This true-life murder mystery takes a RASHOMON-type approach to the subject, telling us the story from various points of view. The film deals with the Wonderland Murders in Hollywood, which involved L.A.’s top club owner Eddie Nash (Eric Bogosian, IGBY GOES DOWN) and porn star John Holmes (Val Kilmer, TOMBSTONE). The problem with the film's varying points of view is that they more than muddle the truth they muddle the story as well.
Holmes was known in the porn industry as Johnny Wadd for his 14-inch penis, but the film doesn’t really deal with John as a porn star, but more as a washed-up celeb, strung out on drugs and desperate for money. The tale of the murders at the house on Wonderland Drive begins with thief David Lind (Dylan McDermott, TV’s THE PRACTICE) telling his version of events that led to the murders. He implements Holmes as the idea man behind a robbery at Nash’s house, which led Nash to kill Lind’s girlfriend Barbara (Natasha Gregson Wagner, HIGH FIDELITY) and fellow robbers Ron Launius (Josh Lucas, SWEET HOME ALABAMA) and Bill Deverell (Timothy Blake Nelson, GOOD GIRL) among others. Then we get Holmes’ tale, which blames everyone else. Trapped in Holmes’ nightmare life are his teenage girlfriend Dawn (Kate Bosworth, BLUE CRUSH) and his wife Sharon (Lisa Kudrow, TV’s FRIENDS).
To weed out the “truth,” the film looks at the two tales and fills in other information from others. In the end, what truly happen will never be known. The story is average and only gives the characters a surface treatment for most of the movie. What gives the film the extra push into making it worth seeing at all is the performances. The film has surprising performances from Bogosian, Kudrow and McDermott and Kilmer shows his talent once again. He makes Holmes an emotionally complex character in spite of the film's insistence on making him a Hollywood cliché. Kudrow, as his stable wife, brings the real emotional weight to the story. She makes us want the story to stop focusing on sex, drugs and murder plots and focus on what it's like to be married to a prolific porn star who is sleeping with a teenager who you are friends with.
Besides the acting, true crime fans may find the film enjoyable as well. However, for the most part, even though its based on a true story, the film seems like you’ve seen it all before.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
