THE TWO MR KISSELS
US, 2008, 90 minutes, Colour.
John Stamos, Anson Mount, Robin Tunney, Gretchen Egolf.
Directed by Ed Bianchi.
The Two Mr Kissels is based on a true story. It is one of those films, based on contemporary crimes, that American audiences would remember but which audiences around the world would acknowledge that it was based on a true story but respond to it largely as fiction.
The film focuses on two wealthy brothers, one conscientious who made a great deal of money but who is bludgeoned to death by his greedy narcissistic wife. The other, overshadowed, and despised by his father, tries to make money deals but takes risks and gambles, has a drug addiction and is a womaniser. Eventually he too dies, perhaps by suicide, perhaps arranging his own killing.
While the story has its lurid touches, it is made in such a way that it is acceptable for the wide American television audience. John Stamos is the reckless brother. Anson Mount is the serious one. Robin Tunney steals the show as the wilful, sometimes vulnerable, always predatory wife. Gretchen Egolf is the other wife. Chuck Shamata gives a good small performance as the father who favours one son and humiliates the other.
The film was directed by Ed Bianchi, a television director. His first film, however, was The Fan with Michael Biehn and Lauren Bacall in 1981.
1. The film based on a true story? Audience knowledge of the characters and facts? Necessary or not? The wider audience looking at it as a fiction?
2. The affluent American settings? The comparisons with Hong Kong and life in Hong Kong? Authentic flavour? Musical score?
3. The testimonies throughout the film, from Robert’s wife, from the driver, from Nancy’s friends? The effect of these testimonies and their points of view and comment on the characters?
4. The death of Robert, bludgeoned to death? The death of Andrew? The initial visuals, the voice-over? The interviews with the driver – and his being accused of Andrew’s murder?
5. The story of Robert and Nancy? Nancy as a waitress, ambitious, looked down on by Robert’s parents? Their being in love? The lavish wedding? The comments of Andrew’s parents? Nancy and Robert and their life together, his conscientiousness, his skills, financial background? Nancy and her life, photographing herself, her exhibitions? Exhibitionism? Her pregnancies, the children? Robert spending so much money on her, clothes, apartments? Her wilful spending? The continued revelation of how self-centred she was? The gifts and Robert’s trying to persuade her to go to Hong Kong? Her petulance? Going to Hong Kong, her dissatisfaction, her friends, life in Hong Kong? Robert and his continuing success, promotions? Nancy and her relationship with the cable man? The fling, romance, selfishness? The phone calls, her despising Robert? Robert and his private detective, believing him or not? The build-up to the confrontation, Nancy and buying the dress, in Hong Kong? Her children? The set-up, the drug, beating Robert to death? Leaving him, the maids, the rug, carrying it out and the boy holding the door? The discovery of the body, her arrest, her silence in court, denying memories of anything? Her imprisonment, her despair? The phone calls about her children? Justice being done to her? The pathos of Robert’s life and death?
6. Andrew, in his brother’s shadow? His meeting Hayley, her money, her love for him? The wedding, children? Andrew and his work, his gambling, his neighbours and getting money from them, the testimony of the neighbour and his giving witness, yet his falling in line with Andrew, the high life in Las Vegas etc? Andrew and his making money, spending it, investments, risks? The house, reconstructions? Hayley and her own life as a financial commentator? Andrew and his double dealings, the members of the board trying to get documents, his forging them? His collapse? His father’s continuing to despise him? His failure, Hayley leaving? His reliance on his chauffeur, his death – suicide or murder?
7. The glimpse of the Kissel parents, high society? The father and his attitudes towards each of his sons? His daughter? His daughter having to take Nancy’s children after Andrew’s collapse?
8. The society people, Nancy’s friends and their gossip? Wealth, shopping, manicures and beauty treatments? Andrew’s friends and their risking their money, suing Andrew?
9. A world of society and finance – and a squalid look behind the surface glamour?
