internationaldave I am about to watch it again, for the third time. Just finished Paul Watkin's "My Life With Charles Manson" book for the third or fourth time. I have a few books on the "subject". My brother and I "met" Charlie just about the time of the murder(s). We were poking around his abandonded heap of stolen V.W. bodies at Spahn when he ran at us, gun in hand, spewing obscenities I had never heard before. ("love" was not among them). He was mad at us 'cause we were going to steal parts from the cars he stole! I think it was after the murders but before the raid on Spahns. I lived over the hills in Thousand Oaks. At any rate, the movie is lame. What irritated me the most was Charlie's dialog was in a whisper. He just whispered. Weird. Oh, sure, when he was yelling he was just upset over something major, like somebody asking him a question he couldn't answer. I'd be "mad" too! If you are a Manson collector (not a fan) you need this movie. Summary: Charlie knew not a thing about love. He grew up (until his release in '67) in prison and love was not there. He learned from the best how to con people, assume roles and intimidate. There was/is nothing good about the "scruffy little guru". Until he tells why (the real motive) these senseless killings occurred and apologizes, he is nothing. "Jesus"? Hmmm. "The Devil"? He isn't even good at that.Some "expert" claim he is very intelligent. How? Couldn't hold a job, a terribly stupid thief, no ear for music, yet, continued on trying to be a rock star. His only fans/followers are probably a bunch of Goth-Dressing spoiled kids that probably still live in their parent's basement anyway. internationaldave@gmail.com

holsu First of all, I must say, that there probably ain't a subject that could be more interesting to me, than Charles Manson and the Tate-La Bianca murders. Maybe Nazis and concentration camps but then again maybe not. Playing Manson must be the most ungrateful role for any actor. You just can't succeed. And still, considering the dilemma, I think Jeremy Davies makes an incredible role here. He manage the role very well, he looks quite alike and his habitus is just as small and weird as I expect Mansons to be. Also the other roles in the movie are played very good though having partly the same problem in portraying actual events and persons. Very much look-alike casting by the way. The movie in itself is a good and entertaining collection of the happenings in 1969. Comparing to the knowledge that I have about the true events I'd say that the film comes very close to what actually happened. Of all the stunning scenes, I would like to lift up the one in which Sharon Tate asks the murderer to carve out the child and at least let the unborn live. Though probably being fictitious and in a way unnecessary I still think that the line in someway points out the unfairness that Sharon Tate had to become victim of. May her soul rest in peace while her name and angel-like beauty will live forever in the movies that she gave us on her short career as movie star.

Fred Vidal It was a great experience, a perfect director, I felt like if I was really in the office of Mr. Polanski when he received this terrible phone call. The actor is magnifique. This scene is a masterpiece and, for me, was a space-time travel and a success. The entire film is very interesting, I always think about The Beatles song when I hear or read this title. The actress is fantastic and make us forget that she is an actress. This is the best compliment to do to somebody in that industry, right? Otherwise, I appreciate that the DVD is well distributed in the Blockbuster network. Don't miss it if you want quality time about history and a good movie. Fred Vidal™

Alain English There have been numerous plays and films written about the notorious Manson murders of the 1960s and 1970s and this one is a fascinating but still not quite definitive look at Manson and his 'Family'. I did find it more enjoyable than the last film I saw on this subject, 'The Manson Family'. This one shows much more restraint and is better written, with a greater emphasis on the psychology of Manson and his followers.The film shows the Hinman murder and the Tate-LaBianca killings, and the leadup to the trial where Manson and five of his minions were eventually convicted of mass murder. In the interim there is some flashback detailing some of Manson's psychology and the bizarre philosophy behind the murders.There was enough good dialogue to make it watchable and the complex events the film portrays are covered very well. However, the film does not do all it could in this respect. First off, I am against actual re-enactments of the murders. It feels sensationalised, grotesque and unnecessary to do this, especially as since these murders actually happened and are not fictional.Secondly, I am unhappy with Jeremy Davies' portrayal of Manson as a one-note lunatic. Despite some good writing, his portrayal does not make Manson's domination of his followers seem remotely plausible and it would have been nice to see more of Manson's background, especially how he developed and gained power over his 'family'.Thirdly, the film cuts out before the actual trial takes place. Cutting out the trial is a knock to prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, who stood up to Manson (who made numerous attempts to intimidate him) and worked his backside off to nail him. To see the lawyer in action, and more of his relationship with Manson, would have been very interesting.That said, there are some great performances here. Clea Duvall makes a fetching Linda Kasabian and her journey is movingly rendered. Marguerite Moreau makes a seductively sexy Susan Atkins and, although she is playing a cold-blooded killer, is very enjoyable to watch. Bruno Kirby is slightly miscast as Vincent Bugliosi. He is ten years too old and a tad top heavy, but he does capture the tenacity and compassion of the man and when he turns up he feels like a fresh breath of sanity in the midst of all the blood and madness.A good picture but there are still some areas of the Manson cult, asides from the murders themselves, that could still be explored on screen.