MENENDEZ: BLOOD BROTHERS
US, 2017, 90 minutes, Colour.
Nico Tortorello, Myko Olivier, Benito Martinez, Courtney Love, Meredith Scott Lynn.
Directed by Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato.
In 1989 there was a drama in Los Angeles, the murders of an affluent couple, Menendez, initially thought to be the work of home invaders, but in 1990, the two sons, Menendez, arrested for the murder of their parents.
This was a cause celebre at the time, featured in the media. In 1994, while the trials for the two sons were still going on, there was a strong television miniseries, A Killing in Beverley Hills. The present television film is brief, highlighting the two brothers, the impact of their parents, a sexually abusive and ambitious father, a loving mother who did not protect her sons.
The initial focus of this film is on the younger son, Erik, hoping for a tennis career, playing and losing, upbraided by his father. Erik seems to bond with his mother, creating a story about agents and neglectful parents. The audience then sees, alarming if the story is not known, the father coming into the bedroom of his son and the revelation of a long history of sexual abuse, the screenplay indicating that his mother knew what was going on.
Then the older son, Lyle, returns from Harvard studies. The two brothers are close, Lyle having been abused, as well as having an episode with his younger brother when they were children. The discussions become intense, Erik somewhat neurotic, they decide to kill their parents, going out to buy rifles and a graphic sequence of the killing of the parents.
There is quite some impact on the fact that their mother is played by Courtney Love.
The film indicates that the brothers told the police that there were intruders. However, there is some extravagance in their lifestyle leading to suspicions and to arrests. There are a number of court cases over the years, each brother with his own lawyer, this film emphasising Erik's support from his lawyer, played by Meredith Scott Lynn.
The dialogue for the film during the court sequences is quite graphic, alarming in its revelation about sexual abuse, its effect (and prosecutors using the specious argument that a boy abused by a parent must be homosexual).
Eventually, the brothers were found guilty, taken to separate prisons and having only Internet connection to play chess for the next 20 or more years.
1. Audience knowledge of the 1989 case? Los Angeles, affluent parents, the two sons, the murder of the parents, the alibis of the sons, investigations, arrest, imprisonment, court cases, consequences?
2. The atmosphere of 1989, Los Angeles, homes and mansions, the business world, the tennis world, studies? The Latin American background, migration? Success in the United States?
3. The chapters of the narrative, the introduction to Eric Menendez and his mother, his being at home? Lyle, away at studies? Interstate? The father, migrant, successful business? His demands? Kitty, her background, marriage, relationship with her silence? (And the impact of Courtney Love in this role?)
4. The film, brief (in comparison with television footage of the period as well as the dramatic miniseries of 1994, A Killing in Beverley Hills)?
5. Audience response to Kitty, working with Erik, his typing, his story, intimations of violence? Later judgements on Kitty, her attitude towards her sons, loving her husband, putting up with his womanising, bullying, knowledge of his abuse, and not defending her sons, not protecting them? As motivation for their killing her?
6. Lyle, older than Erik, wanting to be protective, returning home, Erik and the continued abuse? Their mother not helping them? The revelation of the past and his abuse? And a sexual encounter as a child with Erik?
7. The focus on Erik, teenager, at home, tennis, his skills, family watching the match, his father calling out, heckling, his losing? His father's demands on him, yet his father's words of affirmation?
8. The audiences shock at the father going into Erik's room, the abuse? And its taking place over many years?
9. The drama written for the boys, their desperation, no way out, the psychological pressure, their killing their parents, going to buy the guns, shooting, Erik and his mother, thinking he shot her? Lyle shooting her?
10. Their plan, the police, the story of intruders? The carrying on with their lives? Imprudent as regards money, spending it? Issues of inheritance? Extravagance? Their lifestyle?
11. The police investigations, suspicions, gathering evidence, questioning evidence, the interrogations, the arrests? Their being charged?
12. Court proceedings, each with his own lawyer, Erik and his relationship with the Lansing, her skills, self-assurance, the meetings with Erik over the years, presentations in court? Lyle with his own lawyer and defence?
13. Testimony, the mixture of truth and lies? Evidence in the court? The evidence becoming more frank, more explicit, the reaction of the jurists, of the media? Audience sympathies towards the brothers? More towards Erik?
14. Erik, the letters written, the woman declaring her love, the court suggestions and testimony that he was homosexual, the specious reasons given in court for this, especially for an abuse victim? His correspondence with the woman and the eventual information that they married?
15. Cases over many years, hearings, split judgements? The effect of life in prison, how each of the brothers experienced it, the violence in prison, Power games?
16. The guilty verdict? The sentences? The brothers separated? Each in prison? Playing chess online? Not seeing each other for 21 years, the time of the making of this film?
17. Critical dismissing of this film, its brevity, its treatment of the characters, evidence, interpretation of the characters?
