the movie since I grew up during the time of the murders in Winston-Salem. I wish could find this movie on DVD.

The basic story line is about Susie Newsome, niece of Susie Sharpe who was the first female supreme court justice in North Carolina. She marries young Tom Lynch after meeting him at Wake Forest University. There bitter breakup leaves Susie in anger and hurt. She takes revenge out on him in a truly horrific story.

I wasn't originally going to comment on this movie, but, after reading some of the other reviews, I felt like I needed to add to this.

Although most reviews of this film have been somewhat positive,there are a few of the reviews which have noted how unbelievable this story is and how this movie is not worth the time. I disagree.

Some people may not realize that this is based on true events that happened in the mid 1980s in North Carolina. As a local high school student when this all came to the forefront, and also having been lucky enough to be able to read Jerry Bledsoe's original articles when they were published in the Greensboro "News and Record" (the local paper where he was writing at the time), I can honestly say that most local folks were both amazed and disturbed by the whole situation and the senselessness of it all.

If you are interested in this movie and would like to learn more about the Klenner, Sharp, Newsom, and Lynch families, I suggest that you read "Bitter Blood" (by Jerry Bledsoe) -- the book on which this mini-series was based. The movie was good, but never have I found a crime novel that was as intriguing as this. A long read, but worth the time.