This movie had an OK story line and many of the actors were good though not great. I see everyone raving about Peta Wilson and I don't get it. I've never even heard of her before and I'm a big movie buff. Her acting was mediocre at best but it was hard to concentrate on it because of her voice. She tries too hard to sound sexy but she just sounds like an old smoker whispering. Not a fan of hers.
11 Reviews
Money wise
kosmasp29 April 2023
No pun intended - because actually not so wise ... when it comes to money they are. Not Yoda I am - just worked out that way, when I started writing the sentence. Sorry I reckon - a little bit at least. Well that is more sorry than the main villain is here - for misshandling the money of our main characters, which leads to all sorts of ... well mayhem, let's call it mayhem.
And something that starts off the journey of Peta Wilsons character. And as coincidence will have it .. she lands somewhere where she can redeem herself ... or find some peace with things that have happened. Well that doesn't sound right either - because it is about resolving things, about putting an end to something that started - without her knowledge.
It is a decent thriller, that is more than predictable though ... still if you like the genre, you might find something you like here .. predictable (twists) included ...
And something that starts off the journey of Peta Wilsons character. And as coincidence will have it .. she lands somewhere where she can redeem herself ... or find some peace with things that have happened. Well that doesn't sound right either - because it is about resolving things, about putting an end to something that started - without her knowledge.
It is a decent thriller, that is more than predictable though ... still if you like the genre, you might find something you like here .. predictable (twists) included ...
Peta Wilson in TV B-movie
SnoopyStyle19 April 2024
Randy Ackers is happily married to Dianne (Peta Wilson) and living comfortably. He expects easy money from a safe short-term investment, but it's a scam. He loses it all and commits suicide. Dianne leaves California to start anew. Her car breaks down in a small Texas town and she takes a local waitressing job. One day, the con-man shows up at her diner, but he doesn't recognize her with her new hairdo.
I can buy that he doesn't recognize her, but everything else is way too convenient. The cop needs to be hotter and he has a good twist. I like capers but nothing here is that great. I never got into Peta Wilson although she is a hot lady. The smoky voice gets it done. This is nothing more than TV B-material.
I can buy that he doesn't recognize her, but everything else is way too convenient. The cop needs to be hotter and he has a good twist. I like capers but nothing here is that great. I never got into Peta Wilson although she is a hot lady. The smoky voice gets it done. This is nothing more than TV B-material.
Not great -but nice to see Peta Wilson again
juneebuggy23 October 2014
I caught this on the W network the other night and stuck with it because I was such a huge fan of 'La Femme Nikita' back in the day and Peta Wilson plays the vengeful wife here. She spends the movie seeking revenge against a con artist who finagled her husband out of all of their money, an event that later prompts him to commit suicide.
I'll be honest, this is not a great movie even for Lifetime. The acting is okay but it feels kinda choppy and rushed (Wilson's character didn't appear to mourn her husband at all before she hit the road to revenge) and there's also some with super boring parts involving the "Ponzi scheme". There were a couple twists I didn't see coming towards the end but still a very forgettable movie. 02.14.14
I'll be honest, this is not a great movie even for Lifetime. The acting is okay but it feels kinda choppy and rushed (Wilson's character didn't appear to mourn her husband at all before she hit the road to revenge) and there's also some with super boring parts involving the "Ponzi scheme". There were a couple twists I didn't see coming towards the end but still a very forgettable movie. 02.14.14
revenge can taste sweet
djderka16 August 2013
Basic story line is a hot babe has a husband who commits suicide because he was swindled in a ponzi scheme. The babe wife decides to try and get even. She even gets a job working for the swindler in the town where he currently resides. The rest is a cat and mouse game often thwarted by a curious cast of characters.
HOWEVER, the pacing was off and not up to a higher caliber heist or swindle scheme type movies. View David Mamet, Spanish PRISONER, HOUSE OF GAMES, and others. Or the HEIST with Gene Hackman. The movie needed a more dramatic sound track...more mysterious lighting, tighter pacing, and better cinematography.
Lighting was way to Lifetime...no dramatic shadows, and was almost documentary like with actors not up to full par...perhaps the director couldn't bring out the best in each actor.
I like the premise, the characters, I bet the book is a better read than the movie. Some of the Lifetime movies are interesting however.
And you can always tell those Lifetime movies shot in Canada. They should make one in LA with a good sound track, direction, cast. But their budget is probably a million bucks, so they do the best they can. The stories are interesting tho...usually from paperback novels one can get off a rack, but the 'girl in trouble' is popular during the day and 'bad guy boyfriend' at night on this channel.
Yes, I would buy it in a bargain bin...like 2 for $5 Or tape it next time on Lifetime.
HOWEVER, the pacing was off and not up to a higher caliber heist or swindle scheme type movies. View David Mamet, Spanish PRISONER, HOUSE OF GAMES, and others. Or the HEIST with Gene Hackman. The movie needed a more dramatic sound track...more mysterious lighting, tighter pacing, and better cinematography.
Lighting was way to Lifetime...no dramatic shadows, and was almost documentary like with actors not up to full par...perhaps the director couldn't bring out the best in each actor.
I like the premise, the characters, I bet the book is a better read than the movie. Some of the Lifetime movies are interesting however.
And you can always tell those Lifetime movies shot in Canada. They should make one in LA with a good sound track, direction, cast. But their budget is probably a million bucks, so they do the best they can. The stories are interesting tho...usually from paperback novels one can get off a rack, but the 'girl in trouble' is popular during the day and 'bad guy boyfriend' at night on this channel.
Yes, I would buy it in a bargain bin...like 2 for $5 Or tape it next time on Lifetime.
A good flick from "under the radar"
caa8216 April 2007
I'm a little surprised there are no comments for this film. Perhaps it hasn't been shown as much previously as would be assumed, although made three years ago.
It showed recently on a weekday, when I ordinarily would not have been watching TV, much less "Lifetime."
But every so often, doing some business with European colleagues, I have to be on the phone dealing with some customer emergency from, say, back and forth between 7 and ll a.m. there - which is midnight to 4 a.m. my time. On some days following, I might "veg out" for a couple of hours when I ordinarily wouldn't, and just flip on the set.
That's what happened just as this film began, and I became interested as I got into it. I knew nothing of Peta Wilson, never having seen her "... Nikita" program, or any of the other thespians.
But for some reason, I found it far more engrossing and interesting than typical TV flicks. She presented an attractive, likable presence, and the other characters were more believable than you'd expect. Even the "bad guys" weren't the over-the-top type normally found.
Of course, it took a major!!! coincidence for the crux of the story to unfold, but it wasn't completely unbelievable. It occurs in Midland TX (I don't recall if the location from which she traveled to reach there - her original home city - was identified, or the distance implied).
Locations for this film aren't shown in this site, but I'd wager my net worth it's probably Vancouver, B.C. It seems all "Lifetime" flicks are now made there - and it would probably be wise to invest in stocks of firms with hotels and restaurants there, simply on the basis of "Lifetime movie" casts and crews which have to be visiting the area at any given time.
***Minor spoiler***
Peta's character leaves town, and her previously yuppie life after her husband commits suicide following being swindled by a slick con artist "investment guru." Her auto breaks-down in Midland (again, only by pure chance) and she remains there in order to be able to get work to pay for car repairs - for which the shop owner trusts her. She cuts her flowing "red tresses" to a shorter, blonde style (meant as a symbol of her life's change, and now also Ms. Wilson's usual look). With her long fiery red hair now short and blonde, when she bumps into the con man, there is no disbelief when he doesn't recognize her. She had seen him just one time, briefly - but as the instrument of her beloved husband's demise, she recognizes him immediately. Obviously she cannot help but think of how she can use this chance occurrence to gain revenge and retribution.
This is a film where you have a pretty good sense of the direction it will take, and even possible twists which may evolve. But, again, unlike most of these films, you're not entirely certain, and there are still surprises along the way.
And best of all, the ending flows comfortably with the preceding events in the story - without unbelievable chases, knife wieldings, shootouts and the frequent, excessive histrionics films of this genre often present.
I'd even provide it a "9,'" considering the genre, the way the story was presented, and the engaging lead and good supporting cast.
A good film which seems to have slipped "under the radar."
Caught this film again, by pure chance, a bit over a year after seeing first. Enjoyed it a second time, and find my opinion did not change at all from what I entered last year.
It showed recently on a weekday, when I ordinarily would not have been watching TV, much less "Lifetime."
But every so often, doing some business with European colleagues, I have to be on the phone dealing with some customer emergency from, say, back and forth between 7 and ll a.m. there - which is midnight to 4 a.m. my time. On some days following, I might "veg out" for a couple of hours when I ordinarily wouldn't, and just flip on the set.
That's what happened just as this film began, and I became interested as I got into it. I knew nothing of Peta Wilson, never having seen her "... Nikita" program, or any of the other thespians.
But for some reason, I found it far more engrossing and interesting than typical TV flicks. She presented an attractive, likable presence, and the other characters were more believable than you'd expect. Even the "bad guys" weren't the over-the-top type normally found.
Of course, it took a major!!! coincidence for the crux of the story to unfold, but it wasn't completely unbelievable. It occurs in Midland TX (I don't recall if the location from which she traveled to reach there - her original home city - was identified, or the distance implied).
Locations for this film aren't shown in this site, but I'd wager my net worth it's probably Vancouver, B.C. It seems all "Lifetime" flicks are now made there - and it would probably be wise to invest in stocks of firms with hotels and restaurants there, simply on the basis of "Lifetime movie" casts and crews which have to be visiting the area at any given time.
***Minor spoiler***
Peta's character leaves town, and her previously yuppie life after her husband commits suicide following being swindled by a slick con artist "investment guru." Her auto breaks-down in Midland (again, only by pure chance) and she remains there in order to be able to get work to pay for car repairs - for which the shop owner trusts her. She cuts her flowing "red tresses" to a shorter, blonde style (meant as a symbol of her life's change, and now also Ms. Wilson's usual look). With her long fiery red hair now short and blonde, when she bumps into the con man, there is no disbelief when he doesn't recognize her. She had seen him just one time, briefly - but as the instrument of her beloved husband's demise, she recognizes him immediately. Obviously she cannot help but think of how she can use this chance occurrence to gain revenge and retribution.
This is a film where you have a pretty good sense of the direction it will take, and even possible twists which may evolve. But, again, unlike most of these films, you're not entirely certain, and there are still surprises along the way.
And best of all, the ending flows comfortably with the preceding events in the story - without unbelievable chases, knife wieldings, shootouts and the frequent, excessive histrionics films of this genre often present.
I'd even provide it a "9,'" considering the genre, the way the story was presented, and the engaging lead and good supporting cast.
A good film which seems to have slipped "under the radar."
Caught this film again, by pure chance, a bit over a year after seeing first. Enjoyed it a second time, and find my opinion did not change at all from what I entered last year.
Texas in My Rear View Mirror
lavatch29 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Texas is a majestic and wide state, and it offers plenty of room for Diane Ackers to maneuver her way out of a pickle. Diane lost her fortune and her husband to a financial scammer named Mitchell Thompson.
Now, they both are using aliases, Dee Dee Martin and Mark Taylor after Mark left town with $500,000 of the Ackers money and Diane left flat broke. Now, a Texas-style cat-and-mouse game ensues with an especially clever screenplay.
Desperate to pay off her car repair bill, Dee Dee takes a job as a waitress at a diner in Midland, Texas. By happenstance, Mark Taylor shows up as a customer. Dee Dee then plots to expose him as a con artist. She receives help from Nando, a deputy officer, who turns out to be in cahoots with Taylor, both having served in the 92nd Airbourne in Desert Storm. But the quick-thinking Dee Dee never gives up, listening carefully to the master hustler to learn the techniques of a true confidence man.
Everybody loved Peta Wilson in the role of Dee Dee. As Diane Ackers, Wilson effectively created the urbane wife of an investor in the early scenes. She then switched gears to play the down-to-earth Dee Dee as the waitress. She received support from another waitress, Cerise, and a local grease monkey. The final scene at the airport was terrific as the blue collar version of a "Mission: Impossible" team moved into action.
"False Pretenses" was great fun, and there was a good theme of developing a scam, turning a big profit, and getting "Texas in my rear view mirror." That is exactly what Dee Dee pulled off with a little help from her friends.
Now, they both are using aliases, Dee Dee Martin and Mark Taylor after Mark left town with $500,000 of the Ackers money and Diane left flat broke. Now, a Texas-style cat-and-mouse game ensues with an especially clever screenplay.
Desperate to pay off her car repair bill, Dee Dee takes a job as a waitress at a diner in Midland, Texas. By happenstance, Mark Taylor shows up as a customer. Dee Dee then plots to expose him as a con artist. She receives help from Nando, a deputy officer, who turns out to be in cahoots with Taylor, both having served in the 92nd Airbourne in Desert Storm. But the quick-thinking Dee Dee never gives up, listening carefully to the master hustler to learn the techniques of a true confidence man.
Everybody loved Peta Wilson in the role of Dee Dee. As Diane Ackers, Wilson effectively created the urbane wife of an investor in the early scenes. She then switched gears to play the down-to-earth Dee Dee as the waitress. She received support from another waitress, Cerise, and a local grease monkey. The final scene at the airport was terrific as the blue collar version of a "Mission: Impossible" team moved into action.
"False Pretenses" was great fun, and there was a good theme of developing a scam, turning a big profit, and getting "Texas in my rear view mirror." That is exactly what Dee Dee pulled off with a little help from her friends.
Learn about white collar crime
SipteaHighTea12 October 2008
This movie should be shown to people on how scams work particularly the one that the movie is referring to. The movie does an excellent job of how the money is move from one phrase of the operation to another phrase in a well-thought, logical fashion that everyone can follow until it comes to the final end where the victims are finally jig out of their money.
The sad thing about this movie is where the local police told the ex-wife that they were not going to do a thing about it because it did not occurred in their area and they have too much crime in their own area to devote the manpower and resources. I guarantee you if someone pull a stunt like that on a law enforcement agency, the cops would spare no effort, time, and resources to bring the criminal to justice because cops do not like being made fools. Sometimes, it seems that the police need to become victims in order to get their butts moving because then they know what it is like to be a victim of white collar crime.
The sad thing about this movie is where the local police told the ex-wife that they were not going to do a thing about it because it did not occurred in their area and they have too much crime in their own area to devote the manpower and resources. I guarantee you if someone pull a stunt like that on a law enforcement agency, the cops would spare no effort, time, and resources to bring the criminal to justice because cops do not like being made fools. Sometimes, it seems that the police need to become victims in order to get their butts moving because then they know what it is like to be a victim of white collar crime.
Great Peta Wilson Movie
Dark_Raven70001 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this movie and it has become one of my favorites.
Peta Wilson is one of the most underrated actresses in the world and she's awesome in this movie.
Peta is believable as a woman scorned by a con artist who conned her husband who committed suicide.
After her husband dies Peta's character travels to another town to find a new life. In the process she comes across the man who conned her husband and decides to make him pay by conning him.
If you love La Femme Nikita with Peta Wilson and Roy Dupuis you will love this movie too.
If it ever comes out on DVD or goes on sale I will make sure to get more than one copy in case they stop selling it.
Peta Wilson is one of the most underrated actresses in the world and she's awesome in this movie.
Peta is believable as a woman scorned by a con artist who conned her husband who committed suicide.
After her husband dies Peta's character travels to another town to find a new life. In the process she comes across the man who conned her husband and decides to make him pay by conning him.
If you love La Femme Nikita with Peta Wilson and Roy Dupuis you will love this movie too.
If it ever comes out on DVD or goes on sale I will make sure to get more than one copy in case they stop selling it.
Where expectations turn into red herrings
llwkr8 August 2019
I was so pleasantly pleased to be surprised by this movie. I was browsing through harlequin-type romances, and thought I'd give this one a try. Every time I thought I knew which way the tale was turning, it didn't. Instead of romances, the story ended with some nice friendships - the real people you can trust.
First-class entertainment!
contact-562-202498 September 2017
Terrific cast, good script, and top-notch acting. First-class entertainment without a huge budget. Peta Wilson shows why she is one of the most underrated actresses of her generation. Cross the wrong woman and payback can be a bitch! It is our loss that Peta Wilson wasn't able to make more movies that channeled her inner-Nikita.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
