Tonight is the premiere of Lifetime Televisions series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, starring Christina Ricci, Clea DuVall, Cole Hauser, and Jonathan Banks.
I have long since given up on being bothered by anyone’s take on Lizzie Borden, fact or fiction. If Lifetime wants to make Lizzie Borden into a serial killer, then go for it. Just make it work. Make it entertaining. Make it visually stunning. Make it a great piece of theatre. Then I am content.
There are those in the Lizzie Borden community (and yes, there is a community of people who study the case and who discuss it online) who will disagree with me. Some feel they own Lizzie, that their perceptions, based on research and study mind you, is the correct one and any body who presents her in any other light should be strung up and tarred and feathered.
I, on the other hand, appreciate really good schtick. I very much enjoyed the Lizzie Borden Took an Axe film of last year—-especially the ending. The juxtaposition of the modern music over Victorian life was a bold move, and it worked for me.
My only complaint is the size of Christina Ricci. She is tiny little skinny, and Lizzie was not. But then Ricci is a movie star and has a different life to lead than that of a supporting player who looks more normal and true to life. Oh well.
I am very much looking forward to the show tonight at 10 PM.
On the Lifetime website they have this super cool thing you can do: you enter your address and connect with FaceBook and they create a one minute movie where you are the next victim. Very ingenious. Try it out!
