I Love You to Death (1990)

The Real Skinny

This movie is based on the real life antics that occurred here in Allentown, Pa. to a friend of mine, his family and employees.

Here's the story: "When Anthony Toto, 37, a pizza-shop owner in Allentown, Pa., put up $50,000 bail for his wife Frances Lenore, the local police and others in the community were stunned. The reason: according to charges filed by the district attorney, Frances had conspired to murder her husband -- not once but twice.

The bizarre case began on Jan. 25. That night, prosecutors contend, Anthony Bruno, the 20-year-old boyfriend of Toto's 17-year-old daughter Elizabeth, crept into Toto's bedroom, located the .25-cal. gun that Toto kept near his bed and fired a bullet into his head. Toto was grievously but not fatally wounded.

Then his wife Frances allegedly began force-feeding him large doses of barbiturates, which succeeded only in putting him into a semiconscious state. Two days later, according to police, two friends of Anthony Bruno's, hired by Frances for $500, showed up in the bedroom to finish the job. They were Ronald Barlip, 19, and his cousin Donald, 18. The bullet one of them allegedly fired entered an inch from Toto's heart, but it too proved not to be lethal.

Police, tipped off by an informant, entered the Toto house two days later and found Toto asleep, breathing heavily: doctors later speculated that the barbiturates he had been given may have saved his life by drastically lowering his metabolism and retarding the bleeding.

Police arrested Frances, Bruno, the Barlips and the two Toto children, Elizabeth and Anthony. Toto was released from the hospital two weeks later, with the first bullet still lodged in his skull. He says he intends to stand by his family during the coming court proceedings. Said an Allentown police detective: "He loves her." The district attorney's office is said to be worried about the case: Tony Toto promises to be a hostile witness." Tony's wife was found guilty and sentenced to time in Muncy, Pa. women's correctional facility. Tony moved the family there to be near her. Art and Linda Beers wrote the non-fiction book that was bought for the movie. After coming out to L.A. to do the screenplay, they were ripped off for all their efforts by not getting any credit for their work. The credit for it went to John Kostmayer who didn't do the real digging for the story, he just adjusted the work of the Beers'.

February 9, 2008

Love, Pizza, Murder, And A Real Fun Cast

This 1990 release is one of those quirky little comedy movies overlooked almost immediately after release. But, unlike others, this cast is loaded with talent: Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, Joan Plowright, River Phoenix, William Hurt, and Keanu Reeves. Kevin Kline's "Joey Boca" is a gem of characterization. [Imagine a Joey Buttafuoco with actual warmth and real charm, yet retaining the crassness.] Kevin Kline plays this endearing pizzamaking/Lothario to the hilt, complete with Italian accent. And William Hurt and Keanu Reeves as the stoner hitmen "Harlan" and "Marlon" hired to kill him are Beckett characters on dope. Everything's improbable and yet somehow it all works beautifully. Recommended: Order an extra large pizza, buy some beer, and invite some friends over who really like to laugh.

[This movie perhaps deserves more than the three lousy stars I gave it, but unlike other armchair critics, I'm not just giving out my four- and five-stars like bon-bons. The is a VERY GOOD little movie.] November 22, 2007

Yeah...He looked like Abraham Lincoln. Comin' up to bat...

Years ago I was awake at 2 am watching this movie for the twentieth time or so when my 55 year old Japanese ex-pat mom came stumbling out of her bedroom to use the restroom. She came back and was staring at the movie with me awhile but soon she sat down. And then she was laughing her big silent laugh that is reserved for only those things that are truly hilarious. I don't own that many movies but this is one that I can't live without. If you love movies with a perfect cast and about a million quotable lines then please be sure to try this one.
November 7, 2007

Soooo funny!

First of all, I love Kevin Kline; I think he is a brilliant actor and I really enjoy nearly everything he's ever done. Put him together with a wonderful cast that includes Joan Plowright and Tracey Ullman, and wow...this is just laughing-so-hard-there's-tears-rolling-down-your-face funny. Joan Plowright is probably my favorite character but the two stoners are very close. Keanu Reeves plays his very best role here; maybe because he doesn't have to work very hard? River Phoenix is part of the cast too, but I could take or leave his character. Sorry, Phoenix fans; I know he's dead, and that is a tragedy, but his part just isn't very interesting in this film. However, one of my favorite parts is when the mother (Plowright) spends time choosing the music to put on the record player to mask the sound of the gunshot. She doesn't want her daughter (Ullman) to put on Madonna. "Rosalie, you know I love Johnny Mathis!" Interesting to note that Heather Graham and Victoria Jackson both have bit parts in the film. Overall, a very silly film, and that's just the way I like it. August 15, 2007

Just plain slap stick funny

Just a funny movie to watch when you want to be intertained and not have to think. August 6, 2007

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