Lies My Mother Told Me (2005 TV Movie) User Reviews

Good drama with a good cast to boot!

[Go_Skins · 7/10 · 8 March 2005]

This movie was directed by Christian Duguay who also directed "The Art of War." I heard that this movie was "inspired by true events." Which I thought was pretty interesting! It had Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck) and Hayden Panettierre who, at a very young age, has been in a lot of movies! I found myself into the characters pretty good. At first, I liked the mom but I didn't like the fact that she lied all the time. Later on in the movie, you really kind of hated the mom who turns on her daughter and ends up lying to her as well! This is one movie that I thought was going to be awful but actually ended up being decent enough to watch! If you like a good drama, watch this one!!

Lifetime movie could be darker

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 12 September 2015]

Laren Sims (Joely Richardson) surrenders to the police and leaves her daughter Haylei (Hayden Panettiere). Ten years ago, they're living with Lauren's parents in North Carolina after her failed marriages. She does 90 days in prison after using stolen credit cards for Christmas gifts. She continues to steal. She runs away with Haylei skipping out on house arrest. They travel the country continuing to con and steal with numerous fake identities. In northern California, Laren gets a job working for attorney Lucas Mackenzie (Colm Feore) and later marries him. Haylei hates the marriage. Laren can't help herself and embezzles money. Lucas finds out and Laren tells him the truth. He grows angry as his business fails and always threatens to call the police. Laren, with the help of new hire Kristin, does something out of desperation.

This is a Lifetime movie in its heart. It should try to be more especially with a great actress like Joely Richardson. It should try to be darker but it doesn't. It is a big disappointment. The story has no bite despite some pretty compelling turns. There is a great mother and daughter relationship. The material is done with limited style and no edge.

Typical but still entertaining

[SusieSalmonLikeTheFish · 5/10 · 28 August 2014]

Hailey is a teenager who lives a life on the run with her mother in the southwest United States. Her mom is the subject of a nation-wide manhunt and has done grand theft, credit card fraud and identity theft, among other things. When she gets married to a seemingly nice guy, Lucas, he quickly becomes a monster addicted to drugs and alcohol and Hailey's mom murders him with the help of her bimbo ranch-hand, Krista.

While 'Lies My Mother Told Me' is entertaining, it is annoying to watch, mainly because of the mom's fake southern accent, when she speaks it is headache-inducing. Some of the lines in the movie are pretty dorky, one example being, "I had a bad dream last night, but that doesn't make me a psychic. It was the same dream I had every night." from Hailey, who also narrates the film. No one in real-life talks that way so it's hard to take seriously. The character Krista is highly annoying, one of those prissy dog lovers who think their dog is their 'fur-child' and it's disgusting to have to see her kiss the dog. The acting wasn't very good, I think the best was the actor who played Lucas. The soundtrack was okay but there was a song they kept repeatedly playing, this annoying country song that just gets on your nerves. As in most Lifetime movies it has highly dramatized so it is very hard to take seriously. I honestly didn't care what happened to any of the characters. They all had very little personality; I think the only thing listed is that Hailey likes horses. This is one of those movies you'll only want to see once, just to pass the time, it isn't very good.

A disturbing story of a dysfunctional mother daughter bond.

[P3charmed · 7 March 2005]

the story itself isn't all its cracked up to be. But the fact that its based on actual events gives it power. Joely Richardson carries the movie as a fugitive mother, who along with her young daughter, leaves a trail of warrants across the country. When she settles with a wealthy attorney, her past demons come back with a vengeance.

Though its very much a "Lifetime" movie, it has a nice sense of freshness to the genre. There are a few plot twists that seem to never get explained in full, but its a Lifetime Original, so you get that you pay for..

If you're in on a Friday night, or you're a fan of Joely, i recommend it.

Based on real life events

[roxannecat · 7/10 · 12 August 2005]

As I was looking through novels on amazon,I came across a story that sounded like this movie. I believe that this movie may be based on the book titled: COLD BLOODED by CARTON SMITH. Although the names in the book are different ,it sounds like it could be the same story. I have not read the book yet but it seems like a good read. I'm not sure how much of thew movie stays with the book but from what I did read I saw no mention of a daughter. So I don't know if that was added or what for movie purposes. I thought this movie was good though.

This is one of those movies that you might like to watch on a Friday night or a rainy Saturday relaxed in front of the t.v.

True Story!

[AngelHonesty · 6/10 · 17 August 2021]

I think the reason this film is worth watching is the fact that it's a true story, if it wasn't for that fact this film would need more drama to spice up the intensity. But knowing it's a true story makes the film interesting, because you genuinely want to see how out of hand things got. I really enjoyed the cast as they made a smooth performance of the film. The only downfall is they could have picked someone else for the role of Laren, the actress needed to bring more intensity to her role but fell short. Anne Heche would have been perfect for the part of Lauren. Overall not bad, a little slow and can be boring at times, but it's an interesting story.

Lies My Mother Told Me:The Truth-Only A Daughter's Love **1/2

[edwagreen · 6/10 · 6 August 2009]

It would take only an emotional bond as this one depicted in the film that could make this a film at all.

The premise is good that a young woman, with 2 failed marriages and a tendency to land into trouble, bonds with her daughter as the two flee for 9 years.

It is only the love that the girl had for her wayward mother, this would allow her to stay with her bad mother. When the girl got older, she could have left but she didn't.

The picture begins to go awry when the mother, Joely Richardson, marries an attorney. When their marriage goes southward, she kills him. It appeared that the guy had 9 lives by the way that at the beginning she can't kill him, no matter what she does. This really became silly. The ending is not, but you probably knew that this was coming.

Not What It Seems

[single_in_inna · 1/10 · 7 March 2005]

This movie was one i had been waiting for since the first time I saw the preview on the Life Time Network, well I wish I had waited longer! The movie is told in voice overs from the daughters point of view and in flash back to the past to present as she tells the story . The plot is pretty much steady, but had some little lose ends they could have dealt with. May or may not be spoiler, but I did not like how the movie trys and play out like being a criminal and doing as the mother does in this movie is a way of loving her daughter. I also felt that they left allot of the move to the fact that mostly women would be watching this movie and that we would not care rather or not the guy was a good guy or not as long as the mother daughter relationship was saved! The leading man in this movie was played well but at times over acted to were you just wanted. The daughter played by and EX soap young star of Guiding Light done very well in role for what she had to work with . Over all I say watch it if you are a big LIfe Time person , but don't expect to see a award wining movie. It could have been much better seeing as there was so much hype about!!!!

Wonderful

[angus1692 · 9/10 · 6 November 2006]

Well i loved this movie. i should warn you now my spelling is not very good but should be OK. here goes! i saw this movie on cable. i didn't think it would be very good but turns out it was really good. And based on true stories! Very interesting and i think there are messages in there, things people should notice. i wont give it away but you really need to watch this film! This is only 99mins long but is fantastic! i really do believe so. The mother, Laren Sims is a con artist, master of disguise and moves from state to state with her young daughter until the hit Vegas Nevada! She marries a wealthy Atterney and has some problems. the mother just wanted her child to have a good education and not end up like her. and the marriage has some problems like when he gets drunk, and he finds her past and so she decides to well, get rid off him!

Very Interesting

[ryansbabygirl0804 · 5/10 · 15 October 2008]

I was slightly interested in this movie when I first saw the previews on Lifetime a few years back. When I saw it however, I was very disappointed. The acting was alright. At times it seemed forced and a little overdone especially by Richardson. I knew this story sounded familiar. When I saw the "Snapped" episode on Oxygen that this movie is based on it clicked. Lauren Sims or her alias Elisa McNabney was from my hometown of Brooksville, FL and this is where she was arrested and killed herself in jail! That's where I knew the story from. All in all the movie was alright. The locations were obviously changed and from what I've read, the relationship between mother and daughter was exaggerated. But that's too be expected. I give it 5 out of 10 simply for being a Lifetime movie. That's what you get.

Just Saw This Movie Last Night!

[BreanneB · 10/10 · 8 January 2006]

This movie was excellent. I just bought the d.v.d. Thursday night. Costumes, acting, production, script, directing, and photography is great. I give this movie 10 out of 10 stars.

The mother, Lara, was a self-centered, rotten, spoiled brat who did whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, and had no consideration for the welfare of others. She stole people's id's, killed her husband, and betrayed her family. She deserved what she got in the end. The slaps on the wrists she got before obviously did not teach her a lesson.

Kudos to the cast, crew, and filmmakers. Two Thumbs Way Up! Excellent Movie!

very bleak

[disdressed12 · 4/10 · 26 November 2007]

this is an 'inspired by true events' movie.it's a bleak movie,to be blunt about it.it's about a woman who had done nothing but lie cheat and steal her whole life.as a result her and her young daughter live a life on the run from the law. i found this movie slow and boring for the most part.it doesn't have a happy ending,(at least to me it doesn't)like some movies of this genre have.and it doesn't resolve anything or tie up any loose ends,like i hoped it would.i only kept watching for two reasons.one was the hope that there might be a happy ending.tow was that the acting was pretty decent.so,basically the movie is only worth watching for the performances.as a result,my vote for Lies My Mother Told Me is a 4/10

Tired genre without any indication of showing which person it is based

[jordondave-28085 · 4/10 · 23 June 2023]

(2005) Lies My Mother Told Me DRAMA THRILLER

Cinematography, co-produced and directed by Christian Duguay with another inspired by true events, made for TV movie, and part of a two movie rental DVD starring Hayden Panettiere as Haylei Sims, narrating her experiences while going on the lam with her mother, Laren Sims (Joely Richardson) who was 'Americas Most Wanted', as she lies, cheats and steals from unsuspecting people, and eventually murder. Tired genre without showing who the movie is referring to or who is it based on. Saw this movie as a two movie set produced from the Lifetime channel, the other movie is called "Widow on the Hill".