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IMDbPro

Criminal Intent

  • TV Movie
  • 2005
  • PG-13
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
311
YOUR RATING
Criminal Intent (2005)
CrimeThriller

A former defense lawyer, now working as a divorce lawyer is asked to represent her best friends husband who has been accused of her murder.A former defense lawyer, now working as a divorce lawyer is asked to represent her best friends husband who has been accused of her murder.A former defense lawyer, now working as a divorce lawyer is asked to represent her best friends husband who has been accused of her murder.

  • Director
    • George Erschbamer
  • Writers
    • Peter Layton
    • George Erschbamer
  • Stars
    • Vanessa Angel
    • Sebastian Spence
    • Linda Purl
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    311
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Erschbamer
    • Writers
      • Peter Layton
      • George Erschbamer
    • Stars
      • Vanessa Angel
      • Sebastian Spence
      • Linda Purl
    • 15User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast22

    Edit
    Vanessa Angel
    Vanessa Angel
    • Susan Grace
    Sebastian Spence
    Sebastian Spence
    • Devon Major
    Linda Purl
    Linda Purl
    • Kirsten Sorensen
    David Palffy
    David Palffy
    • Mark Fairfield
    Sarah Deakins
    Sarah Deakins
    • Marg Anderson
    Ingrid Torrance
    Ingrid Torrance
    • Angela Major
    • (as Ingrid Torrence)
    Tom Pickett
    Tom Pickett
    • Judge Greenwood
    Anne Openshaw
    Anne Openshaw
    • Kate - 911 Operator
    Dalias Blake
    Dalias Blake
    • Police Officer #1
    David Stuart
    David Stuart
    • Police Officer #2
    Shawn Reis
    • Booking Guard
    Andrew McIlroy
    • Prison Guard #1
    Michael Antonakos
    Michael Antonakos
    • Philip - Technician
    Julius Chapple
    • Reporter #1…
    Dawn Chubai
    Dawn Chubai
    • Reporter #2
    Jena Sharma
    • Catherine - 411 Operator
    Babs Chula
    Babs Chula
    • Ruth - Mother
    • (as Babz Chula)
    Gary Hetherington
    Gary Hetherington
    • Robert - Father
    • Director
      • George Erschbamer
    • Writers
      • Peter Layton
      • George Erschbamer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    5.2311
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    10

    Featured reviews

    5caa821

    Purely average

    Checked the previous seven comments here as this flick was beginning. Frankly, reading them was as interesting as watching the film. Where there are a great number of comments, you expect them to be diverse, and even with a few, usually somebody loves the move, someone else hates it, etc.

    However, among the few here, comments ranged from those who seemed to feel the story, plot and performances were reminiscent of Hitchcock's best, to those who seemed to place it at the bottom end of the frequently mediocre "Lifetime" fare. Descriptions of the plot seemed to vary from feeling it was completely clever and suspenseful to totally banal.

    One individual cited that this presentation was filmed in 12 days. I didn't see anything to confirm this, but he seemed certain, and the level of the performances (including that of the usually excellent Linda Purl), seemed to confirm this.

    With D. A. Purl turning 50 at time of filming, and defense lawyer Vanessa Angel near 40, both were years senior to the male leads, David Palffy at 35, and Sebastian Spence about a year older. At her age, Angel looks as though she may surpass Joan Rivers in terms of Botox applications long before she reaches the latter's advanced age.

    I've come to believe that a major reason for producing these "Lifetime" presentations is to assist in supporting Canada's economy, since most of them seem to be shot there, usually in either Vancouver (as this flick was) or Toronto. I suppose which site is utilized depends on background needed for the particular story, but primarily whether cast and crew are more West Coast or East.

    Actually, after viewing the film myself, I feel that just about all the previous ones commenting had it partially correct. I would give it what amounts to an average of these, as well as the overall "ratings" figure shown on this site..

    The acting was uninspired, with neither the characters nor the performances particularly engaging. There was something of a "twist," and while somewhat interesting, it seemed to be one which could well be seen coming, and the only possible basis for a "twist," given the dull storyline and equally dull interaction among the lead characters. The ending did involve some knife-wielding, inevitable in most "Lifetime" offerings, but tamer than usual.

    And when the mid-30-ish treasury guy (Palffy) and the 50-ish D.A. (Purl) made a date to have dinner together, I couldn't help but wonder whether they might discuss a possible romantic future, or perhaps, more likely, her adopting him.
    5blanche-2

    Must agree in part with caa821

    IMDb member Caa821 felt the comments were more entertaining than the movie. I think Caa821's comments were more entertaining than the movie.

    "Criminal Intent" follows the Lifetime TV template to a 'T': familiar stars (Vanessa Angel and Linda Purl), with the rest of the cast being not only unfamiliar but fairly poor actors; filmed in Canada; derivative; moves slowly; predictable.

    Angel plays a defense attorney turned divorce attorney whose good friend is murdered, with the woman's ex-husband being accused. He wants her to go back to her defense roots and represent him, even though she handled their divorce. She agrees and comes up against a tough DA (Purl).

    There is a twist in the story, but I don't know who's comparing this to Alfred Hitchcock. The acting is lethargic, and Angel's collagen lips are distracting.

    As I mentioned in a previous post, these mindless Lifetime movies are great for a Sunday afternoon or when you're trying to sleep, and they give work to formerly prolific actors like Purl. I have to commend Lifetime for hiring 40+ actresses who find themselves "aged out" of Hollywood.
    2tk11-2

    Failed after first scene

    Watched the first scene, and none of it made any sense. #1. Why would the police be the only ones called to the scene, I mean its a stabbing. You would think just maybe, paramedics might be a more important in this situation. #2. The 911 operator gives completely false instructions on how to perform CPR. You don't breath into the mouth first, you do that after at least 30 hard pumps into the chest. #3. Why in the world would you pull out the knife as you hear police sirens, instead of pulling it out while she was dying? This was all just unbelievably stupid and so I fortunately decided not to waste 2 hours of my life watching this crap. 3 minutes is all it took to fail, yikes.
    10whpratt1

    Very Entertaining Two Hours

    Decided to watch this film on "Lifetime" Channel and was quite surprised with the great acting and a very tricky plot, which kept you just wondering who was the bad guy or girl. The opening scene has lots of blood all over the place as a person gets chopped up like CHOPPED LIVER. The knife is removed and from then on the story has many twists and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Lots of romantic scenes and you will never guess how the picture ends. A divorce lawyer comes to the aid of a client and winds up having to defend her ex-husband who is accused of killing his wife. This is a rather different murder mystery and it is a film that is very worth your while to sit back and ENJOY !
    3skarylarry-93400

    WHAT A CAST OF CHARACTERS!

    This movie features Linda Purl who has a mousy looking face and Vanessa Angel whose face now looks like a big bloated elephant. The only thing missing is an appearance by Jamie Luner, whose face looks like Donald Duck! What a fabulous trio that would have been; WHAT BEASTS! WHAT A CAST OF CHARACTERS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN!

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    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • July 8, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Impulso criminal
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Insight Film Studios
      • Insight Films
      • Shavick Insight Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • CA$1,100,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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