Lonely Hearts

Starring John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Jared Leto and Salma Hayek; Scott Caan, Alice Krige and Laura Dern
Screenplay by Todd Robinson
Based on true events
Directed by Todd Robinson

IN SHORT: A simple detective story, driven by an A-list cast. [Rated R for strong violence and sexual content, nudity and language. 100 minutes]

Detective Elmer C. Robinson (John Travolta) was, if we are to believe the description found in our press notes, a dedicated cop. Too dedicated, if there is such a thing -- there is and its effect is well demonstrated in the opening minutes of (grandson) director Todd Robinson's Lonely Hearts, which recreates a hunt for serial killers who took advantage of WWII war widows in the years just after war's end. We'll come back to Mr. Travolta in a 'graph or two. First, some necessary historical background, because this important tidbit flashes by so quickly in the script that we nearly missed it ...

Apparently, widows of soldiers killed in action during the second "Great War" received a $10,000 stipend to maintain their family home and/or baby kidlets. In 1940s dollars, that was a huge amount of money, nearly equal to a year's salary for some middle class workers. Widows who attempted to find new companionship via the use of "Lonely Hearts" clubs or periodicals were easily seduced by the good looks of the hairpiece enhanced Raymond Martinez Fernandez (Jared Leto). "Ray Martin" ran a simple game: find the widow. Co-mingle cash assets in a joint bank account. Steal said assets and repeat as soon as possible in a different locale. When he attempts to run the game one time too many, his butt is pulled out of a potential criminal fire by the lovely Martha Jule Beck (Salma Hayek), who will become the love of his life and his new criminal partner.

Well, of course it's a love story. It wouldn't work otherwise. We're going to do our best to write circles around the basics of the story because to do otherwise would ruin it for you.

On average, a first run movie ticket will run you Ten Bucks. Were Cranky able to set his own price to Lonely Hearts, he would have paid . . .

$6.50

find it. see it.

	Click to buy films by Todd Robinson
	Click to buy films starring John Travolta
	Click to buy films starring Salma Hayek

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